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07-05-2006, 01:37 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola, FL Age: 22
Posts: 17
Karma: 1
 |  Lighting for Awkward Tank Type
Hi everyone, I'm brand new to the site although I have been keeping fish for a couple of years. I have just finished cycling a brand new 55G tank that I intend to make a reef tank; however, I'm afraid it might be a challenge to keep corals, inverts etc. healthy in my tank. It's a tall hex that measures a good two and a half feet high but is a mere 20 inches across! Finding high-wattage bulbs that are small enough to fit properly on this tank has proved impossible. I currently have a 50/50 and an actinic bulb on there (don't worry, no corals until I can figure this out!) that add up to a mere 35 watts! There is no room for more then two 18 inch bulbs. Can someone help me figure out how to properly light this thing? | 
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07-05-2006, 01:43 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Sea Dragon
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kalispell, MT
Posts: 533
Karma: 47
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Welcome to the reef!
I would suggest a metal halide. _________ Senior Noob Setting my 75 back up soon Main SW Tank:
55gal, 70LBS of Tonga/LFSDIY, 50lbs LS, 1x250watt MH(20k), AquaC Remora Skimmer Live stock: Velvet Damsel, (12)Blue legged crab, lawnmower blenny, (1)cleaner shrimp, Yellow Tang, Featherduster CoralsRandom Zoo's(like 10), more zoo's,red mushrooms and hairy mushrooms, Sinularia | |
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07-05-2006, 07:18 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Ritteri Anemone
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Naperville IL Age: 29
Posts: 621
 
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I agree. Maybe a pendant to hang above so that length of the tank no longer matter.
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180 Gal Reef, AquaC EV-400, 3 MH Aquamedic Oceanlight HQI's 250w 20k. Neptune AquaController III, AquaLogic Trimline Cyclone 1/3hp skimmer, 2 x hydor #4's, 2 x hydor #3's, 2 x mj1200's modded, 40 gal fuge. | |
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07-05-2006, 09:56 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 26
Posts: 1,200
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You know, Hamilton Technology sells the spotlight pendant. Those would work excellent for hex tanks. They mount the halide bulb vertically.
Check it out -> http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/sh...ow&cat=Pendant
If it's higher than 18", you need a 250w spotlight. Anything higher than 36" will require 400watters. 
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30g reef tank, CPR CY192 filter w/ DIY plumb running Rio 17HF return, Coralife 3x 9w UV Sterilizer, 3 24W T5-Helios 10K Daylights/3 24W T5-Helios Blue lights, 2 Logysis blue meteor light strobes (moonlights/24 Blue LEDs).
Tiger tail cuke, asst. snails/hermits, asst. feathers, rainbow acan,zoos,shrooms,bubble,galaxea, asst. shrimp, 2 ocellaris,mandarin,zebrasoma xanthurum,pink-spot watchman,red-striped pistol. | |
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07-06-2006, 04:43 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Coral Banded Shrimp
Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 363
Karma: 62
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also, coralife makes a metal halide light that clamps to the side of the tank via an adjustable arm. Might want to give that a try as well. you should be able to find it at www.thatfishplace.com | |
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07-06-2006, 07:31 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | KingFish
Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 39
Posts: 7,605
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A friend of mine has a halide pendant - it's either a 175 or a 250 - over his drilled out 55 hex. It looks great!
Last edited by Matt Rogers; 07-06-2006 at 10:07 AM.
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07-06-2006, 07:55 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola, FL Age: 22
Posts: 17
Karma: 1
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Wow, thanks a lot everybody! I will definitely check out all those options. You guys are the best.  | |
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