Lights for growing/having coral.

My tank is currently a FOWLR. I want to switch it to a reef tank. I'm thinking of keeping acan/lps corals and a anemone. My tank is a 75g tall. 36"w x 32"h x 15.5"d. I'm leaning towards MH because of the shimmer effect. Money is not a problem for me.

 

If you're looking for simmer and money isn't a problem, I'd suggest LED lights.

 

Not into LED atm. Just waiting for the tech to better before I start buying. I'm leaning toward mh. Just can't find the right fixture.

 

Most of what you list will do fine under T5 lights but the anenome will require higher lighting. With a 32"h tank you should consider 250w MH lights.

TJ

 

Oh okay. Then MH will be fine in your case. One 250W pendant will be my pick

 

So I don't need a 400w MH?
Metal Halide Aquarium Lighting | Marine Depot
I read the top. "Tanks deeper than 28 inches require a 400 watt bulb."

 

I would use a 250w pendant/fixture. If money is not an issue, I would suggest Sunlight Supplies Maristar 36" fixture. It has 2 250w MH and 2 T5s for supplementation. It's built really well and is overall a great fixture. You will need to buy ballasts and bulbs seperately, but I prefer that because you can choose which ballasts/bulbs you want instead of being forced into using whatever comes with the fixture.

 

Good point. If you want to keep high light corals near the bottom then yes 400w may be in order.

TJ

 

I'm mostly looking into acan corals.
Would something like this work?
Hamilton Cayman Sun Reflector DE HQI 14K System
400watt
I'm new to this lighting system.

 

Its only 13.25" wide. I'd go with 2 of those, but then you'd probably be frying your corals. My setup was 28" deep, and ran the Dual 150W MH we talked about before. If you're worried that wouldn't be enough, then I'd go with 2 250's, not 1 400.