Need lighting system advise !!!

[paulcito]

Hi there Im new in this forum and a novice in this hobby!!
Im getting ready to set up a 45 gallons (tall) reef tank and would like to know wich will be a good light system for this tank.I do not want to go with one than after a few months i will realize that is not the right one and start all over again
Thanks foryour imput
Paul :?:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi! What will you be keeping in your system? If you're not sure overkill is better than underlighting but the amount of light you need really depends on what animal you're going to keep requires the most lighting.

 

[cjsrch]

what are tank dimensions?

 

[paulcito]

I dont have it with me right now ,the only thing that I know that is a 45 G tall, I will have them tomorrow
Thanks

 

[LA-Lawman]

Guy hit it nail right on the head.

i am thinking your tank is like 30 inches tall. a 24Lx12Wx30H? maybe??

We need to know what yor goals are for the tank. If your are gonna keep SPS and LPS you will want halide lighting or a TON of VHO... even then VHO will only work for softies and some LPS that you can stack toward the top of the tank.

I would spend my mooolaa in this order

Lighting, skimmer, other stuff.

then while you have no money, take the time to read and get yourself aquainted with allthe particulars if you have not done so already.

that size tank could be fun... i am glad to hear that you want to get the right equipment the first time...

 

[paulcito]

Ben Thanks for your reply ,I already have a 55 Gallons and has being doing very good ,i have it for about 3 years, I keep polyps ,muschrooms/gonoporas , it look very good , for light I have a coralife 260 watts pc / with the 45 gallons I just don want to be limited, so does why I want a good set of lights , but I dont understand too much about it
Paul

 

[t_lynde]

Hi all,
I'm not a troll just new to the site

paulcito,
IMO, on a 45 tall unless your just going to keep softies I would go with halides, at least 250w, more if you want sps or clams.

you could probably get away with vho's or pc but on a tall tank halides reach the depth better

greetings from the desert,

T

 

[LA-Lawman]

Hi,

like t_lynde said... the halides provide the intense punching power for the light to reach deeper aquariums... I made a guess on your tank measurements... so we still need to clarify that... If I were you...

I would get 2- 250w halides 10-14K spectrum and prolly some sort of actinic lighting for effect.

but that is 10+yrs of reef keeping to go with that... I tend to buy more than is needed for my lighting requirements... so i don't spend the money again on a similar setup down the road...

hope this helps

feliz navidad!

 

[paulcito]

Thank you guys for your replies!!! Questiom!!! If I go with that set up ,do you think I wiil need a chiller?
Thanks again
Paul

 

[paulcito]

I will bother you guys one more time !!! sorry What do you guys think about Aqulight Pro HQI PC 280 w orAqualight Pro HQI retrofit 280w.Do this will be a good option for my needs and for thr money,\Thanks again Paul

 

[Anonymous]

Just remember the heat factor too. Adding more light increases the temperature pretty dramatically when you add MH's to the mix.

 

[ChrisRD]

Paul, I have run 2 X 250 watt halides over a 50 gallon tank with no overheating issues. I wasn't using a chiller - just running open top w/hanging pendents and using a sump fan on a temp contoller for cooling. The room was climate controlled so ambient temps (a significant factor) were always in the 70s.

Not familiar with the Aqualight fixture. Link?