DIY Lighting system

F

Fcarpman

AC Members
Feb 22, 2007
7
0
0
Hi everyone, im setting up a reef tank from scratch, nothing huge, about 85g. im a complete newbie to marines and am a bit puzzled by stocking at the moment, but everything ive read about reef setups so far agrees on one thing, and thats lots of light. so ive decided to build a light unit myself and the lights i intend to use are linked below. i intend to have two 150w halides. Is this sufficent? tank is 44"x24x24. also whats your opinions on the light units? i resent paying £300+ for what is basically two HQI units in a box, hence im building it myself. also which temp bulbs, i was thinking of having one 20,000K and one 10,000K. Advice please, cheers

http://www.litecraftcommercial.co.u...able-150w-HQi-Display-FloodLight-in-White.asp

OR

http://www.litecraftcommercial.co.u...al-Halide-Circular-Display-Light-in-White.asp

Bulbs
http://www.commercial-lamps.co.uk/acatalog/Aquarium_Lights.html
 
Looks like you have your tank as being 44 inchesx24inchesx24inches if that is the case then I would suggest 250 watt MH's and that looks to be 110 US gallons. I am useing 2 250 watt MH's in mogul base with 20k XM's and I have great color but not too blue and everything has done excellent and my tank is also 24 inches deep.
 
I agree with Archer, 2x 250w SE bulbs, a Dual 250w Magnetic M80 ballast, and 2 LumenMax Elite reflectors would definately be my choice of lighting on that size tank. 2x Radium 20ks and you won't need any other supplimental lighting with it.
 
I would mount a couple of fans in the canopy 1 pushing air in and 1 pulling air out, I use computer fans in like the 80-120mm size. I went so as to have 2 80's pushing in from the back and 1 120 on top pulling air out and never had any problems with heat.
 
I did similar to archer, I have 3 80mm fans blowing in from the back and 2 120mm fans on top blowing out. My canopy is completely sealed with a 250w + 4 T5HOs. Since mine is sealed it does heat up the water even with the fans and does require me to have a chiller with the MH running, although the chiller only runs about 20 minutes a day towards the end of the day before the MH turns off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom