I agree, I think if you are looking at 2-250s, that is too much for a 55
gallon tank. There really are a few options you could go with. It depends on
whether or not you plan on keeping the same animals in your tank. You could
buy a canopy for the tank, and just install your current bulbs into that
hood. That would probably be the cheapest way to go. You could buy a canopy
and install one 250 watt bulb in the middle, then put some sps under it and
then build out with corals that like less light towards the sides. If you
are looking at buying all new stuff, and this is only my opinion, but if you
are not worried too much about initial investment, I would go with IceCap
Electronic ballasts with either 175s or a 250. I would add 4 VHO actinics
and run them with a IceCap Electronic ballast and would use a 55 or 65k
metal halide bulb. You COULD even go with a 250 watt MH in the middle, then
run 24 inch VHOs, centered in the canopy. That would create a very bright
area for SPS and darker areas for LPS and softies, but I would also make the
light even out nicely. Another words, you wont have blue ends on the tank
from actinics running the whole length of the tank while the middle of the
tank is balanced with the MH/Actinic combo. You will probably need fans if
you are going to put your lights in a canopy. IceCap makes a sweet 4 inch
fan that is temperature variable. It only runs fast when the canopy is hot.
Thus, they are quite unless the hood is really hot. Even at full blast, they
are not very loud, however, all fans make noise... bottom line. Over all,
these are the quietest fans I have ever seen or heard.
Just so you know, I keep a mix of corals as well, however, mine are all
stonies. Combo SPS and LPS with some clams mixed in. I run all my lights
with IceCap Ballasts and have my MHs on one side of the tank in combo with
24 inch VHO actinics mounted on the same side. I have my SPS directly under
the MH/Actinic combo and my LPS in the other end of the tank that does not
have any lights directly above them. The reflective light produces more than
enough light for them.
FWIW
Shane C.
-----Original Message-----
From: Weidmann Walter [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 11:57 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: lighting upgrade help
Johara.
I am not really the ideal person to give you an advise in reef cause
I am
just starting in it, but for what I red it seems to me than it will
be to
much light if you place two 250 + the actinics. If your tank is
doing well
till now, WHY CHANGE IT???
IMO.
Walter
> Hope I'm not opening up a flame-prone thread here, but I do have a
lighting
> question. I currently have a 55G reef (mixed stony, soft, few
SPS, and up
> til yesterday a beautiful crocea). Lighting is 2 175W 10K pendant
halides
> and 2 40W NO actinics. My partner has declared the pendants/wires
way too
> ugly for the living room and suggested we spend the money on a
nicer
looking
> lighting system. Who am I to complain? I would like to keep more
SPS and
> clams and wonder about upgrading the halides to 250W in a hanging
canopy
> versus going the VHO or power compact route. Adding to the
decision, I
live
> in California complete with skyrocketing electric bills. I've
heard
> contradictory opinions about which lighting uses the least power.
Seems
> like most commonly I hear that fluorescents use less than halides
but are
> significantly more expensive for bulb replacement. I've paid less
attention
> in the past as I was content with my system. I know there are
strong
> feelings out there about what is best for various corals- please
be as
> specific as you can in recommending brands/watts etc. Also I've
gotten by
> without a fan so far, if I would need one with a new system, are
there any
> that are quieter than others? The tank is next to where we sit
and watch
> tv, a loud fan could be pretty annoying. (Actually the rest of
the family
> watches tv and I watch the tank.) Could those of you doing well
with
mixed
> reefs please chime in with your lighting experiences? TIA,
>
> Johara
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 5:00 AM
> Subject: Reefkeeping Digest for 20 Feb 2001
>
>
> > ________________________________________
> > Leaving the list
> > ================
> > To stop receiving digests from Reefkeeping you will need to send
a
message
> to the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
a
command
> to remove you from the list. The list manager controls who
belongs to the
> list.
> > For example:
> > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > From: John Doe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: <not needed>
> >
> >
> > UNSUBSCRIBE
> > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > Reefkeeping Digest for 02/21/01 08:00:06
AM
> >
> > Message 1: Re: need help
> > from [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > Message 2: skimmer question
> > from "Ben Holt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >
> >
> > .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
------.
> > | Message 1
|
> > '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
------'
> > Subject: Re: need help
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 20:07:48 EST
> >
> > Yeah, busy day on the list, I'm usually just a "cellar dweller",
ya know
?
> > There are other corals that could be "exporting", who knows ?
> > As far as that skimmer goes, can you believe this, I got that
skimmer
> with a
> > GRI 1520 pump for $350 ! I couldn't believe it two years ago,
when I
saw
> the
> > ad in the paper, I thought, "this has to be a misprint". I
called, and,
NO
> > SHIT , the guy had two of 'em, didn't need the one so let it go
for the
> price
> > of the PUMP ALONE ! (must be nice to filthy rich, huh ?)
anyway,
that's
> my
> > "score of a lifetime" .
> > Tom
> >
> >
> > .------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
------.
> > | Message 2
|
> > '------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
------'
> > Subject: skimmer question
> > From: "Ben Holt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 21:49:20 -0500
> >
> > I built a homemade skimmer earlier this year that was doing a
pretty
good
> > job of pulling junk out of the water. But recently I did an
overhaul on
> my
> > system (took out a 55 gal tank with a deep sand bed that was
linked to
my
> > 125 and bought a 100 gal rubbermaid stock tank and added a 20
gal
refugium
> > with a light dusting of sand and calurpa) Anyhow when i did
this I
added
> > about a 100 gallons of fresh made water. Since then the skimmer
is
> pulling
> > very little. The skimmers riser tube is 2 in pvc and i was
thinking
that
> > now with less to pull out of the tank after the big water change
that 2
> > incheds is too wide and any foam is breaking down in the tube.
The
riser
> > is coated in a thick green slime within 2 or 3 days after
cleaning it
but
> > very little is getting into the collection cup. I was thinking
of
trying
> to
> > cut the riser down to 1 & 1/2 or even 1 inch pvc. does anyone
have any
> > ideas about this or am I wasting the effort to un hook the
skimmer and
cut
> > and re-glue the thing. I just don't want to have a build up of
nutrients
> > before it starts pulling out gunk again.
> >
> > thanks
> > Ben
> >
> >
> >
>
> ________________________________________
>
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