Lighting

[o0jmadr0x0o]

i just purchsed a used JBJ 2x96 watt light from a fellow reefer for my 50g tank.
i want to keep mostly softies.
will that be enough light or sould i go with plan b:
get a single strip 96watt PC to also run with the 2x96?
giving me some extra watt per gallon, is it even worth it (assuming that they both fit on the glass hood)

if having the extra 96 watts will help the tank, what combination of bulbs sould i go with

 

[PalmTree]

I think 2 96 watt PC bulbs should be fine for what you need. I would go with 1- 10K white and 1-actinic blue. If you can afford an extra PC tube in your set up go right ahead! I would then switch the center bulb to be a 50/50 (half actinic and half 10K) Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

i was also thinking of getting a 70w viper clam light

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15489&N=2004+113352

or a 150w ocean light MH

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12112&N=2004+113352

i would be running actinic's in the 96x2 PC's to supplement the the MH

or like i said before another 96w PC light

what would be my best option keeping cost in mind, i am a student so i cant go to crazy, i also have never had MH's so i am pretty intimidated by the whole thing

i want to keep lps and some softies

 

[muz]

Holy Moly $212 ! Don't worry I purchased my 1st MH last week.. intimidated is the word.

 

[Harif87]

i was also thinking of getting a 70w viper clam light

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15489&N=2004+113352

or a 150w ocean light MH

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12112&N=2004+113352

i would be running actinic's in the 96x2 PC's to supplement the the MH

or like i said before another 96w PC light

what would be my best option keeping cost in mind, i am a student so i cant go to crazy, i also have never had MH's so i am pretty intimidated by the whole thing

i want to keep lps and some softies

Hey if your interested in MH's i have 2 current usa 150 watt with HQI bulbs and lunar light that i need to get rid of. If your interested let me know.
BTW here is the link to my thread: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/23991-fs-2-current-usa-hqi-150w-pendants.html

Also, why do you feel intimidated by halides? Is it because you unsure of how things are? or maybe doubts about how realistic having halides with a stable system is? Whatever it is PM me or post and i can try to help you out with whatever you need

 

[PalmTree]

I was nervous about MH too. I had PCs for like 5 years before that. Then I wored everything into my canopy and plugged it all in to test it all out I nearly went blind!! I was thinking to myslef "What did I get myself into!" But I might have said the same thing about PCs too.... or my tank for that matter!! Don't worry! We've all been there!

 

[DevIouS]

:bump:

 

[noodleman]

i say go for the mh's...speaking from experience and as a student you'll eventually upgrade your lights, and that'll cost you more in the long run. Also in the future you might decide to try other corals, then you'll have the lights already :bagfish: oh yea dont go for the cheap stuff in the begining, its jsut a waste of money in the end when you realize you need to upgrade the equipment

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

yeah i think i am going with the 150watt viper clamp on because i do not want to hang the light and i don't have a canopy.

what combination of bulbs should i use, i know the viper comes with a 14k bulb, but im thinking about switching that to a 10k because i want to get good growth. also what kind of bulbs should i put in the PC's all actinic? a combination? what K?