i currently own a jebo ar-620 tank and i need help on how and what lights i need to run a reef tank???
lighting question?
- Thread starter johnjohnjohn
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All I can find is that it holds 90 liters, but not the proportions.
A lot depends upon the kind of reef you want.
If you were to go with most soft corals, and less demanding stonies, you'll probably be OK with 130 watts of compact fluorescent (aka power compact or PC).
You could keep just about anything if you used 175 watts of metal halide, possibly with PC or T5 for actinic supplementation.
You may also be happy with high-output T5, which is becoming increasingly popular. I've only used T5s as supplements so far, but there are others that can tell you more.
That's a start. Ask more as it comes up.
A lot depends upon the kind of reef you want.
If you were to go with most soft corals, and less demanding stonies, you'll probably be OK with 130 watts of compact fluorescent (aka power compact or PC).
You could keep just about anything if you used 175 watts of metal halide, possibly with PC or T5 for actinic supplementation.
You may also be happy with high-output T5, which is becoming increasingly popular. I've only used T5s as supplements so far, but there are others that can tell you more.
That's a start. Ask more as it comes up.
I've seen a guy from NZ stick 2x150W MH on top of the same type of tank. Just keep an eye on the heat and evap if you go this route (that is, the reefer madness one :devil: )
T5s are a good alternative. Although at this point I think that the shortest T5s you can get are 24". If it fits, a 4x24W HO T5 with proper reflectors would give you the capability of keeping nearly anything given that your model of tank is probably quite shallow and provided you choose relatively high PAR tubes (i.e. an ATI 6700K versus some sort of actinics).
If you can squeeze it in there, a 6x24W T5 unit would probably allow you to go SPS crazy with confidence. Just be aware that some low light corals can bleach under too intense T5 lighting especially if not properly photo-acclimated. In a smaller tank, the risk is most likely even greater.
T5s are a good alternative. Although at this point I think that the shortest T5s you can get are 24". If it fits, a 4x24W HO T5 with proper reflectors would give you the capability of keeping nearly anything given that your model of tank is probably quite shallow and provided you choose relatively high PAR tubes (i.e. an ATI 6700K versus some sort of actinics).
If you can squeeze it in there, a 6x24W T5 unit would probably allow you to go SPS crazy with confidence. Just be aware that some low light corals can bleach under too intense T5 lighting especially if not properly photo-acclimated. In a smaller tank, the risk is most likely even greater.
Odysseas are quite the bargain. A word of warning though, they've been known to have quality control issues with some people swearing by them while others have theirs crapping out after only a few months. They're not the sturdiest units around, but you can't beat the price.
I also note that it only has one power cord so you won't be able to produce a dawn/dusk effect automatically with a separate timers for the PCs.
Finally, it looks like an external ballast which means that, depending on its size (and MH ballasts are usually quite big and heavy), you might have to scrounge up some extra room around the tank.
That said, 175W MH will allow you to keep almost anything in a smaller tank. The 20K bulb will look very blue (especially with actinic supplements) so down the line you might want to experiment with 14K or even lower.
I also note that it only has one power cord so you won't be able to produce a dawn/dusk effect automatically with a separate timers for the PCs.
Finally, it looks like an external ballast which means that, depending on its size (and MH ballasts are usually quite big and heavy), you might have to scrounge up some extra room around the tank.
That said, 175W MH will allow you to keep almost anything in a smaller tank. The 20K bulb will look very blue (especially with actinic supplements) so down the line you might want to experiment with 14K or even lower.
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