pc lighting

[mk]

I was going to start a 80 gallon reef tank
With 384 wtts pc lighting I was wondering if this would be all the lighting i need or should i go some other route?

[hottielover14]

actually that should do. you could always add a MH later if u wanted too or had the room.

[hottielover14]

i have a 55 gal. reef tank w/ 260 watt PC and it's doing good.

PC lighting IMO is the last thing on the list if just starting.
MH is the first one the list and for an 80 gallon 2 x 250 watt ballasts ..eballast x 2.
would be the best thing to get. along with 2 VHO on each side of that for the blue color.
2nd would be full 440 watts of VHO lights
3rd PC lights.

[omard]

mk,

Nautilus right...if you are just starting, and have not already made the investment in PC lights...go right to MH if anyway possible, even if you have to squeeze off from something else...you will be far better off and happier in the long run...

Some good prices out there now...shop around...look at the HQI pendants...

OmarD

[mk]

the only thing was i cant afford a chiller right now

[Matt Rogers]

That amount of PC light on an 80 gallon will grow a lot of different kinds of coral. So I say, you can definitely go that route if you want.

There are a lot of halide heads here including me. But it's definitely not the only way. HOWEVER, like I mention in the 3 steps, add up the cost of all those PC bulbs and multiply that by 2 and there is your yearly cost. The savings over halide isn't that great.

Many go open top with halide or use fans to keep the temp down.

hth