How much lighting

[UMdmd]

Well I am starting to set up my 72 gal and was wondering how much lighting will I be needing. I hope to have some soft coral and an anenome. I know that the anenome will have the biggest demand for light. I was thinking to go with either 2X175W or 2X250W Metal halides in either 10K or 20K. Which color and wattage you guys and girls think will work best for me without generating too much heat. I would also like to leave room for some other corals in the future. the tank is 48X14X22. Will I need to have supplimental lighting and if so what do you suggest. Thanks again guys

[Bruce]

the mhs sound good, the only thing is that with those u might wanna get a chiller...anyone else think so?...otherwise the lights should be ok...i think 20k look better

[Jason McKenzie]

I have a 75G AGA with 2X250 10Ks and 2x 110 VHO. Haven't needed to get a chiller, Well OK I have needed one but don't want one. They are very loud and $$$$ too much. I've found with 2 fans one facing the sump and one blowing across the top of the tank. I can maintain 79-82F through out the summer in 90+F weather.

but back to UMdmd's ? if I were you I would go 2X250 single ended HQI (electronic Ballast) and start with 10K I would also add some PC,VHO, or NO Atinics. This would ensure you could run most bulbs and support almost everything lighting needs. Trust me once you get into the hobby you will quickly find you have fallen in love with another type of coral and I would say it's best to plan ahead

J

[Birdlady]

I agree with Jason. I have 1 - 175 W 10K MH plus 2 96W VHO's. I am planning to upgrade to a 250 soon.


One is barely enough for my 58. I would def go with the two MH bulbs and go ahead with the 250's.

My VHO's are 03 actinics so I can get the fluorescence out of my corals...and get a morning and evening effect as they go on first and shut off last. I have not needed a chiller. I have an enclosed hood with a fan intake on one end and exhaust at the other end. I repeat, I have not NEEDED a chiller (but my room has AC in it) so it stays at 80 F or less. I also run my system with open top tank and sump for evaporative cooling.

[Bruce]

ok in ur opionion...for a 24gal nano cube. if i put 2x 70w 20,000k mh, 2 t-5 actinics and some moons a ccfls would it be better to spam fans or go with a chiller?...if money dont matter (beta testing so its all super cheap)...will a smaller chiller be loud?

[Jason McKenzie]

I don;t know what chiller you will be using but the ones I've seen are very loud
the compressor starts and stops.
I plan to run a Chiller if I upgrade my tank but I will run it like an air conditioner. Mounted outside or in a separate room away from the family areas of the house

[The Salt Creep]

Originally Posted by Bruce

ok in ur opionion...for a 24gal nano cube. if i put 2x 70w 20,000k mh, 2 t-5 actinics and some moons a ccfls would it be better to spam fans or go with a chiller?...if money dont matter (beta testing so its all super cheap)...will a smaller chiller be loud?

If you are getting 2 70 watt halides for a nano why not try a 20K and 10K halide and forget actinics? You should get good coverage and plenty of PAR with the halides running side by side front to back. T5 actinics sorta suck. I'd go with VHO instead if you don't want to try the mixed halides.

[Bruce]

ya but...can u even get VHOs that small? i was thinking of only getting 20k mhs...im afraid of 10k...rnt they kinda yellow?

[The Salt Creep]

Originally Posted by Bruce

ya but...can u even get VHOs that small? i was thinking of only getting 20k mhs...im afraid of 10k...rnt they kinda yellow?

How long is the tank? The only T5's I know of shorter than 24" are Helios (www.commodityaxis.com) strip lights. If you had a 20000K halide in front of a 10000K it would really look more blue. Depending on the lamp the 10K halides will be fairly white to a dingy yellow but the 20K lamp will really take out the yellow. I've seen pics of higher wattage 10K/20K halide combos and it looked fantastic. Dunno about 70 watters but assume they would be about the same.

[Bruce]

well its a stock nano cube 24 gal the only diff is that is has modded lighting lol...the mhs r like 1/2 in from the water w00t!