planned to get

[GinKu]

hi guys i've been planning to get a reef tank for about a month now
this is what i have go planned for

120 GAL 48x24x24 $225.00 http://go.to/interamerican
CABINET STAND 24x48 BLACK LAQUER $159.00 http://go.to/interamerican
CLASSIC OAK HOOD 24x48 $180.00 http://go.to/interamerican
PREMIUM FIJI ROCK 150/lb $5.10/LB $765.00 http://www.jlaquatics.com/
Aragamax Sugar Sand 240 lb($30 per 30lb) $240.00 http://www.jlaquatics.com/

no for lighting i'm not sure i was planning to go for MD but it's pretty
expensive but i think it's good in the long run
but still confuesed with the lighing
how much lighting would i need cuz i was planning to get 2 bulb of MH 400 watt
ballast $289 with bulb 119 i think
now what is better VHO, NO, PHO, MH
how much tubes would i need to get if i was gonna get for each Fluorescent Bulbs
for those different types?
thats will be the stuff i'll be starting off
i'll probably get a R/o unit and skimmer sum etc

[GinKu]

will there be enough power if use the icecap to power up 2 400 watts?

[Troy F]

Ginku, before you decide the kind of lighting to purchase, you should decide on the type of animals you want to keep. With 800 watts of MH you'll be able to keep any of the photosynthetic corals you want but if you're not planning to keep acropora and other high light sps you don't need that much light. For instance; a tank of soft corals, mushrooms and some large polyped corals would do fine with VHO lighting. (Remember that unless you want to build your hood larger than the tank, buy the 46.5" tubes)

When I was setting up my 120 I originally planned to have 2x250W MH with 4x110W VHO. I have this lighting on my 155gal.

[GinKu]

hum ahh i don't know haha i guess i can upgrade afterwards right?
oh what is PFO?
what lighing system is better VHO or PC

[Troy F]

A bit of advice I've heard on the boards is go with some VHO lighting to start out. You can keep many of the less demanding corals and when you're ready to take on more challenging critters you can upgrade to the more intense metal halide lighting. Your VHO will provide some quality supplemental lighting after you upgrade.

I think I've read PC has a little more ouput but the bulbs are more expensive to replace. I've never used PC personally.

[GinKu]

Great thanx for the Help now what ballast should i get?

[BC_Grl]

Ginku,
I am finding that once we decided what animals we wanted to keep, it was better (for us) to save up for the lighting that we really wanted-- rather than upgrade later. This way we didn't spend more money (in the long run) by buying 2 sets, and then trying to sell the "old" one at a fraction of the cost.

[Troy F]

I like the IceCap 660 for it's versatility, reliability and because it runs bulbs longer. That would be my choice but I think you'll find that a lot of our local reef keepers are leaning towards the Workhorse ballasts.

[StirCrazy]

Originally posted by Troy F:
I like the IceCap 660 for it's versatility, reliability and because it runs bulbs longer. That would be my choice but I think you'll find that a lot of our local reef keepers are leaning towards the Workhorse ballasts.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Leaning ??? heck we fell over last week :D

the Workhorse has the same versatility as an Icecap, but personaly it is up to you.. with either one you can run NO's PC's or VHO's or any combanation there of. now as to weather you should start with VHO or PC's I would chose PC's but that is a personal choice.. they are real close to the same price now.. or you could mix them.. PC's for the 10000K and VHO for the disco pink actinics that some people like :D I think that people recomend VHO over PC because it used to be 1/2 the price but now it is 40.00 for a aquasun 95 watt VHO and it is 60.00 for a 10000K 96 watt PC, I guess if you are strapped for cash the 20.00 extra/bulb is a lot but other wise it isn't much. for what its worth I tested my PC's against a couple VHO setups and my PC's were putting out conciderably more PAR at 12" than both VHO setups, one was new and the other was about 3 months old.

just my $0.02

Steve