magohn Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 Hello All First time poster. I am 'downgrading' from a 55g reef to a 29g. I previously lit the 55g tank via twin MH 175w. I have a substantial growth of Xenia, Mushooms and a healthy crop of Acropora. I have everything setup for the move except the lighting for the 29g. I do enjoy the shimmer of the MH but twin 175w seems a lot to me over a 29g. What lighting is suitable for a 29g coral tank? Any ready-made solutions? TIA Link to comment
J-Bass Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 How about putting one of those 175's over it? Link to comment
magohn Posted January 17, 2003 Author Share Posted January 17, 2003 The trouble is the twin 175w are mounted in a Hamilton Hood. I hesitate to break the hood up as it cost $500+ and I may ebay it to pay for my downgrade... Link to comment
Trag Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 175w sounds about right to me... If not, how about 2x65w CSL or 3x55w 30" long is a bit of an "odd" length to get lighting for hth Link to comment
Dave ESPI Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 About the lights/........ ther is a HUGE aray of what to use.... it all depends on what you intend to keep as your final goal. 40 L 330 W VHO. VERY BRIGHT. you could do that easily with 30 inch bulbs. Look around on the site and hit the search button a few times and look in Members tank pictures, 29 gal is the upper limits of what is considered "NANO"..... In other words..... AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH H!H!!! H!!!!!!!ARGH ! May a merciful Gawd make this topic........ DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE ! Link to comment
HuBu Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 i have 2 175 W and 1 24" VHO over my 29 gal. Link to comment
donk Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 I have a 29 gal and I bought a JBJ PC 130W off of ebay, brand new for $159. I'm very happy with it and I just checked on ebay and there is more. The seller (Reefking) I believe, has a contract with JBJ. My LFS sells the same light for $250. Link to comment
donk Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 Sorry, item # 2300813109:) Link to comment
magohn Posted January 17, 2003 Author Share Posted January 17, 2003 Thanks to all. "Donk" do you find two 175w too much? Do you have any pics? Thanks. Link to comment
donk Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 I could'nt really say about the 175s because I've never used them. But I do know that everything in my tank is growing and doing great with the 130W pc. This first pic is'nt very good so I'm adding 2 more:) Link to comment
magohn Posted January 17, 2003 Author Share Posted January 17, 2003 Thanks for the great pics!!! My concern is that 130/29 = Approx 4.5 watts per gallon. I have a number of hard/soft corals and wonder if this is enough light. Also you tank specs state "260w" of light. Any further input much appreciated. P.S. I found the lights onebay. Very tempting, especially the hinged model. Link to comment
donk Posted January 17, 2003 Share Posted January 17, 2003 Oops! I'm glad you noticed that (Don't know what I was thinking) Well to be honest, I'm pretty new at this and as you can see by the pics I have no SPS, so I'm not sure if it is enough or not. I do like that new "hinged" model. Sorry I could'nt be more help. Link to comment
Korbin Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 Donk, great tank. I have to let you know that you should get that sinularia out of the sandbed. I "planted" mine like that too (to get bubble algae on it's rock to die) and the areas of the coral with no light turned black and it started to spread a little. The coral lived, but I wouldn't leave it in the sand like that. Link to comment
donk Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 I'm not sure how much difference there is in the two, but that is a nephthea. I tried to put it in the rock but, for some reason it would'nt open up. As soon as I put it in the sand it was fine. I tried this several times, same result. Thanks though, Ill keep a close eye on it. Link to comment
Catspa Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 29g bow front ah? same as me I've got two 55 PC's, one 15 PC, 20 and a 15...etc... Think i read you wanted to keep coral... I'm not so sure i like my PC for coral, they don't seem to do as well under them as my previous setup (that was a year ago). anyway two 55 wat PC is easiest, but i dont think its the best way to go for coral. I'd opt for a 150 watt aqualine HQI lamp in a good quality reflector ie/ PFO reflectore. (don't skimp on the reflector!! can make all the difference) Possible consider a red sea 10,000K 175 watt. (ALS and blueline also make good 175 watt..) Don't have to go over 175 watt if you have a good reflector. Link to comment
Lunchbucket Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 heck sell off the dual 175's and put a 400w on there or just throw the 175's on there. heck i run a 20H w/ a single 400w on it. hell i would do a 10gal w/ a 400w Lunchbucket Link to comment
Catspa Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 Still think a 175 would do it - 400's are hard on the hydro, and i've read stuff that suggests that a 175 or even a 150 with a really good quality reflector will give you the same or more light then a 400 with a basic reflector - Marine Fish USA and Reef 2002, p.56, Spectral Analysis of Recent Metal Halide Lamps - nice article...... put if you got parents footing the bill then who cares Link to comment
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