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View Full Version : Good deep display tanks???


GPhiAce
02/16/2010, 07:30 PM
I am thinking of getting a deep tank. 150 gallon 30" deep tank. I would like to know/see some good examples of SPS or mixed reef deep tanks. I am highly worried about the amount of light that will reach the bottom and the ease of working in the tank. I have done some research on the lights and believe that I have a good plan. Do anyone have pics of a good deep display tank??????

JRF
02/17/2010, 08:41 AM
I have a 150 tall, 48"x24"x30" tall....My tank is a mixed reed, everything from softies, lps and sps....You really dont need all that much light for a 30" tall tank....not 1000's of watts. I run 1- 400W 20K radium and 2- 65W actinic pc's....all corals from top to bottom are doing well and receiving enough light.

GPhiAce
02/17/2010, 06:07 PM
I have a 150 tall, 48"x24"x30" tall....My tank is a mixed reed, everything from softies, lps and sps....You really dont need all that much light for a 30" tall tank....not 1000's of watts. I run 1- 400W 20K radium and 2- 65W actinic pc's....all corals from top to bottom are doing well and receiving enough light.

Do you have a FTS? I would think that at least 2 MHs or T5s would be needed to light the 48' length. I was planning on 2x250w MH with IceCap (or another good ballast) on LumenMax Elite reflectors and 2x 110w (not sure if that is right) VHO on an IceCap 660. That is enough light, but I am really interested in your FTS? Thank you very much for posting.

jnc914
02/17/2010, 06:22 PM
http://www.marineland.com/sites/Marineland/products/productdetail.aspx?id=2054&cid=3600&mid=3228

Their 150 is 6" more than you were looking at depth wise, however they are beautiful tanks and the extra depth opens up more aquascaping options. I am in the process of ordering the 200 gallon version.

GPhiAce
02/17/2010, 08:11 PM
http://www.marineland.com/sites/Marineland/products/productdetail.aspx?id=2054&cid=3600&mid=3228

Their 150 is 6" more than you were looking at depth wise, however they are beautiful tanks and the extra depth opens up more aquascaping options. I am in the process of ordering the 200 gallon version.

Thanks for the link. My question was more along the lines of I am getting a deep tank and would like to know what others have done. Thank you for the suggestions

JRF
02/18/2010, 08:49 AM
I started out with 2, 400W MH's but that was WAY too much light as observed by coral condition....So I downgraded to 1, 400W MH with the 2, 65W pc's.....This amount of light is working perfectly for my system. Low light sps do well near the bottom, along with lps and softies, and the sps that like higher light level are near the top...growth and color are great. I think we often go overkill on lighting when other factors are just as important ( lighting is important but be careful on getting too much light ). Here are a couple more examples from my tank that show corals ranging from the bottom of the tank and up...pics were taken this week..I dont have any recent FTS...but the MH is located in the middle and the 2 pc's on either side....
JRF