Lighting help please

[mr_alberta]

Hi everyone,

I have just purchased a 29G tank (30.25"L x 12.5"W x 18.75"H) and was trying to figure out a nice lighting solution for it. I plan on having an anenome of some sort some time in the future, so I would like some stronger lighting.

I was thinking about getting 175w MH but I am concerned about the heat. I also looked into a 2x96w PC kit but that is very expensive. Then I saw some t5 bulbs and they seemed promising, but I don't know much about them. What type of lighting would you fellow reefers suggest I look into?

Thanks.

[Sushiman]

Anenomes are trick at the best of times, I'd warn you against them until you have alot of experience.
In a small tank you have alot of options as far as lighting, it really depends on what you want to keep. My set up is lit by 6x55w PC's, & I find it is only enough to make softies really happy. My LPS are alive but I know they could do alot better. If i had it all to do over, I would save my money for MH's (250W or greater), or get a full VHO set up as I like the color alot better than PC's.
Heat is a problem that will plague you no matter what. I'm installing a free-standing AC asap for this summer. If that doesn't work I'll be getting a chiller for my next set-up.

[CHEAPREEF]

I would go with the Halides/VHO combo. I have a 30gal cube with one 175watt 10k and 2 18" overdriven actinic. I have no problems with SPS with that lighting. The Halides are your best bet, around the same $$ as PC, but way more light. Your corals will thank you.

Clinton

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by newguy

I have just purchased a 29G tank (30.25"L x 12.5"W x 18.75"H) and was trying to figure out a nice lighting solution for it.
I was thinking about getting 175w MH but I am concerned about the heat.

We have a 175w 6500k halide on our 42 hex. When I first lit it up on the tank, I placed it directly on the tank's glass cover. Temp rose 2 degrees F in about an hour

Needed a quick, low tech solution to raise the halide off the glass, so I got out DH's HUGE box of Lego and made inserts that raised the light 2" from the tank's glass. Temp in the tank still rises 2 degrees F, but it now takes all day to do so, which is no problem as far as I'm concerned

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Sushiman

If i had it all to do over, I would save my money for MH's (250W or greater)

Newguy's tank is only 18" deep and a 250w halide would be overkill on a tank that shallow. 175w would be just fine for his tank, imo.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Newguy's tank is only 18" deep and a 250w halide would be overkill on a tank that shallow. 175w would be just fine for his tank, imo.

No such thing as overkill!! I ran 2 400w 10k bulbs over my 18" tank. If clams/SPS are the intended inhabitants, more is always better. Bigger bulbs do bring heat managements issues though, so be prepared to deal with that.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

No such thing as overkill!! I ran 2 400w 10k bulbs over my 18" tank.

Holy cr*p, Brad

[mr_alberta]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I saw this nice setup on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ...324229035&rd=1

but I'm weary of buying anything off of Ebay...seems awfully cheap to me...

I was also thinking about going with a VHO setup...maybe 2x75w? I've changed my mind about the anenome and I most likely will just stick to keeping it simple for now (Zoo's, Softies, maybe LPS later on when I get more experience). So, I think that the 2x75w VHO bulbs should work. I can get that setup for ~$300 at JL. What do you fellow reefers think?

Also, what is the difference between TAR and Electronic Ballasts? Thanks again for the help!

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Holy cr*p, Brad

Bev, it isn't really all that much. Heat is the only issue (and cost of setup).

[Quinn]

if you diy your setup with J&L parts, i bet you could get it for not far from the VHO price. i may be totally wrong, but i would look into it if i were you.