Appropriate lighting for a new tank

[NathanBoy]

I am working on setting up what I intend to be a 55g reef tank (36x18x20) with a 25 gallon sump, but I am still trying to figure out the lighting. I currently don't have any sort of enclosure, and I am oscillating between buying a 3x96watt PC kit from ahsupply.com and building one myself, or buying two used 175 watt Coralife Solar System pendants locally that will hold 10,000K bulbs. I am unsure of what all I plan on keeping in my tank yet, I have been taking it step by step. I thought that maybe I would try a couple of easier to grow corals, and then get a bit more adventurous after that. My chief worry is that I will build a lighting setup that will prohibit me from growing some types of coral.

I would love it if I could get some advice on whether either or both of these lighting setups will be good for both soft and sps corals, and if anyone has a strong opinion one way or the other as to which one will be better in the long run (easier to maintain, better for the animals), I would love to hear it. Thanks in advance!

 

[Meloco14]

Hi Nathan, as you have found there are many options for lighting. It seems like you have narrowed it down to 2 good choices. I am assuming the coralife pendants at metal halides. There are 2 ways to go. If money is not a concern I would get the best lighting you can. With 250 watt metal halides over that tank you will be able to keep anything. If you are trying to keep the cost down, however, you need to know what corals you want to be able to keep. This will let you get enough lighting for them without having to go overboard and spend more money. The PC system you listed will be fine for soft corals and LPS corals. But IMO it won't be enough to keep SPS corals healthy. The pendants will be fine for soft and LPS corals and most SPS corals if you keep them up high in the tank, and the pendants down close to the water level. When I first started I used normal fluorescent bulbs. Then I wanted to keep soft corals and went to PC's. Then I wanted to keep SPS corals and went to halides. This is a common trend with people, and if you want to skip the intermediate steps just go for the halides in the beginning, if you can. It will save you money in the long run, and you won't have to worry if you have enough light to keep that pretty coral you see at the LFS. There are other factors to consider, though. Will you use a hood over this tank or an open top? Pendants obviously work well with an open top, and some models can be fitted into a hood. PC's need a hood of some type. If you are going open top with pendants, you don't have options for actinics. With a hood you do. Actinics aren't necessary, just personal preference and something to consider. HTH

 

[SnowManSnow]

hey man

welcome aboard

you do need to decide what you want to keep first. that being said I REALLLLY like MH over PC lighting. There are a lot of considerations to think about if you go with MH... but first decide if that's what you want.

even with 2 175w pendants you'll be hurting to keep some corals, and I wouldnt suggest any anemonies or clams. If cost doesn't prohibit I would go with 2x 250mh at either 14 or 16K. Maybe even 20K if you like the look. Check out www.exoticfish.com and look for Hamilton Reefstar Pendants. I just got a 400w pendant for pretty cheap from there.

sooo...
#1 determine what you want to keep
#2 go from there

Take care.

B

 

[NathanBoy]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll do some more thinking and go from there. I do have one question, although maybe I ought to know the answer to this already =). I've never had a tank with an open top before. If I do have an open tank, how do I prevent fish from jumping out? Is the standard solution to use some sort of egg crating?

 

[Anonymous]

Light divuser can work. I prefer to get fish that are not prone to jumping. I have only had one flasher wrasse carpet surf on me.

 

[Meloco14]

My tank is open top with no cover and I have not had any problems with any non-jumper fish. I want to get some wrasses and maybe a jawfish and plan on using eggcrate as the cover. Some people use netting or screening also.