Lighting help

[weinie]

Im planning a 150 gal. tenecor acrylic tank. I would like to use as much lighting as possible so that if I have the option of having more difficult corals in the future.

I am concerened however with over heating and would like to avoid using a chiller at all costs.

I was considering 3 x 175w MH's with 2 x 96w PC actinic retrofit.
Am I going too hot?
What are my other options? VHOs? T5s? Will they be cooler?

Btw, the tank will be acrylic. The canopy, although open in the back can be made 12" tall instead of the usual 7". I could also place fans over the sump located in the stand to cool the water a bit.

 

[ChrisRD]

I'll move this into the GRD forum and leave a shadow in the NRF as well so you can get other opinions (I don't really have anything to add over what I said in your last thread about this). I prefer halides but don't have any experience using them over acrylic tanks...

BTW, you originally mentioned something in the other thread about the canopy being 72" X 24" X 7" so I assume 72" X 24" is the footprint of the tank? If it's a 150 gallon tank with a 72" X 24" footprint that makes it about 20" tall, correct?

Also, do you know the size/location of the access holes in the top? If you go with halides and have three decent size openings I'd think you'd want to place each halide lamp over an opening (and leave the lids off).

 

[fungia]

3 175w mh should not be too hot for your tank, if it is only 20 inches tall, it will work decently for most corals. i use to have a 75 gallon with 2 175w mh and i was able to keep some sps and clams in it. it did not get too hot with some fans in the canopy. i guess it depends on how hot it is where you live.

 

[Len]

FYI: PC and T5 light, while generaly regarded as a bit more efficient, will still get hot. It's a common misconception that PCs run cool. They run coolER, but they certainly get hot. 400 watts of PC lights will still heat up a tank. My personal preference is to go with metal halide if you can get a canopy to accomodate it. Perhaps start with three 175 watters and add PC supplementation if the temperature stays reasonable.

 

[Clown Happy]

I would definetly get some vent fans either on each end or on the back. If you go metal halides do 2 or even 4 - 4" and definetly do a 12" canopy.

Hope this helps!!

 

[Anonymous]

I would put 2x 250w Double ended bulbs on that tank. You shouldn't have any issues.

Good luck.

Jim