vortex6
08/05/2006, 10:04 AM
I'm needing to light my 180 gallon tank. It's 72" x 24" x 24". I plan on keeping pretty much everything in it. Softies, LPS, SPS, clams. The part I'm confused about is they say you need so many watts per gallon but I also hear that T5s are much friendlier on your electric bill. Since I'm needing around 1000 watts wouldn't I need 1k in either MH or T5 or do I not need as many watts running T5? Are T5s the same as household lamps where they put out 60w of light but only consume 15w? If this is the case is there a site I can actually see how much power they use?
What would you guys recommend I use for lighting? I have a canopy that sits about 6" off the water so if I go MH I would have to ditch that but that is not a problem if that is the better option. I'll be using a DSB so I will need something that will penetrate 20". I had 1 recommendation made to me to go with 8 36" T5s running on Icecap 660s but that just doesn't seem like enough light to me. My canopy has 2 36" sections across the top so that was the reason for 36" instead of 72". I could modify it to be 1 piece if needed.
The shimmering effect of MH sounds really cool but at the same time I would like to have something where all the light is directed as much as possible into the tank where it doesn't light up the entire room. I don't want to look across the room and be blinded by lights.
I'd love to hear some recommendations and I'm sure I'll have lots of questions too. Thanks.
What would you guys recommend I use for lighting? I have a canopy that sits about 6" off the water so if I go MH I would have to ditch that but that is not a problem if that is the better option. I'll be using a DSB so I will need something that will penetrate 20". I had 1 recommendation made to me to go with 8 36" T5s running on Icecap 660s but that just doesn't seem like enough light to me. My canopy has 2 36" sections across the top so that was the reason for 36" instead of 72". I could modify it to be 1 piece if needed.
The shimmering effect of MH sounds really cool but at the same time I would like to have something where all the light is directed as much as possible into the tank where it doesn't light up the entire room. I don't want to look across the room and be blinded by lights.
I'd love to hear some recommendations and I'm sure I'll have lots of questions too. Thanks.