Additional lighting

OK, been reading and looking, reading and looking, and doing more reading and more looking and am still totally confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am wanting to add a little more additional light to my tank to make it look a little better as well as to give a little more benefit the few corals I have at this point. Because I currently have a dual satellite 4x65 watt system on a 45 gallon tank that is the primary light source--this will obviously be a secondary light source that will not be on all of the time during the day---maybe a total of 4 hours a day.

I have looked at metal halides and these (even the smallest of them) are quite bulky systems and I really don't have room for this. Because of this and the fact that the light would have to be able to clip onto the tank--I am looking at regular halogen bulbs or similar type bulbs come close to imitating sunlight. I know that with the advances in lighting that have been made--it would seem that this would be possible.

I would like to get as close to 20000k as I can with a good PAR (I am keeping mostly softies, a leather, and LPS corals at this point and don't really see that I will be venturing into the SPS for quite some time) for my corals.

Does anybody have some plain english bulb suggestions and links to their descriptions and ratings?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Anne

 

Halogen lights wont work, wrong spectrum.

Have you seen these http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc..._Code=ESU-53601&Category_Code=Coralife-halide

You could see if they can package it with a Phoenix 14K lamp. That is about the best combinations of looks and PAR in a lamp. I can't imagine it would fit with your PC hood but maybe.

 

I agree, Halogens are definitely the wrong type of light for what you want and put out way too much heat for what you get.
That is a nice looking pendant. The hqi bulbs are the way to go if space is an issue. They have a smaller footprint and put out quality light.. Do you have someone, or are you capable of doing a retro fit. A diy project with parts purchased then assembled with a remote ballast would be easier to fit in the space limitations you have. And maybe less expensive...
If you went with that pendant I bet you it would become your primary light

Jim

 

One major problem---there is no way I can afford to spend that amount of money at this point. It is a great looking set up and yes I would love to have it--but unless it comes down by about $120 there is no way!!!!!

Anne

 

My dad may be in the QC department of Phillips Lighting in Salina Ks, but his daughter is a total ignoramous when it comes to doing diy lighting. The other thing that concerns me is the ballast. I know those ballasts are bulky--where would I put it---won't it heat up as the light is used?

Anne

 

You are probably better off sticking with what you have. Just keep up with your lamp changes (8~12 months) and you will have enough light for most critters.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...roduct_Code=PC65W-CU-SL&Category_Code=PCbulbs

Maybe try these. I know in a T5 lamp the 460nm spectrum actinic has a nice blue look, pops colors AND produces a good amount of PAR. I assume the same will be true in a PC lamp, at least to some extent.

 

If I go with these lights (and it is an if at this point as I would like to eventually upgrade to a 75 gallon tank and I know that I will need more light then) will my two actinic pc bulbs work? Does that HQI lamp have the actinic quality built into it???

Like I said---total idiot when it comes to lighting.

Anne

 

You are not a lighting idiot, in fact one might say quite brilliant to be smart enought to ask questions to educate yourself before buying;D eveyday you spend in this hobby you learn something else you don't know.:laughing0

It is good that you are thinking long term. For LPS and softies two of those 150 watt systems would work over a 75. The lamp that come with the unit is a 10K which wouldn't have an actinic effect you could see but you could use your PC actinic for that.

More blue halide lamps do have actinic qualities to them. starting at about 14K the lamps fluoresce the corals pretty well depending on the brand. The Phoenix lamps are pretty good at fluorescing corals and a lot of people run them without actinics. The look is bright white with a little blue in it. If you like the very blue look a 20K color lamp would be better. On your current tank you could use a 20K lamp in that fixture and have no need for an actinic lamp other than to have a dusk/dawn effect.

Thinking long term again if you did upgrade to a 75 gallon tank you could add another 150 watt unit but would need to stay within the 10K to 14K lamp color range to have enough intensity in that tank. If you are thinking about going to a bigger tank and getting into SPS or clams then a 250 watt system would be a better choice.

I hope I didn't confuse you more, don't hesitate to keep asking questions. Lighting is pricey, make sure you know what you are getting into with it.

 

Thanks, but not planning on getting into SPS and a whole lot of clams at this point. I have been told by a local reefer (who has been into this almost as long as I have been alive) that with *some* clams I can make up for lack of intensity with a longer photo period---but would not want to do that with a tank full of clams.

Anne