Lighting INPUT needed

[reefnewbe]

I have 5 frag tanks purchased from another member that i will be setting up
in the near future.

The tanks have all the same dimensions 4 feet long 2 feet wide 1 foot tall.

There will be some kind of support stand in each tank (eggcrate) leaving about 6 to 7 inches of water on top for frags.

My goal is to grow Acans/sps type corals.

i would like each tank to have its own set-up (lighting unit)

metal halides were my first thought but throw off alot of heat and use alot of energy$$$.

Area were tanks will be is cool all year round:approve:
(don't want to do the chiller thing if possible:grumpy

Any other real options????

Would these new LED type jams pull it off?? (due to only 6 to 8 inches of water to light through)

all posts/pm's input welcome......:idea:

 

[NYreefNoob]

get t5's buy the retro kit and use a 4 bulb or 6 bulb config, had 6 bulbs on my 62g and had great growth kept lps and sps

 

[fritz]

4x2 is the perfect foot print for 2 halides. T5s are great but they don't have a wide spread. At a 2 foot width you're going to be running 8 54watt t5s = around 450 watts. You could also use 2 250 MH or 2 175 iwasaki 15k halides. With the amount of water movement you'll have in these tanks you'll loose heat quick especially if they are in a cool area. Since they are in a cool area (basement?) it sounds like the perfect place to use halides.

 

[reefnewbe]

Thank you for the input.:smile:

 

[cali_reef]

MH is the way to go. I think two Luminarc mini with 150W DE bulbs will do great over each tank. Modifying some to take mugol based 150W bulbs will be even better.

 

[bad coffee]

MH is the way to go. I think two Luminarc mini with 150W DE bulbs will do great over each tank. Modifying some to take mugol based 150W bulbs will be even better.

the lumenarc mini's don't take 150. only 250 or 400. I had to retro my reflectors to fit my 150's.

B

 

[cali_reef]

the lumenarc mini's don't take 150. only 250 or 400. I had to retro my reflectors to fit my 150's.

B

I would go straight into SE 150W Lumis then..

BTW, I have a 8 foot light mover track I like to sale if you want to try lighting two four foot tanks with a single MH pendent.

 

[reefnewbe]

Thanks for the advice..

A light track :scratch: Sounds cool