Enough Lighting?

Hey All,

I am looking to set up another tank. Looking at a 180 Gallon with mega-flows. My thought is to have a "reef" set up in the middle of the tank, and open space on either side...so over a 6 foot tank...Reef in the middle 2-3 feet and open space on either side.

My question...I am thinking of putting in a 72" PowerCompact set up - just about 400watts total. Over the Center Section, I am thinking of hanging a 250W 10,000K MH. Thought is to have adequate lighting through out, and maximum lighting over the reef portion. My goal is to keep Zoos, Mushrooms, Softies, and some sps frags. From a cost and heat perspective...I am hoping to not put MH over the non reef areas. Would like to avoid the extra light cost, and the need for a chiller I hope. That being said, I want to do this right as well.

Do you think this is enough light? The tank is 24" deep by the way.

Any other suggestions then what I have above? Based on my desired mix of critters?

Thanks

 

Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Lateral Lines: Classification and Terminology For Reef Aquarium Lighting

 

Interesting link. Question I have now is how do you translate PAR to Watts/Gallon? Or do you?

 

LOL oh you have a home work assignment LOL I can't real all the eye blurring B/S myself . Lighting is mostly just that pureD bull I'll pass on what little I know about lighting . I try not to make a science of it I just want to grow corals Like who really cares about the internal workings of their combustion engines ? All they want it to do is start up and do the job they want it to do.

All living things on earth uses light with the visible spectrum of 400nm to 700nm and this is the basis of all life on planet earth AKA 3rd rock from the sun

PAR Photo-synthetically Active Radiation what this means is do you have enough light that is strong enough to stimulate the important work that is needed for photosynthesis. And No P/C's will never do the job if It where myself nd its not I'd set up all M/H and separate Actinic and or set of T5's will for a 6ft tank you will need dual sets of 36" . The actinic is very important to keep the supplied with enough light of the proper wave lengths 420 nm. to stimulate plenty of light for photosynthesis to take place through fluorescence .. If you want a boring light lecture I'll have the wife type up one ? But then we can get into all the stuff associated with PAR's like Lux Lumens Spectrum's and the ever popular wattages

I myself would just set up the M/H with some pure actinic period and in the M/H use 14 K SPS bulbs and on the Bloe actinic either VHO URI brand super actinic lamps or the T5's with the UVL super actinic all so. This combination will allow you to grow and keep any coral clams or fish you want..

 

Thanks Tangster. So you are thinking the (1) 250W 14000K MH over the actual reef...and then T5-Actinic bulbs along the rest of the tank? That should work?

Any suggestions on where to get the lighting? Specific Brands etc?

 

I myself would eiher go with 3 M/H and actinics or a dual set of 36"x 8 tubes tek T5 lith set up . Once you get this up and running you will only find your self out of room and wanting to add more corals and so it goes. Look in the sponsors form's lots of lighting stuff there .

 

With the MH Set up, what would be the best way to add the actinic lighting in there?

 

I would use a T5 or VHO set up, for the actinics I myself have 2 72" VHO URI super actinics . T5 with UVL will be great but you will have to go with either 4 36" lamps or 2 48" bulbs and 2 24" bulbs to get the full 6 ft. tank open top or you have a hood ? several options either with or with out a hood/canopy

P/M me I'll be able to get more to the point about how the ligting works and what I'd do to get them set up .