Special Lighting?

[asonitez]

I have a 90 gallon tank i just purchased. I traded my 24 Inch MH with 2 65 watt PC acitinicsand 4 moonlights for a 4 foot 4X 96 watt power compact lighting setup from hamilton technology. Is this enough lighting for my tank? I i was thinking of getting a few hard corals but the majority of my corals will be completely soft. I don't really care too much for the Hard coral variety though some of it is beautiful. What you guys think?

 

[cindre2000]

I personally would have used VHO or HO T5's, but if you are careful of where you put the coral and don't expect drastic growth of the hard corals I think you will be find.

 

[asonitez]

Well I hope for coral growth, since its powercompacts and don't draw as much lighting. I was hoping to keep my lighting period a little longer. If possible do you think I can just purchase a 48" Single bulb VHO fixture to use a supplemental lighting? It will Fit in the back of the lighting fixture ok.

 

[Brian5000]

If you build your own hood, you can put whatever combination you want in there.

90 gallon aquariums tend to be much deeper, I think. I'm afraid your 4 PC lights might not penetrate as much as you'd like. You'll still be ok with soft corals, and some LPS corals will be ok toward the top of the aquarium. You'll have to be selective about animal purchases and positioning.
_________________
gremlin strain

 

[asonitez]

what if i were to purchase another 130 watt strip to slide behind the 384 watts already there? would that be enough light penetration at that time to keep just about anything I would like?

 

[mr_X]

hmm. i think you should try the vho.
actually, i would try VHO's alone, and sell the pc fixture.
4 x 110 watt 48" bulbs- 2 and 2, or 3 10k and one super actinic. :wink:
is there a reason you didn't want your halide besides the fact that it was too short for your new tank? what i'm getting at is that VHO's put off heat.

 

[asonitez]

Yeah it was too short for the tank. Thats the only real reason.

 

[asonitez]

Actually X the guy has a Dual Bulb PC acitinic fixture that will fit behind my existing fixture for 50 bucks it houses two 65 watt pc acitinics. what you think?

 

[mr_X]

eh...i'm not a fan of power compacts. i sent you a detailed pm.