Halide Overkill?

[bobf]

Thinking of buying a twin halide setup for my tank which is around 44gal. Ideally, Ill probably go for a twin 150w MH plus actinics setup. Currently I have a triple T8 setup which is okay for my current 'softies' but I'm tempted to go a bit further down the coral route.

I might be able to get hold of a twin 250w setup at a good price, but wonder will this be overkill given that my tank isn't too deep, just around 16" from memory (I'm not at home just now).

Is the heat from a 250w much greater than that from a 150w MH - is this gonna poach my fish?

Secondly, can I still use a condensation cover if I have MH lighting?

Cheers all!

 

[SkiFletch]

Condenser cover = BAD idea with MH lighting . You could melt the condenser, or keep evaporation from occurring which would melt your fish. Best to ditch it. As for whether that much light is over kill, what are the dimensions of the tank?

 

[bobf]

Condenser cover = BAD idea with MH lighting . You could melt the condenser, or keep evaporation from occurring which would melt your fish. Best to ditch it. As for whether that much light is over kill, what are the dimensions of the tank?

Thanks Ski - thought the condensation cover would get the thumbs down!

Tank is 48 x 16 x 16 in American (inches!) - I realise I could raise the height of the lights if heat was too big an issue but don't want to be lighting the entire room if I do.

Here's a pic anyway, taken when my tank was first set up. (Click the image for a bigger version)

 

[SkiFletch]

At only 16" deep, a pair of 150s and a pair of T5 actinics would probably do you just fine. You could go with 250s if you really wanted to get into clams/hard corals. And if you get decent reflectors, light-spill isn't THAT much of a problem

 

[bobf]

At only 16" deep, a pair of 150s and a pair of T5 actinics would probably do you just fine. You could go with 250s if you really wanted to get into clams/hard corals. And if you get decent reflectors, light-spill isn't THAT much of a problem

Thanks Ski - pretty much confirms what I was thinking.

 

[MHunt]

Randon thought, is it a problem fish jumping out if you remove the condensation cover? Depends what your fish are like I guess but I prefer to be safe then dried out on the carpet.

 

[SkiFletch]

Randon thought, is it a problem fish jumping out if you remove the condensation cover? Depends what your fish are like I guess but I prefer to be safe then dried out on the carpet.

If thats a problem, replacing it with egg-crate will keep the fishies in

 

[MHunt]

Randon thought, is it a problem fish jumping out if you remove the condensation cover? Depends what your fish are like I guess but I prefer to be safe then dried out on the carpet.

If thats a problem, replacing it with egg-crate will keep the fishies in

By egg crate, do you mean the clear plastic stuff i guess. Most of the time my eggs in the uk come in cardboard cartons, not plastic, and even then not clear.

 

[bobf]

I think the egg crate (as opposed to egg carton, or box) Ski is talking about is this sort of stuff;

Egg crate

In my own case, I think I'll probably build the sides up by two or three inches rather than use a cover if I do go down the halides route.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I think the egg crate (as opposed to egg carton, or box) Ski is talking about is this sort of stuff;

Egg crate

In my own case, I think I'll probably build the sides up by two or three inches rather than use a cover if I do go down the halides route.

ha ha at last! i've always wondered what people meant by egg crate thought there's no way it could just be cardboard!! pmsl