Starting a 90 gl reef tank. My wife wants to eventualy get a clam or two I know they need lots of light but is there such a thing as to much light ? I was thinking dual 250w halide with dual 110w VHO. Is this ok or do I need to tone it down a bit. THANKS Almost forgot the tank is 48x18x24 high.
Lighting ?
- Thread starter zep
- Start date
That would be perfect for lighting imo, but it's gona cause alot of heat!!
Make sure you get a fan or two, and keep up with e vaporated water. You could allways get a auto top-off system.
Make sure you get a fan or two, and keep up with e vaporated water. You could allways get a auto top-off system.
Too much light can actually inhibit photosynthesis, but your setup looks great.
The VHO actinics will make the fluorescence of the corals really stand out.
I am using 2X250 on a 90 right now, supplemented with 2X54 watts of T5. With XM 10000 K lamps, I am getting excellent SPS coral growth. During the summer, I use two 4" fans in the canopy and cheap fan on the sump, and the temperature stays nice. This time of year, all the fans are off.
Are you building the canopy yourself?
The VHO actinics will make the fluorescence of the corals really stand out.
I am using 2X250 on a 90 right now, supplemented with 2X54 watts of T5. With XM 10000 K lamps, I am getting excellent SPS coral growth. During the summer, I use two 4" fans in the canopy and cheap fan on the sump, and the temperature stays nice. This time of year, all the fans are off.
Are you building the canopy yourself?
A friend of mine is building the canopy to match the 120gal in the same room. I read the lighti need to be about 12 in above the water so he is making it 14 in high with one fan on each end, will this be enough? I had not even thought about cooling the sump what kind of fan do you use?
Zep, way to start off, while asking questions is good and all here, doing your own research will pay off in great amounts.
Sounds like you are well on your way to being a giant clam owner.
So far your setup sounds grand, you will find yourself experimenting with photperiods to determine what is best for your clams along with more research.
If you use 2 -10k 250s and a 50-50 vho and an actinc vho you should be able to harbor anything and have a tank that looks very natural in such a light. Just keep your bulbs 10-12" off the water surface and remember to aclimate your new stock to your lighting because they may have gotten too little light in the previous week before hitting your tank. Get a timer for your lighting and also start off with shorter photperiods when acclimating your animals.
It is nice to see someone not sparing expense to do things right.
Also remember, these will be hot and with that and fans blowing over your tank you will notice huge evaoporation, this will need to be taken into consideration. Take it slow and read alot, you will do great!
Sounds like you are well on your way to being a giant clam owner.
So far your setup sounds grand, you will find yourself experimenting with photperiods to determine what is best for your clams along with more research.
If you use 2 -10k 250s and a 50-50 vho and an actinc vho you should be able to harbor anything and have a tank that looks very natural in such a light. Just keep your bulbs 10-12" off the water surface and remember to aclimate your new stock to your lighting because they may have gotten too little light in the previous week before hitting your tank. Get a timer for your lighting and also start off with shorter photperiods when acclimating your animals.
It is nice to see someone not sparing expense to do things right.
Also remember, these will be hot and with that and fans blowing over your tank you will notice huge evaoporation, this will need to be taken into consideration. Take it slow and read alot, you will do great!
Or you could go T5 . . .
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=700454
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http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=700454
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