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PoukieBear
03/11/2006, 06:01 PM
OK, I think it's time to upgrade my lighting. I have a 220 gallon tank that needs new lights.

The tank is 6 feet long, 2 feet 6 inches tall, and aprox 26 inches deep.

There will be no SPS in this tank, only LPS and softies.

These (http://www.aquacon.com/coralifehalides.html) are the lights that we are looking at. 72" Aqualight Pro 3x150W HQI/4x96W PC/4x1W Lunar (at the bottom of the page).

What are your thoughts? Are there any other suggestions?
alien9168
03/12/2006, 09:55 AM
Looks coll to me! :D

-alien
PoukieBear
03/12/2006, 12:03 PM
Anyone else? Are they strong enough for the corals that I would like to keep?
alien9168
03/12/2006, 01:54 PM
Really...Thats alot of light. However, if your not satisfied or a little unshure, go with a couple high powered MH pendants with good reflectors. THen supliment them with some acentics and your good.

I think coralife makes a good fixture. Maybe look at aqua medic...:D

Good Luck- I hope someone else weighs in on this issue! :D

-alien
PoukieBear
03/12/2006, 02:36 PM
I didn't think it was a lot of light. It's only 300 watts of MH, plus the actinics.

I Guess I don't know a lot about MH lighting...300 watts over a 220 gallon tank is good then?
PoukieBear
03/12/2006, 02:40 PM
oh crud, now i'm confused...In my origional post, it says 3 MH lights, then i thought it was two MH lights, i was looking at the wrong size...the 72inch has three MH lights...

so total is 450 watts of MH lighting...I guess that's good for LPS and softies right?

Jeesh, i hate doing this kind of research. but with the amount of money that i'm about to spend, it has to be right.
alien9168
03/12/2006, 03:26 PM
If u really want alot of sps, go with some 4 400 watt MH's.

With that, you can keep any sps u want...i think lol. :D
That will give you 1600 watts of metal halide, and you can supliment them with acentic. I agree, research is key...its alot of money to blow on the wrong thing! :D

-alien
alien9168
03/12/2006, 03:28 PM
BTW, whats your budget, maybe i can find somtrhing to fit it. I dont mind doing the research :)

:D

-alien
PoukieBear
03/12/2006, 03:53 PM
I don't have a budget.

And I don't want to keep SPS, just LPS and softies.

Thanks for your help alien!
alien9168
03/12/2006, 05:14 PM
No problem! :D
THats what fellow reefers are therefore. :)
-alien
apjunky
03/12/2006, 05:19 PM
I have that light on my 220 . My tank is all softies . Me and my corals have been very happy with it . Had mine since Jan of 05 and no problems .
PoukieBear
03/13/2006, 08:31 AM
Can you post a pic of it and your tank?
DanielMar
03/15/2006, 01:55 AM
I use 3 400 watt mh's and soon to add 96x's 4 pc 50/50
btw tried to send pm and your box was full.
Daniel
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1157/4231794/8874146/132585767.jpg
PoukieBear
03/15/2006, 08:30 AM
Thanks a ton.

I bought a light last night. It's the Corallife light that I was looking at before, but with 250 watt MH lights instead of the 150watt MH Light.

They guy at the store gave me a great deal on it. I paid the same price for the 250's as I would have for the 150's, and he threw in a 3 year warrenty on top of it.

I got it all set up last night, and it looks great. Now I can start adding some corals! YEA!
DanielMar
03/15/2006, 04:34 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6958716#post6958716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PoukieBear
Thanks a ton.

I bought a light last night. It's the Corallife light that I was looking at before, but with 250 watt MH lights instead of the 150watt MH Light.

They guy at the store gave me a great deal on it. I paid the same price for the 250's as I would have for the 150's, and he threw in a 3 year warrenty on top of it.

I got it all set up last night, and it looks great. Now I can start adding some corals! YEA!

Great job and have fun!:) :)
Daniel
DesertBandits
03/16/2006, 01:10 PM
what about T5 for lowered elec costs?
PoukieBear
03/16/2006, 03:45 PM
lol, it's too late now! I have the MH's.
Fiziksgeek
03/16/2006, 04:15 PM
I think you made the right choice. With a 30" deep tank, the 250's are more appropriate then the 150's.

I think in the end, most people will end up with MH's anyway (or atleast want them) haha. You dont get quite the same look with PC, T5, or VHO as you do with MH's!
PoukieBear
03/16/2006, 05:33 PM
I love the look of the new MH's. We obviously had to take off the glass top, and now the entire living room "shimmers" with the light reflecting off of the surface.

And the moon lights are beyond awsome!
alien9168
03/16/2006, 07:37 PM
Good choice on the MH's
:D

-alien