lighting help

ex3004me · 08-22-2006, 10:15 PM

Alright im gonna make my own canopy and wanna retro some lights in it. Im not sure on what lights to use but i dont want buy anything later down the road. So heres what i was thinking 2 175 watt 10k metal maybe 2 96 watt vhos and 2 acntic vhos then some moon lights. My tank is a 90 gal 48wide 24 high and I want to know what you guys think and maybe get some suggestions if I need more or less and maybe a basic schedule for the lights. Anything will help me

mps9506 · 08-22-2006, 10:19 PM

Well, first question is what type of corals do you plan on keeping?
I would recomend at least 250watt halides for a 90gallon with 2 110watt vho's for actinics. Very basic and pretty easy to retrofit into a canopy.
If you plan on keeping sps and think you might want to run 20,000k bulbs I would suggest either the 400watt single ended halides, or the 250watt double ended halides.

cioutlaw · 08-23-2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mps9506

Well, first question is what type of corals do you plan on keeping?
I would recomend at least 250watt halides for a 90gallon with 2 110watt vho's for actinics. Very basic and pretty easy to retrofit into a canopy.
If you plan on keeping sps and think you might want to run 20,000k bulbs I would suggest either the 400watt single ended halides, or the 250watt double ended halides.

Are the double ended HQI lights brighter per watt than the screw in bulbs? just curious cause I saw you list a 400watt & a 250 double ended as an alternant.

cheeks69 · 08-23-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cioutlaw

Are the double ended HQI lights brighter per watt than the screw in bulbs? just curious cause I saw you list a 400watt & a 250 double ended as an alternant.

The DE bulbs will give ya higher PAR #'s because of the ballast, from what I understand the hqi ballast will overdrive the bulbs but will reduce the life of the bulb.

billyr98 · 08-23-2006, 10:52 PM

I think two 250w MHs would be awesome in a 90g reef..
Also some T5 HOs for actinics would be a good compliment..

cioutlaw · 08-24-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheeks69

The DE bulbs will give ya higher PAR #'s because of the ballast, from what I understand the hqi ballast will overdrive the bulbs but will reduce the life of the bulb.

So if you have 150W ballast & 150 bulb would you still be over driving? I have 2 150w HQIs on a 120G & have been getting reasonable growth from SPS..didnt know if I was lucky or the bulbs are stronger than I thought.

ex3004me · 08-24-2006, 09:50 PM

So i have ordered 2 250watt metal halide retros and a 2 bulb vho setup for the actincs but what color tempature should i go with on the halides?

08-22-2006, 10:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
ex3004me Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	lighting help Alright im gonna make my own canopy and wanna retro some lights in it. Im not sure on what lights to use but i dont want buy anything later down the road. So heres what i was thinking 2 175 watt 10k metal maybe 2 96 watt vhos and 2 acntic vhos then some moon lights. My tank is a 90 gal 48wide 24 high and I want to know what you guys think and maybe get some suggestions if I need more or less and maybe a basic schedule for the lights. Anything will help me

08-22-2006, 10:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,527 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: lighting help Well, first question is what type of corals do you plan on keeping? I would recomend at least 250watt halides for a 90gallon with 2 110watt vho's for actinics. Very basic and pretty easy to retrofit into a canopy. If you plan on keeping sps and think you might want to run 20,000k bulbs I would suggest either the 400watt single ended halides, or the 250watt double ended halides. __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

08-23-2006, 10:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,409 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: lighting help I think two 250w MHs would be awesome in a 90g reef.. Also some T5 HOs for actinics would be a good compliment.. __________________ Billyr98 - I'm BACK!! -

08-24-2006, 09:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
ex3004me Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: lighting help So i have ordered 2 250watt metal halide retros and a 2 bulb vho setup for the actincs but what color tempature should i go with on the halides?

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