light height / lights for a 29 gal.

[ILikeFish]

I am trying to figure out what lighting set up is best for my new tank. I have been doing alot of reading am am still confused.I have a 29gal that is about 18" tall.

I was thinking about making a hood with a 175w MH and 2 PC. Is this a good combo?

How high above the tank should this be as not to be too much for things on top?

Thanks!

 

[cowfish]

Depends on what you are trying to keep in it. I use a 130 watt pc fixture and keep a variety of corals including monti caps, hydnophora, shrooms, rics and others. If you're looking to go strictly SPS I'd use a single 14,000K 150 watt MH bulb. Leave the top of the tank uncovered to help with the heat.

 

[ILikeFish]

Thanks!

I go with just the MH, will it be too much to grow shrooms ect. I am planning getting a variety of small frags and want somthing that will alow them to grow.

I am also concerned about viewing. how many hours can I leave the MH on? How high should it be from the water?

 

[cowfish]

Depending on the height of the light - usual "spread" for a MH bulb is about 24" so the corners of the tank should be okay for mushrooms. It'll also depend on your aquascaping - make some spots that aren't getting full light. Not sure how high to hang it since I don't use MH... maybe about 8 inches above the waterline? Ask the lighting gurus they'll know Keep in mind MH bulbs kick out a lot of heat. You may want to consider getting a t5ho light - a 6 bulb set-up would be perfect.

FYI when you mix SPS with softies in a small tank you get a lot of "chemical warfare" going on with the SPS usually on the losing side. Leathers are the worst (especially sarcophytons), but shrooms can be pretty noxious too. I run chemipure in a HOB filter and change 5 gallons of water a week to help with this. I'm sure if I had better light and no leathers or shrooms I'd be seeing better growth in my SPS. But... I like the diversity.

 

[Chris5]

If you have the right height off the tank and a well ventillated room (with a chiller/ac) around I'd go for the MH but if you don't want the heat issue's I'd go for some T5 HO's ... Thats what im running on my 20g about 100+wtts and things are great ... I also have a MH built into a custom hood ready to go 16" above the tank but the heat is an issue and will only use it in the winter months ...

 

[ILikeFish]

I think i will stick with the MH as that is what i have now. If that is the only bulb i get is the 14000 k a good choice? What brand is good? I have a single end fixture.