Lighting Question

[jdunphy]

I am about ready to purchase a light.

I want to have corals, inverts, and a few reef safe fish. My tanks is a 39 gal with 45lbs rock.

20 wide
18 deep
25 tall

I am looking at the sunpod 20" 250w hallide so it will have enough light at the bottom of the aquarium for the corals. BUT my main concern at this point is this light going to heat this water up too much? What light would you go with?

Thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[brandonberry]

I think this will work, however you may want to consdider getting the hanging kit so you can raise it to whatever level you need to in order to avoid too much heat. Another option would be to use a fan blowing across the water surface.

 

[cindre2000]

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a 250w metal halide to grow corals on the bottom of the tank. You need a 250w light to grow certain acroporas at the bottom of the tank. Since your tank is fairly deep you would need light forgiving corals on the bottom (a good number of LPS and pretty much all softies).

"I" would go with a 150w and keep LPS towards the bottom. Some simple computer fans or any other fan, blowing across the water will keep the tank fairly cool. But you will have a good bit of evaporation that way.

 

[Anonymous]

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a 250w metal halide to grow corals on the bottom of the tank. You need a 250w light to grow certain acroporas at the bottom of the tank. Since your tank is fairly deep you would need light forgiving corals on the bottom (a good number of LPS and pretty much all softies).

"I" would go with a 150w and keep LPS towards the bottom. Some simple computer fans or any other fan, blowing across the water will keep the tank fairly cool. But you will have a good bit of evaporation that way.

I agree with that. Only if you want to be able to keep any coral any where would I go with the 250. I have a 26" deep tank with 250's. The lower part of the tank is for LPS and monties or deep water SPS. Light loving stuff goes high in the tank.