Heavy duty lighting question

[vladfloroff]

Ok here's my set up: 265 Gallon tank 7'x2'x3', 2.5" 3" bed of laterite black sand (currently on order), 2 x Eheim Pro 2 2 x Eheim Pro 3, 65 Oz CO2 upgrading to a 20 LBS bottle. Dosing with Discus essential, will be adding flourish iron and flourish excel, and the flourish comprehensive supplement shortly, large wads of peat in one of the filters. The only thing lacking is my lights. 1x36" dual strip light and one 48" dual strip light.

Here's my question: Regardless of cost would you use High Pressure Sodium or Metal halide as primaries and VHO or Power compacts as your secondary light source? Why?

[dadsoldtruck]

if you use the mh then you wont need as much wattage as you think, get the 6,700 specrtum as well. you wouldn't need any secondary. I'm running 4x150 watt MH and it works very well. My only secondary lighting is a set of 50 count blue led christmas lights for a poor man's moonlighting.

You will only need secondaries if you are doing salt and even then with the right spectrum you wont need much extra

[vladfloroff]

One more question. I have a 10' ceiling over the tank. should I get 3 150 watt HM or 1 600watt 1000 watt assembly?

[dadsoldtruck]

Personally I would 2 or 3 250w fixture, or even single fixtures. That way you can spread the light out over the tank better.

[dadsoldtruck]

also a 600 is going to be really hot, and hurt your electric bill.

[vladfloroff]

Wait wouldn't 3 250 watt units create more heat than one 600 watt unit?

[FSM]

don't waste your money on liquid fertilizer. It is so much cheaper to use dry fertilizer.

[kingyella]

265 gallon planted tank? can't wait to see it. I agree dry fertz are much cheaper,

[vladfloroff]

don't waste your money on liquid fertilizer. It is so much cheaper to use dry fertilizer.

Which ones?

[ChloroPhil]

www.greenleafaquariums.com

Orlando sells high quality fertilizers and planted tank accessories. I'd get CaNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4, and CSM+B for traces.


Sent a PM regarding lighting.


Cheers,
Phil