What is the minimum????

[DOGMAI]

What is the minimum amount of lights that I would need on a 125. I mean the absolute minimum. To keep basic corals. I have never seen MH lights in action so I dont know how much area they cover. I have PC's now and I find that they only light what is directly under them. They dont have a very wide lighting area. I mean could I like get away with two 250's and four 21" 55 watt Actinic's?

 

[Inno]

My 125 reef had 4x96 actinics w/reflector and I was able to keep a blue maxima at the top even They were hamiltons.

 

[monkeyboy]

I mean could I like get away with two 250's and four 21" 55 watt Actinic's?

The rule for halides is one for every 2 feet, the tank would look dim in parts with that setup. I'd reccomend 3 250's with a couple of full length VHO actinics. For "basic corals" like mushrooms, leathers, and polyps, 4 or more 96w powercompacts would do the trick.

 

[monkeyboy]

Ooo, that's assuming that your 125 is a 6 footer.

 

[dtiedke]

I mean could I like get away with two 250's and four 21" 55 watt Actinic's?

The rule for halides is one for every 2 feet, the tank would look dim in parts with that setup. I'd reccomend 3 250's with a couple of full length VHO actinics. For "basic corals" like mushrooms, leathers, and polyps, 4 or more 96w powercompacts would do the trick.

I have a 6' 135, and I run two 250w with four 96w URI actinics. I do have spider-light reflectors on the MH, and there is plenty of light (even in the center). I do notice a very slight shadow in the center due to the brace, but I put my lower-light corals there...


Dave

 

[Mogo]

I have a 140 gal with 2 actinic vho's and 3 175W 6500k mh's. I consider this a minimum for my setup. I'm in the process of upgrading to 250W mh's