lighting for 55g FOWLR

vagabond · 03-13-2004, 05:57 PM

I am in the process of setting up 55g FOWLR tank and am looking for recommendations on the lighting. I will be DIYing the canopy and lights cause its way cheaper.
I looked into running T5 HO's but accessibilty to the bulbs made it a no go.

Now I am between VHO and PC. If I run 2 x 96W PC's will this be enough light to support the LR, possibly an anemone and maybe some low light corals (mushrooms, leathers) down the road.
Tank is custom made RR 40"x18"x18".

Thanks in advance for all experiences and suggestions!

Pro_builder · 03-13-2004, 07:19 PM

For a FOWLR tank you don't need nuch light, just enough to make your viewing hte tank pleasurable.

You wouldn't be able to keep an Anenome in this tank though. They are Light Lovers, you usally want about 8 to 10 watts per gallon to keep them.
Some softies and Mushrooms would be ok under this lighting setup.

vagabond · 03-13-2004, 07:28 PM

Thanks Troy

Would the VHO be better than the PC.

Problem I'm having with the VHO's is finding the endcaps/sockets.

Pro_builder · 03-13-2004, 07:35 PM

It really doesn't matter, but I can get you VHO setup or PC setup, that is a personal preference.
What are you wanting for light (How many Bulbs?)

vagabond · 03-13-2004, 07:58 PM

As I said in the start of the thread I was going to run 2x96W PC's this would be in comparison to 2x95W VHO's.

Recommendations appreciated as to which 2 spectrum bulbs to use in either setup.

Both setups can run off a Workhorse 7 ballast which I can get inexpensively. The Sockets/endcaps for the PC's are also available to me but when I start talking VHO to my lighting or electrical retailers/wholesalers they look at me as if I had 3 heads( a 95W,110w flourescent ??).

Do the VHO lamps req. special endcaps or do they simply use the same ones as the NO bulbs (the diference then being only the ballast req to run VHO vs NO.

As I am in Canada ordering from the US gets cost prohibiting with the exchange, added shipping, etc...

Pro_builder · 03-14-2004, 11:58 AM

Bulbs are a personal preference thing. I would run 1 - 10K bulb and 1 Actinic.
End caps are a lil different for the VHO setups (sealed)

03-13-2004, 05:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
vagabond Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	lighting for 55g FOWLR I am in the process of setting up 55g FOWLR tank and am looking for recommendations on the lighting. I will be DIYing the canopy and lights cause its way cheaper. I looked into running T5 HO's but accessibilty to the bulbs made it a no go. Now I am between VHO and PC. If I run 2 x 96W PC's will this be enough light to support the LR, possibly an anemone and maybe some low light corals (mushrooms, leathers) down the road. Tank is custom made RR 40"x18"x18". Thanks in advance for all experiences and suggestions!

03-13-2004, 07:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	For a FOWLR tank you don't need nuch light, just enough to make your viewing hte tank pleasurable. You wouldn't be able to keep an Anenome in this tank though. They are Light Lovers, you usally want about 8 to 10 watts per gallon to keep them. Some softies and Mushrooms would be ok under this lighting setup. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

03-13-2004, 07:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	It really doesn't matter, but I can get you VHO setup or PC setup, that is a personal preference. What are you wanting for light (How many Bulbs?) __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

03-14-2004, 11:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Bulbs are a personal preference thing. I would run 1 - 10K bulb and 1 Actinic. End caps are a lil different for the VHO setups (sealed) __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

03-13-2004, 07:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
vagabond Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks Troy Would the VHO be better than the PC. Problem I'm having with the VHO's is finding the endcaps/sockets.

03-13-2004, 07:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
vagabond Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	As I said in the start of the thread I was going to run 2x96W PC's this would be in comparison to 2x95W VHO's. Recommendations appreciated as to which 2 spectrum bulbs to use in either setup. Both setups can run off a Workhorse 7 ballast which I can get inexpensively. The Sockets/endcaps for the PC's are also available to me but when I start talking VHO to my lighting or electrical retailers/wholesalers they look at me as if I had 3 heads( a 95W,110w flourescent ??). Do the VHO lamps req. special endcaps or do they simply use the same ones as the NO bulbs (the diference then being only the ballast req to run VHO vs NO. As I am in Canada ordering from the US gets cost prohibiting with the exchange, added shipping, etc...

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