Lighting Suggestion

[ice77]

G'day all,

I was wonderin' what you guys would recommend for a lighting setup for an 80g with a height of 20" and with 5" DSB. Im planning to keep mushrooms, zoanthids, leathers, and some lps.

At least the minimum lighting so that these animals will thrive.

 

[Mikef1]

I would recommend 4 96w power compacts, 2 being 10k and the other 2 actinic. If these are the only corals you are planning on keeping you wont need metal halides although they do look really nice.

 

[Reef Guy11]

Do you have a hood or Canopy for your 80 gal. you can get a real nice VHO Retro fit set for a nice price at Hello Lights.com. Here is the URL.

http://www.hellolights.com/4654lamvhore.html . Try that see what you think. they also have Power Compact at great prices too. Let us know what you went with.

 

[Anonymous]

I personally like VHO's. I do not know the liength of an 80, but 4 bulbs fired of on an Icecap ballast should be fine for what you want to keep.

 

[ice77]

Thanks.

Another question.

Do you guys think that 2 150watts MH bulb is an overkill on my setup or just enough? And will the animals that I mentioned will still thrive under these lighting? how about 2 70watts?

 

[RustySnail]

2x 150W MH would be fine for your application (Sofite/LPS). I think the 175's are easier to get different lamps for, you might look at getting 175's. I recommend electronic ballasts IceCap/hellolights/LN Electronic, etc.; they are much more energy efficient than the Core/Coil ballasts.

 

[ice77]

Thanks again.