Lighting Requirements

[jeasko]

My tank is 39" in length and 18" in depth but was wondering for my self build lighting unit if I could get away with 1 x 250w MH lamp or if 2 lamps wuld be needed?

 

[ox5477]

depends 100% on what you want to keep. If it's gonna be fowlr then a shop light would be fine as a certain light intensity is not needed. IF you wanna keep picky corals like sps, or keep clams, then you need very high intensity light. List what you are planning on keeping and i'm sure one of the salty experts will advise from there.

 

[jeasko]

sorry ox should have put that this is an upgrade from 2 x 39w t5 and 2 x t8 blue tubes, am gonna try my hand with the hard stuff and see how i go, I was originally looking at making the unit with 2 x 150w MH lamps but have decided may be better with 1 x 250w MH just not sure the light spread will be good enough, being the tank is only just over 3 ft getting 2 x 150w in the hood could be a bit tight and leave very little space for the t5 blues timers and cooling.

 

[Lynden]

I have a single 175 watt over my 3' reef, and the center is well lit but the sides are a little shady. If it costs you little more I would go with the 2 x 150 watt if I were you.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, a 2x150 watt system would definitely light it up just fine. Also, is there a center brace across the top of the tank? If so, single halides are not really an option since you'll have a really ugly/distracting shadow right over the center of the tank with that halide right over it

 

[TammyLiz]

If you don't have a center brace I would suggest putting the halide up over the center and using the T5s as well, with a 10,000K and a true blue. The T5s would help with the shadows on the sides and help your colors pop more.

 

[Musho3210]

if you are to go with a T5 and halide, i would go with 10k halide and 2 super blue actinics for t5's