72 Bowfront Lighting

[Rich-n-poor]

I currently have 110 watts of pc's that I plan to reuse running actinic bulbs, I want to add MH when I get this tank. I would prefer a double bulb setup/ballast.

I would also like to use lower wattage MH in the 150-200 watt range for cost/electricity consumption reasons. 2 150 watt MH + 110 watt pc's would be about 410 watts on a 72. Is this enough ?

suggestions on brand/bulb/setup/retailers please

THX

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Honda XL175

 

[Rich-n-poor]

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Mercedes GL Class

 

[EmilyB]

I would personally do at least two 175w on there, although I never really bought into any value from the PC's aside from actinic, as you mention. In that case, go two 250w.

I would go Iwaski with VHO supplements....my personal opinion with PC supplements might be 10kk Aqualine, only based on what I have read and will be trying.

 

[dsb1829]

That should be fine depending on what you plan to keep as far as corals. The double ended or HQI 150w halides can produce more useable light than quite a few of the 250w mogul bulbs that are manufactured. I have been looking into 70w and 150w hqi setups for a while now as a viable alternative to flourescents without excess power usage.

It is plenty of light. Just do a search for German tanks to see what they are growing under these. Geisman and AB have been selling these bulbs for quite some time in european markets.

This is JMO since I haven't used them. I had my 72g reef setup with 2x95w actinic vho and dual 175w halides with great results in growth and esthetics. I kept a few sps and lots of lps and softies. From my reading the majority of the 150w bulbs put out a fair amount more light than my 175w ushio bulbs.

 

[Rich-n-poor]

well I am planning on keeping the following:

toadstool leather
singularia
fingerleather
zoo polyups
yellow polyups
varios shrooms

all of which i currently have, I would like to add different color types of zoo's and try some ricordia (currently have 2 polyups)

current fish load:
1 percula
1 coral beauty

but I would like to add additional fish, I am basically looking to have a variety of shrooms and polyups with some soft leathers as these are all hardy and I tend to overstock a tank with fish

I have The Money Now I need help making decisions

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Mercedes W125

 

[ddavis4um]

I have a 72 gallon bow also and I have stock similar to yours.

I have a 110 PC 48 inch on the back and a 96 watt 36 inch in the front that actually rests pretty well on the tank and lid (Britelite; inexpensive and energy efficient).

I have smart lamps in both and the color is pretty good.

My only lack of growth and color, that I can percieve, is the montipora that could be purple with higher light. Everything, however, is growing and healthy (knock-on-wood), even a bubble tip anemone, frogspawn, brain corals, etc.

Good luck!

 

[Big R]

We have a 72 here at work. It has a PFO hood with (2) 175W 10,000K Ushio's and (2) 55W actinic compacts. Looks great!

R

 

[VkeSu]

Our 72 has 4 vho, with great results. Frogspawn,torch, brain, leathers, bubbletip, all are showing great growth. 1at 1day 2 50/50.