what about this??

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01062

I'm thinking about starting up a 20 gal long reef tank. what do you guys think of this light? and how high would it have to be off the tank. L=30 W=12 D=12

 

It's a nice little light with the hqi metal halide which is stronger than the older style mogul fixture/bulb. It is more towards the blue spectrum. The only thing I like is to have the pc's or t5 actinics as well to replicate the dawn and dusk cycles of the day...Also, it puts stress on your corals etc. when you just turn the lights off without any sort of acclimation from light to dark. I hope I haven't lost you! I would place the light up about 4" or so above the water line to aid in the reduction of heat transferred to your water. Metal halides are very hot, more so than the pc's and t5's...

 

thanks a bunch

 

so i should look into getting another fixture with 10000K and actinics. and set everything up on a timer? i think thats what you are saying...

 

Yes, to me it makes the most sense, to mimic as close to the natural cycle of the sun each day.

 

hmmm idk if this is just me...but for a 20gal tank metal halides might cause a bad evaporation situation...maybe check out some t-5 fixtures...thats what im doing for my 55...im scared of MH for small tanks lol...but then again if you are heart set maybe get a small chiller

 

I would rethink on the MH for the 20gal tank. my friend has a 80 gal with two 175 watts MH and 260 actinics, his water temp. goes up to about 86* during the day. He cooked about $200 of fish in that cooking pot...but inverts survive tho. He's getting a chiller ($400 - $600) soon before he add anything else.

 

what about PC? im gonna need at least 65 watts right? maybe more??

 

Over a 20gal long you would want at least 80-100W of PC. Actually you can get a 30" PC fixture with 2x65W bulbs which would give you 130W! That would be 6.5WPG which would allow you to keep just about any coral you like, except sps....I think...I'm pretty sure sps require REALLY stong light, but I like softies and lps better anyways. I've seen those fixtures for about $135 and less online. HTH.

 

that is actually the light i was looking at. thanks a lot!!

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