Halide parameters

[sinkingbeach]

I've been considering a new tank of late, wanted to go with a custom 187 60x30x24(rc calculator). I can't go any larger due to space and when I try to sell this to the wife I want her to know that I won't have to upgrade anything else except to have a new stand built (will be buying a new skimmer before I suggest the tank ). Will 3 250w halide penetrate the 30w and 24h? Right now I'm running the HQI but my ballast(new IceCap) are able to run any Single and DE bulbs.

thanks

 

[Phyl]

Will you also be running actinics with it? If so then I'd say you're fine. If not you may find a bit of darkness on your tank front/back. If you have GREAT reflectors (AKA luminarcs) you can get away without the extra actinic bulbs as I think the light throw on those is closer to the 30".

 

[sinkingbeach]

Thanks Phyl I'm just in the planning stages trying to get a ball park estimate of what this really is going to cost opposed to what my wife will think it's going to cost.

 

[Phyl]

Gotcha. Then go ahead and plan for luminarcs in June. You'll get by with what you have until then!


*waves* Hi Carol!

 

[Carlo]

I've got 4 Halides over an 84" L 24" W and don't see any issues with 3 over 60". Normally for a 48" tank you get 2 lights in the strip so that's 1 Halide per 24" and you would be at 1 light per 20" which is even better.

The extra width isn't going to be a problem in my opinion if you do a traditional rock layout (open area in front of the rocks). The open area doesn't need the strong light but the backside where the corals/rocks are do. So worse case is you cheat a bit and move the lights back a bit. If you're planning some other rock layout like rocks across the whole side of the tank it might change things a bit.

Carlo