90 Gallon Tank NEED LIGHTING ADVICE

[DannyXL]

Okay everyone. I am not knew to salt water aquariums but I'm starting a reef tank up in a 90 gallon tank 24" deep. The problem I have is I have done a lot of research on lighting the tank, and I get conflicting advice from so many different people who should 'KNOW' what would be enought lighting since they own their Aquarium stores, but anyways. I was looking at the following two light sources, and if anyone can tell me if they would be enough light it would be greatly apreciated.

I have about 5 inches of sand bed and I'm looking at two different 48"

Current USA Sunpod HQI Metal Halide
2 X 150W MH Lamp 9 Blue and 9 white lunar lights

Or the Orbit Extreme PC 1x130, 1x130 (260w)

I was told the PC lighting would be more than adequate as long as I didn't want stonies, and the Halide I could put just about anything in the tank. Then I was also told I can put anything in with the PC because it actually will do better than the 260w its rated as (also was told the Sunpod lighting should be rated more towards 250w per halide. And lastly, with the PC I'd have the full cycle of lighting and with the Sunpod it just has the two halides and the 9 white moon and 9 blue luars.

suggestions? I need help. Would like to stay under 500 dollars or close too it.
P.s. Could live without stonies but if the option to add was there that would be nice. Thanks again guys!


-Danny

 

[DannyXL]

Anyone?

 

[Jolieve]

I say go for broke like I did, and put in 2, 250 w HQI/DE MH lamps

J.

 

[DannyXL]

Hey. Thanks for the reply. Looking on Current USA's web site they say the 150 watt in the sunpod are quite bright and actually run closer to most 250 watt lights out there. So, I guess I'll go with that. I just wanted to make sure that having the full spectrum of lighting would be better than with the Metal Halide.

I have seen alot of Combo units like the Outer Orbit, but now I'm getting out of my price range a bit. So, If I can squeeze another 100 bucks out of my wallet I can opt for the halide's and probably be better off in the long run.

 

[SnowManSnow]

either of those fixtures isnt going to be an aweful amount of light for a 90g. I have 400w DE MH on my 60g cube which is only 24x24

Dont skimp on lighting and skimming.. and it will head of a LOT of problems down the road.

B

 

[DannyXL]

Really? Okay would the Outer Orbit 1042 with the following specs be adequate...

1042 48" 2 x 150 watt(Hilade) and 2 x 130 watt(Dual Actinic 420nm/ 460nm), 6 White Moon lamps, 560 Watts

 

[SnowManSnow]

Its all according to what you want to keep. If you're going for SPS corals and clams.. I wouldn't go with less than 8w/g.. that comes up to around 720..

if you want mostly softies and so forth I think 500w or so would be fine.


My 2 cents

 

[SnowManSnow]

all that being said i have around 7w/g and keep clams and sps wiht no problem

it has a LOT to do with the positioning of the coral under the lamp

 

[DannyXL]

Okay... Right, thats what I was thinking also. I do plan on building an elevated reef about 1/3 up the tank with caverns below. I don't know but I could live without the clams. Realizing that I'll have over 100lbs of rock in my tank I can't imagine I'll have more than 80 gallons in the tank. At 560 I'd be close to 7 wpg. Another concern I have was needing a chiller if I go too hot with my lights. I COULD put all of it on a credit card, but I'm trying to be a little budget minded. I need more base rock to reach my 100lb goal and we all know good rock isn't cheap. I realize two very important parts are my skimmer and my lighting, so I'll try to keep that in mind.

 

[pjf]

I would favor the Sunpod because I like the “glitter lines” produced by MH lights. I hear that these “glitter lines” are more beneficial to clams than the flat lighting produced by tubes.

I am close to buying the Sunpod 48” fixture to replace an ARAD fixture above my 75 gallon reef aquarium. Like the Sunpod, my ARAD has 2 x 150watt HQI lamps but instead of LED bulbs, it has two normal output fluorescent tubes. Unfortunately, the fluorescent system has failed, the HQI bulbs need replacement, and I dread taking this heavy fixture down from its ceiling mounts.

The Sunpod appeals to me because I think it is lightweight, compact, reliable, tank-mountable and produces “glitter lines.”

On the downside, I’ve heard that some Sunpod models have had unusually long HQI startup times. I hope that this problem has been fixed.

 

[trido]

If I had to choose between those two fixtures. I would get the MH. If you can stretch your budget you should hunt down some 250s. You can always get a VHO retrofit kit later down the road. If you are planning on stonies you will not regret the 250s. You can pretty much put anything any where you want including clams.

 

[shavo]

hey i am completely satisfied with my orbit light, they are great I wish i bought the outer orbit when i purchased though.