View Full Version : Would this work?
Tutto
02/28/2013, 03:34 PM
Would two of these fixtures with 10000k metal halide bulbs be enough light for a 6' x 2' x 17" high tank?
http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/hamiltontechnologymetalhalidefixtures1x175w6500k24inch.aspx
Would I be able to keep pretty much all corals?
chris1292
02/28/2013, 03:36 PM
I believe 3 are recommended for a 125
Tutto
02/28/2013, 03:40 PM
I believe 3 are recommended for a 125
I am buying them used, so only can get two right now. I know there would be some open space, because its 4 feet of lights, for a 6 foot tank, but if I spread them out evenly, it would only come out to about a few inches on each side of the fixture, which with the reflectors should spread out fine Id assume.
Would 175 watt be enough? Its only a 17 inch tank heightwise, so it doesnt have to penetrate very deep.
Tutto
02/28/2013, 04:44 PM
Anyone else?
sirreal63
02/28/2013, 05:17 PM
Those tanks are an unfortunate design with only one center brace. You may not like my suggestion but it would fill the entire tank with light and allow you to keep whatever you wanted anywhere in the tank. You can use 4 of these...
http://www.aqua-medic.com/product/ocean-light-1x150w/
The price is great and all you need is bulbs. With the tank only being 17" tall the 150's are all you need. The one you are looking at will not adequately light a 24x36 area but it is doable. The design loses light and does not effectively get all of the light down to the tank. Yes it will work and yes you can do it with 175 watt bulbs but it isn't really adequate if you want to light the tank completely. As you get into more light demanding corals and the tank grows you will outgrow that light pretty quickly. It isn't a bad light but it isn't a great light either.
Tutto
02/28/2013, 05:27 PM
Those tanks are an unfortunate design with only one center brace. You may not like my suggestion but it would fill the entire tank with light and allow you to keep whatever you wanted anywhere in the tank. You can use 4 of these...
http://www.aqua-medic.com/product/ocean-light-1x150w/
The price is great and all you need is bulbs. With the tank only being 17" tall the 150's are all you need. The one you are looking at will not adequately light a 24x36 area but it is doable. The design loses light and does not effectively get all of the light down to the tank. Yes it will work and yes you can do it with 175 watt bulbs but it isn't really adequate if you want to light the tank completely. As you get into more light demanding corals and the tank grows you will outgrow that light pretty quickly. It isn't a bad light but it isn't a great light either.
Hmmm, Well I dont plan on loading it up with tons of coral and rock throughout the whole thing, so I wouldnt mind having two main areas where I place my coral, and leave the aquascaping fairly open. I could do something like a double island setup, have most of the high light corals on the island and many of the less light needing on the floor?
How does that sound, Im not worried about being able to place coral in the corners of the tank, but do you think it will be dark?
sirreal63
02/28/2013, 05:31 PM
It won't be dark and the two islands would be fine. Creative aquascaping is always a solution. Most people aquascape without thinking about how the light falls in the tank, but it can make a lot of difference to aquascape with the light in mind.
Tutto
02/28/2013, 05:47 PM
It won't be dark and the two islands would be fine. Creative aquascaping is always a solution. Most people aquascape without thinking about how the light falls in the tank, but it can make a lot of difference to aquascape with the light in mind.
Awesome, now I just need to plan out the double island look. Thanks for the help, do you think 90 each is a good price for me?
sirreal63
02/28/2013, 05:54 PM
Yes, it is a good price. Does it have the PC's like the link does?
Tutto
02/28/2013, 06:15 PM
Yes, it is a good price. Does it have the PC's like the link does?
Yeah, they are acinitic now, they have been replaced and haven't been used since. Do those help coral growth, like supplemental lighting?
sirreal63
02/28/2013, 06:24 PM
It has an impact on growth and coloration but it is just supplementary, not a major contributor.
Tutto
02/28/2013, 06:27 PM
It has an impact on growth and coloration but it is just supplementary, not a major contributor.
Oh ok, right now I have just T5 in my tank, haven't had a ton of luck with corals, do you think I will see a noticable difference in growth and overall look with metal halides? From what I have heard, besides the heat and electricity cost, they are some of the most reliable and proven types of lights in saltwater.
sirreal63
02/28/2013, 06:30 PM
They will do the job, and as a bonus you can still use the T5's in addition to the MH and PC's, it can be helpful in your tank where there will be lower light areas, they will help balance out the light, if you can incorporate them in the mix.
Tutto
02/28/2013, 08:58 PM
Ok, so I have 6 feet of tank to cover with 4 feet of lights... Im going to aquascape a double island look, as this will let me place the high light corals directly under the lights.
Im going to center the lights depth wise over the tank, and length Im thinking of doing something like this...
[(7inches)(24 inch light)(10 inches)(24 inch light)(7inches)]
The center brace will be in the middle of the 10 inches separating the two lights. Its clear and only 3 inches wide.
How does that look? Should leave plenty of open swimming room, and room to place low light corals, while still maintaining two "islands" where the majority of my rock will be placed, as well as any highlight corals.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.