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leviwin 
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 Topic: What lighting would be best?
Posted: September 18 2003 at 12:23am |
Well my tank currently it only lit with two 40W and one 30W Normal output floresent bulbs for a 55 G tank. It does good for what I have Zoos and some mushroom, but my wife keeps on want me to get a clam and I want to get some different types of coral. I've done some research on MH and was wondering if would be best just to add two 175 W and keep the lighting I've got or just go with some thing else. Any input would be greatly appreacitated.
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Marcus
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 7:01am |
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It will work great to add two 175 watt MH. I may be a little tight under the canopy since the typical 55 gallon tank is only 13" wide. IMO, the best way to go is 2 175 wat MH and 2 48" VHO bulbs. That is a ton of light for a 55 gall tank. Danny L. has an awesome 55 gallon, I wonder what lighting he has.
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Shane H
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 8:40am |
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Levi,
I agree with Marcus. It will be a lot of light (I'm running 2x175w MH, 2x140wVHO over a 120) but you won't be limited in the coral/clams/anemonies/etc. that you will able to display.
Good luck.
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SSpargur
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 10:00am |
I run 2 x 250 MH over my 80 along with 2 x 110 VHO actinics. I have fans in the canopy so that the heat isn't a problem.
I don't think that 2 x 175 will be overkill, rather you'll not be limited to what you can have in your aquarium.
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Sean Spargur
West Valley, UT
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Kirklan
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 12:30pm |
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If space was an issue under your hood you could go with with the 2x175 halides and some T-5 actinics. The T-5's will take up about half the space with the same output verses VHO/PC, or so I've heard.
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SE Idaho
67G Rimless Reef
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Aquarium Creations
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 12:46pm |
T5 dont put out even close to a vho bulb they are coing out with a new high output one soon, I use to run 2 250 w 10 bulbs with 2 110w vho then i got a 20k MH bulds and i dont even use my VHO bulbs any more looks way better , which reminds me i have 2 110w super actinic r bulbs from URI and end caps and ballest for sell let me know if anyone is interested.....
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Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected]
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leviwin
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 6:31pm |
Thanks for a the info. I'm planning on making a canopy after I get the lights so space isn't an issue yet. What are T5 I haven't heard of them?
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Marcus
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 7:15pm |
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T5 bulbs are a skinny flourescent bulb that puts out about the same amount of light a NO bulb. The nice thing is that they come with the ballast and plug when you buy the bulb.
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Sarnack
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Posted: September 18 2003 at 11:20pm |
Marcus - Danny runs 2x250 watt 13K MH and 2x110 watt VHO's... retro in the hood that we custom built...
(In the tank of the month section 
Dave
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Kirklan
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Posted: September 19 2003 at 6:01am |
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I don't think were talking about the same T-5 bulbs. The ones that come with the ballast and plug all in a unit for 30-40 $ are cheap Chinese nockoffs and not the ones I am talking about. They make T-5 with remote ballasts and highly concentrated reflectors (made in Germany) that are rumored to be as intense as VHO. I don't have first hand experience with growing corals under T-5, but have seen them over tanks and they are very bright, easily as bright as the VHO they were next to. To each his own, but if space is an issue they are a great way to get sme light in a tight space.
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SE Idaho
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coreyk
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Posted: September 19 2003 at 7:23am |
interesting thread on RC about T5s ... if anyone is interested - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=239653
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Kirklan
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Posted: September 19 2003 at 9:19am |
The info that is in the thread from Moonpod was exactly what I was trying to explain. I'm just not as good with words and do not like to type essays.
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SE Idaho
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coreyk
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Posted: September 19 2003 at 10:13am |
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i'm in the process of getting a 25 setup, it'll prob be about 3 months before i actually have it up and running ... i'll be putting T5s on it, they sound great to me.
Edited by coreyk
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