MH for 20L

[stealthbimmer]

im having a hard time finding a MH light for my 20L. All MH i see are either 24 or 36", but a 20L is 30". Any help would be great, im new to MH lighting...

[fatrip]

are you looking for a pendant to place on top or to hang? or a better bet is going with a retrofit and making a custom hood with the MH and some actinics.

[stealthbimmer]

either or, i just do not know where to start. I can hang, or i can mount on tank,but i cant find anything that would fit on tank. Could i use a 24" and hang? Not really looking to make a custom hood, although ik it is an option.

[fatrip]

yes i would use a 24 and hang in the middle of the tank. look for a pendant that has actinic suplements, either PC or t-5 will work. i can give you some opptions when i get back form lunch if you want. ill be back round 130 ish. also you need to think if you want a single end or double end MH.

[stealthbimmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10839466#post10839466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fatrip
yes i would use a 24 and hang in the middle of the tank. look for a pendant that has actinic suplements, either PC or t-5 will work. i can give you some opptions when i get back form lunch if you want. ill be back round 130 ish. also you need to think if you want a single end or double end MH.
if you could do that, it would be much apprechiated. I have no clue what the difference between single or double end...like i said im a mh noob.

[fatrip]

first then pros and cons of single and double ends. DE is smaller so the pendent is usually smaller, but with the DE you need a UV protected piece of glass infront of the light so, inturn from salt creep and splashing you will need to clean often. SE much larger bulb, so bigger fixture but no need for protective glass, less cleaning. DE pendents are cheeper, because they arnt as big. what was the price range you are looking in? this will better help me to find you some choices.

[papagimp]

I'd recommend hanging one. A canopy would look nicer but a 20g is so tiny that i'd would worry about keeping the tank sufficiently cooled. I'd also recommend a single ended bulb, I've used a double ended and was completly annoyed at how often I had to clean the splash shield on it.

I'll also add that I've owned 24" fixtures that would fit on a 30g tank. Many that have mounting legs have some type of adjustment that allows the legs to be used for more than just one size tank. And if you have one that will hang, then it won't matter if it's 24" or 36". I'd personally go with the smaller since in all likelyhood it'll be cheaper and the only real difference would be the size of the supplemental lighting, you can get a 150w in any size fixture (or whatever size mh bulbs you are looking towards)

[fatrip]

well said...lol...with your new evolved heat issue from the MH i would suggest also to go for a 250W because you are going to want the light higher off the water and that much light will cover you for any coral or clam you will ever want in that short of a tank.

[stealthbimmer]

price range is hopefully under 200? am i asking to much to find something in that price range?

[papagimp]

stealthbimmer, shop used if you can find a good deal. I just picked up a 2 x 250w retrofit, with everything indluded plus some extra bulbs, plugged em in and ready to go, only cost me $175

And a few months back, i picked up a single 250w retro setup, everything included for $75, but managed to get it for less by throwing in a frogspawn frag I had extra. :D

[fatrip]

yes...i would wait and save some more money up. if you deside on the SE bulb you are looking around 400 - 500$...but if you are looking to go that cheep and you have some wood working skills i would make a hood, you could probibly make a hood with the retrofits for about 250 +...

here are some options

SE (http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/shop/index.php?task=show&cat=2FT+Deluxe+Metal+Halide+with+Compact+Fluorescents)

here are DE pendants at drs foster

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=3578+3733+8075

that will give you an idea of prices...also look on the selling forum they useually have some good things there...

[twodaend]

I have a 20L also and I'm using the 30" 150W Sunpod (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8075+13975&pcatid=13975). This is my first reef tank and so far so good with the light. I now understand what everyone is talking about with the shimmer effect you only get with MH lighting.

[fatrip]

you get the shimmer with the LED's as well but you need to drop about 1500.00 dollars more...lol

[bertoni]

If a DIY canopy is reasonable for you, a MH setup with a PFO reflector, a good ballast, and a bulb should be reasonable, although MH is overkill for that size tank. I light my 20g with a MH bulb, though. :)

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10840321#post10840321 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
although MH is overkill for that size tank. I light my 20g with a MH bulb, though. :)

that's cause your a junkie....give the newbie enough time in the hobby and he'll be a reef junkie and overlight his tank as well. :D

[bertoni]

At least it's only a 175 W setup... :)

[DrBegalke]

what about a 150 w clamp on? not enough light?

i'm not real familiar with a 20 L...

[stealthbimmer]

what about something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Current-USA-30-Sunpod-HQI-Metal-Halide-Strip-Light-NIB_W0QQitemZ280079331988QQihZ018QQcategoryZ46314QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[twodaend]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10840095#post10840095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twodaend
I have a 20L also and I'm using the 30" 150W Sunpod (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8075+13975&pcatid=13975). This is my first reef tank and so far so good with the light. I now understand what everyone is talking about with the shimmer effect you only get with MH lighting.

That is the exact same one I have for my 20L. I went to HomeDepot and go 3 timers so that each of the lights (MH, Blue LED, White LED) come on and off on schedule.