Choosing a tank size

[kzimmerman]

So heres the deal, I have a 30 inch 150 watt 14000k metal halide with blue leds and white leds as moonlight, and a 30 inch 55w compact flourescent fixture. I also have a seaclone skimmer that I'm gonna be using, and a 20g long tank.
I was wondering about the tank size that would be appropriate for this lighting combo. I was thinking either a 29g or a 20g high, and using the20 long for a sump, but would kindof like to go something a little wider, like a 40g breeder. I really like to have a wider tank, but havn't been able to find a 30" cube tank yet. Maybe I'll make one, but thats a different discussion entirely........
So, recommendations, I've not done much with a reef, at least sucessfully. Had a 20h with the 55 watt pc and a no actinic, but I lost it when my house was struck by lightening. The skimmer and light survived, but all livestock was lost. So, getting back into it, got this metal halide for dirt cheap, just want to know what size tank this lighting system would be appropriate for, and also, should the PC be 50/50, or full actinic?
Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Kurt

 

[cichlid_king]

So heres the deal, I have a 30 inch 150 watt 14000k metal halide with blue leds and white leds as moonlight, and a 30 inch 55w compact flourescent fixture. I also have a seaclone skimmer that I'm gonna be using, and a 20g long tank.
I was wondering about the tank size that would be appropriate for this lighting combo. I was thinking either a 29g or a 20g high, and using the20 long for a sump, but would kindof like to go something a little wider, like a 40g breeder. I really like to have a wider tank, but havn't been able to find a 30" cube tank yet. Maybe I'll make one, but thats a different discussion entirely........
So, recommendations, I've not done much with a reef, at least sucessfully. Had a 20h with the 55 watt pc and a no actinic, but I lost it when my house was struck by lightening. The skimmer and light survived, but all livestock was lost. So, getting back into it, got this metal halide for dirt cheap, just want to know what size tank this lighting system would be appropriate for, and also, should the PC be 50/50, or full actinic?
Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Kurt

I would definitely do a 30 breeder or 40 breeder. Both tanks are 36" long which would be lit plenty well by the fixture. For the PC bulb I would put a ATI blue plus in it. You'll have plenty of white light for the halide and the blue plus will give you a nice blue tint. That's what I would do

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[Otherone]

The PC is pretty much worthless for corals - just keep an eye on the temp and evaporation rate of the lil' tank with the MH, they can be real cookers.

 

[cichlid_king]

The PC is pretty much worthless for corals - just keep an eye on the temp and evaporation rate of the lil' tank with the MH, they can be real cookers.

+1

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[kzimmerman]

So the net opinion is to do away with the pc, and just use the mh? I thought that I would need to boost the actinic range a little bit, and was planning on using the pc for that. Well, if it wont do much good for a reef tank, I'll light my sump with it. Planning on cultivating macroalgae in the sump for organics control.
I'll look into the 30 breeder. Wish they offered a better range of deeper tanks.

 

[Otherone]

the PC will be fine for growing macro - corals have a far greater demand for intense UV band lite than flora does. PC's don't have the penetration power for reefs so there will only be a visual effect from PC actinic's and most of the coloration accenting lite will be drowned out in the top 6" of water