Need advice on my set up!

[4G1v3N]

I just need some advice on my set up. My tank came with a custom hood, holds only 3 30W t8 10K bulbs. I know i really cant grow anything with that besides low light anenomes and mushrooms. Also i have around 1,745 GPH total with my skimmer filter and power heads. Also is it worth me getting a wet dry filter?

Basically do i need to build a custom hood and mount new lighting? Do I need more power heads, And do i need to get a new filter system or add a wet dry with my can?

[4G1v3N]

Well i just took out 1 of my t8's to add an actinic. good decision? or leave the 30W 10k in there??

[nemo79]

Okay, T8's @30 Watts Is No Fluorescent. If You Plan On Keeping Any Corals You Will Need To Upgrade On The Lighting. If You Have A Canopy You Will Probably Want To Get A Retrofit Kit And Add That Into The Canopy Yourself Which Means You Need To Get Some Do It Yourself Diagrams...look Under Diy. Now If You Have No Canopy You Have Alot Of Choices For Light Fixtures That Can Either Mount Onto The Tank Or Suspend It From The Ceiling. The Leading Technology For Lighting A Reef Tank Is Either T5ho Or Metal Halides. Depending On What You Want To Keep, The Expense You Want To Get Into Depends On The Lighting.

As For Flow, Don't Count The Skimmer's Outake Of Water As It Doesn't Make A Significant Difference. What Is The Gph On Your Filter?

[4G1v3N]

The rena xp3 has an output of 350 gph. i also have a seio power head that does 620 gph along with 2 other power heads, one does 270,and 210. as for the lighting i do have a canopy and i was looking how i could take the existing lights out and add different ones. good thing i am an electrician so it wont be hard for me install new ones in there.

Any suggestions on lighting an 80G that is 19"deep 50" wide? money is an issue but i know you cannot substitute quality. I really only need something that would be good for beginner corals softies hammers leathers mushrooms and i would really like an anemone. thanks!

[bouraganes]

4Giv3n you could try something like this:
Ocean Encounter: 400 Watt Electronic Metal Halide Retro Kit
I always like to reccomend Ocean Encounter products - they are first class, low priced and Vince stands behind what he sells!

[1sleeper]

4G13vN, I would look hard at T5 lights. I spent days on this subject and have no regrets on my findings. The more time that passes, the more T5's were the perfect choice for my first reef. I don't have AC in my house, though I'd only use it 3 months out the year heat reduction was my #1 goal. Last thing I wanted to buy was a chiller on top of an expensive MH set up. On a tip, I called Aquatinics and they set me up with a fan cooled enclosure that fit in my hood for about $400. It is five 54watt bulbs (two actinic, three 11000). If I were you, I would either do a 4 , 6 , or 8 tube TEK retro using these Sunlight Supply T5 Retrofit System & Kit - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store
4 bulbs would work really well but 6 would rock. From what I hear you can grow just about anything with those especially at only 17-19" deep. I just found this fan cooled, 4x54 Nova Extreme with bulbs and lunar moonlights for $199 48" Nova Extreme 4x54W T5 HO w/4 Lunar (Current)
Not quite the same quality as TEK but pretty good and one sweet deal IMO. You would have to loose the canopy I think but it 'd be worth it.
Good luck.
Jim