Lighting question for my 90g tank

How expensive is it to run MH's? Seems like with the need for the equipment, a chiller and electrical costs that it could be quite high.

 

just do the maths really, Kilowatts * amount of hours lighting is on a day * price per Kilowatt hour

Say you have 500W lighting, on 12 hours a day and you pay $0.1 per KWH

0,5KW*12H*$0.10=60cent a day

 

I disagree. just look at the 75 gallon build thread in my link. I have a 36" 6-bulb tek-light over my 75 gallon tank and have no trouble keeping nems, sps, or clams anywhere in the tank. IMO, it makes the tank look bigger because the fixture is slightly smaller than the tank.

A 6 to 8 bulb T5HO fixture with SLR reflectors and good bulbs (KZ,ATI,geisseman) will allow you to keep anything you want in your tank. It also allows you to have more lighting options and color options depending on what "look" you are going for. You also don't have to worry about a large amount of heat coming off a MH and heating the water. I always recommend t5ho over MH unless the tank is over 30" tall/deep.

 

It does seem much less expensive than I originally thought. I think that I like the fact of the more even lighting spread of a great set of T5's and the lower amount of heat. I wonder how the hybrid set of T5/MH/LED might work. Does anyone have experience with this kind of configuration?

 

I have a 8x54 ice cap retro and I think its a little over kill on my 90g. Not to mention it barely fits over the aquarium. I am keeping a wide variety of SPS corals though.

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I was thinking the same thing, it also makes the tank look more open.

 

I sent you a PM about my current set up to answer your Q's.