MH Lighting Question 30"

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forums, and relatively new to owning a SW fish tank. I started my 29g tank 4 or 5 months ago and have just had live rock/sand, some clownfish, and a few zoo's that are doing well under my 50/50 light. I am looking to get a MH light for my tank so that I can put whatever I would like in it I am trying to not break the bank, so these are the two lights I am looking at and I was hoping to get some feedback on them.

The first light is this: 30" Metal Halide T5 Lighting Aquarium Marine Reef 346W - eBay (item 110572281460 end time Sep-10-10 14:40:57 PDT)
I am wondering if that would be overkill? It looks like it would be good because it has the actinic lighting in it.

My other option is Clamp on Hang on HQI Metal Halide Light Fan LED 150 w - eBay (item 300296164114 end time Sep-16-10 16:59:19 PDT)
Would I need some source of actinic light if I got this one? Or would the blue LED's suffice.

Thanks guys!! Any other comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

A friend of mine uses the unit in the first link, except its a 48" fixture with two halides, same manufacturer though.

I tried to talk him out of purchasing it in the beginning, because its a no name fixture, and lighting is your most important component ... however, his light has been a perfect specimen, and has had no problems since the day it showed up 18 months ago.

I would go with the hqi fixture before I would get the clamp on light, but thats just me

HTH

 

Thanks for the fast reply! It wouldn't be too much wattage in my 29g tank? It is a standard rectangle size, so it doesn't have a large amount of depth. I want to be sure I am not going to fry the tank

 

someone else may chime in, but 250 watts may be too much. I'm not really one to ask about "too much" lighting, as I run a 400 watt halide over my tank.

What is the depth of the tank (height) in inches?

If they have this fixture in a 175 watt model, that may be better, or you can hang the light a little higher above the tank as necessary in order to adjust for the intensity

 

19" height? Unfortunately they don't have anything with lower wattage :/ I was just thinking of raising it a bit higher from the tank though. As long as I am not going to toast anything I will be happy.

 

I have a 29 also and use this light with a 20K Ushio bulb.

Coralife Aqualight Advanced Lighting Fixtures

If you look around you can get it for low $200s

 

what types of corals do you plan on keeping?

I mean if you want an SPS tank, then you could make 250 watts work ... but if its going to be mostly zoas, and softies or something ... then maybe the smaller fixture would be the better choice

 

I would like to have the option of putting hard/soft corals, SPS, clams...

I am still trying to do my reading and research to figure out quite what I want, but I want a lighting system that will not need to be replaced in order to accomodate different species. The 30g is perfect for me, and I plan on really developing the tank over the years... so an accomodating light fixture is important.

If 250w will work and not be overkill, than I will go with that. I just want to be sure there are no big negative effects to having that much wattage.

Thanks!

 

On a 29gal I would be worried about heat more then anything. The corals can adjust to the new light. Personally, I don't trust the no-name brands off ebay. I've heard to many bad experiences. It may be some big, like the ballast goes quickly or the wiring is shotty, or something small, like the fan is too noisy. Some people do get them and like them or consider them adequate, but I will always question the quality and performance of those fixtures.

 

You get what you pay for.