Metal Halide Question

[fish-aholic]

I am looking into hardware for my future 75 gallon saltwater tank. It will be my first saltwater tank and would like to get things right the first time. I found this cheap 400 watt metal halide with a magnetic probe start and was wondering if it is a waste of money.
http/www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...&ProdID=294

 

[fish-aholic]

Anyone

 

[nanocubeking]

how big is your tank? because thats gonna get hot as hell!!

 

[fish-aholic]

I was looking at it for my future 75 gal.

 

[fish-aholic]

I was going to put some fans in there anyway.

 

[nanocubeking]

than will help but you'll need to keep the light at least one foot off the tank.

 

[fish-aholic]

Well in that case do you think maybe a 250 watt MH ( http/www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...&ProdID=171 ) would be better I would likely also add some of these.....http/www.commodityaxis.com/ProductData.aspx?id=68

 

[nanocubeking]

for 75 gallon 400 watt would do the job. it will just get really hot. making topping off become almost you life because youll do it so often.

 

[fish-aholic]

Well I am going to add an ATO in the sump anyway.

 

[SkiFletch]

to the marine side of life.

Before you go choosing hardware, mind if I ask you what you wish to accomplish with the tank livestock wise? Fish Only, Fish Only with Live Rock, Reef? Hard corals, soft corals? Inverts, other special organisms? Hardware is generally chosen around livestock, so start there

 

[fish-aholic]

to the marine side of life.

Before you go choosing hardware, mind if I ask you what you wish to accomplish with the tank livestock wise? Fish Only, Fish Only with Live Rock, Reef? Hard corals, soft corals? Inverts, other special organisms? Hardware is generally chosen around livestock, so start there

I would like to keep a reef setup with mostly soft corals but maybe some sps or lps in the future. I am planning on geting fish with a CUC ( so I guess thats a yes with the inverts). I am also looking at some anenomes in which my clown can host but that is just one of those things I may never get to do because I think I read somewhere that they are quite hard to take care of.

 

[Musho3210]

duo 150 watt metal halides are good if you want a mixed, just make sure you keep your light demanding corals (most leathers and sps) pretty much directly under the light and the other corals (most lps, zoas, palys, shrooms) away from the direct light. 250s would be great as well.

 

[fish-aholic]

Would I need to add some T5's if I went with the two 150's. I heard they were good to use to mimic sunrise and sunset.

 

[Musho3210]

you dont "need" them, they are mainly for asthetics by providing a nice dark blue light which "pops" corals colors.

 

[fish-aholic]

I think I will end up getting a 400 watt mh ( ) with two T5's or a 250 watt with two or even four T5's. Will this be good for keeping mostly softies and LPS corals?