Lighting a 35 Hex

Hi, I need some help deciding on a new fixture for my 35 gallon Hex tank. Tank dimensions are 22" point-to-point, 20" front to back, and 24" tall. It's about 20" from the sand bed to the light, and 8" from the light to the top of the rockscape. The fixture I currently have is a 96 watt T-5, but the sockets went bad on 2 bulbs and I'm down to 48 watts. Of course, this had to happen after I bought new bulbs. Anyway, I was browsing Frags.com and I found the most beautiful Acropora tortuosa and I'm wondering what kind of light I need to grow it. Right now I have Caulastrea, Duncanopsammia and Ricordea. I was thinking about getting Metal Halide since then I'd only have to replace 1 bulb instead of 4. But my main concern about Halide is the heat. I don't have air conditioning. Last summer, the house temp topped at about 97 degrees, and the aquarium was 85 degrees with the all the T-5s working. I have ceiling fans and such, but I don't have the means to properly ventilate a chiller. I also live at home and don't want to raise the electricity bill much higher than it already is with 9 aquariums.

So the fixtures I was considering (until reading online) was either a 70 watt Sunpod Halide or a 150 watt. I don't have any experience with Halides so I don't know how hot they're going to get. But after reading online, it seems like 150 would be the bare minimum, 250 would be better... but then I'm back at the heat issue.

So, the Acropora is beautiful, but not enough to make me go all out. So if anyone can help me make up my mind, I'd surely appreciate it! Sorry for all the reading.

 

I had a viper 150W on my 35 hex and I thought it was great for that application. I never had an issue with heat either because you can adjust it accordingly to keep it away from the surface while still supplying the correct amount of light. I still have the fixture and ballast and am willing to get rid of it cheap if you like

 

Do you think it would work for Acropora? And how much are you asking for it?

 

send me a PM if you can

 

A 150 should work for acros in the top of the tank without any problems.

If you don't get the viper, I would suggest getting a 250 watt DE pendant setup. You could mount it a little higher off the tank so you get less heat and more airflow and still have really good light. Plus new the cost difference between 150 and 250 is very very little. For a bulb I would suggest the 14,000K Phoenix bulb for either 150 or 250, puts out pretty good par, plus it has a nice color without supplements.

Kim