Lighting for a Shallow tank

[Jai Minton]

Looking at alighting for my 24x24x12 shallow cube i have been looking at a 150W metal halide with moon lights for 100.00 bucks. with this torch everything? never used any MH's before only pc, so I dont know if this will be too much light as its only going to be 10 inches of water (minus 1 inch for sand and 1 inch for the overflow to do its thing)

Also if anyone has them, what are some good ideas on lighting choices for a mixed reef this shallow (100.00 or less please(broke college student)

:confused: :confused::confused:

[Jai Minton]

11 views and no replies? :(

[Jai Minton]

Bump!

[wood0691]

sorry i cant answer your ? but i also have a shallow tank thats 48" long, not set up but i had gotten a 48" coral life PC fixture for it off ebay. ive never used MH bulbs B4.
good luck with everything

[omen2001]

24x24x12 shallow cube :

:lmao:@ shallow cube

[omen2001]

24x24x12 shallow cube :

:lmao:@ shallow cube

Anywyas T5s should be fine

[Jai Minton]

what about the MH idea?

[Jai Minton]

Whats wrong with a shallow cube? :)

[Eurobeaner]

a cube would be 24x24x24. yours is not technically a cube, though most people call it that.

[Jai Minton]

lol its a short box lol :)

[Jai Minton]

its only a piece of a cube... I couldnt afford the whole cube! lmao

[Arkayology]

A 150w MH raised up about 12in +/- would be fine for that depth.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I'm using a 250w DE Elos 20K on my 20L(30"Lx12"dx12"h)
Too much light for softies and some anemones but I keep neither.
My halide is ~12" off the water surface.
150w would be no problem at all....

[Jai Minton]

cool and I guess i could keep anything i want with it as well!

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Yup, depending on lamp/ballast combo as some 10k's are burners as compared to 14k and 20k lamps)....the most demanding might need the upper half of the tank and some of the less light loving lps might like a little shade...most softies you might not be able to keep.

[Jai Minton]

I might need to re-think this then... im really not interested in Sps but i do like the clams and i would like a nem.... i was think mostly zoa's with some other softies and a few hammers and frog spawn. maybe a birdsnest or acrapora

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Get a 20k lamp then and keep whatever you want as long as you make some caves/lower light areas with your rock.

[Jai Minton]

ok ill look into it.. caves and stuff are going to be pretty hard though in 10 inches of water i think :(