need advice on lights

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
WyldFya;1359103; said:
Water affects light. The deeper the tank, the more light that is lost. At 4' he wouldn't have hardly any light.
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If it's a fish only tank lighting from the room will work in conjunction for viewing. I can't see adding the cost of halides for a FO tank. Many options here even halogen with actinic back up would work. I have used halogen and actinics and they work great together they just don't grow anything. He wants blue so a bunch of actinic by it's self will probly do it. After all blue light is the last visable light color to be filtered out by salt water. 4ft is deep but I don't think he needs to put the sun over it.
 
Do you guys think that it wouldnt be that noticable if i used mostly atinics fluorescents and then added a couple of normal MH to reach the bottom?
 
Mr Cracker2u;1359748;1359748 said:
If it's a fish only tank lighting from the room will work in conjunction for viewing. I can't see adding the cost of halides for a FO tank. Many options here even halogen with actinic back up would work. I have used halogen and actinics and they work great together they just don't grow anything. He wants blue so a bunch of actinic by it's self will probly do it. After all blue light is the last visable light color to be filtered out by salt water. 4ft is deep but I don't think he needs to put the sun over it.
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Halogens are very bad lights IMO. One, they don't have good color, and two, they waste energy. MH will do much better for the tank, and don't cost that much if purchased online. The light from a MH is also able to spread. The light from the room, unless very bright, and directed straight at the tank, will not light the tank by any means.
 
hangner;1359932;1359932 said:
Do you guys think that it wouldnt be that noticable if i used mostly atinics fluorescents and then added a couple of normal MH to reach the bottom?
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That would work quite well. Although, I wouldn't use the actinics, as they make a tank look very odd without normal lighting methods.
 
with that deep of a tank mh are your best bet. an eight ft tank, i would use three spaced evenly across the tank. if you are at all good with electrical, you can find some good deals on lights you have to assemble. if not, they can be pricey, although not ungodly. will the actual fixtures be hidden from view? if so you can get some fairly cheap setups and upgrade the bulbs to the kelvin rating that suits your taste. if the fixtures will be visible you may not like the looks of the diy kits hanging over your monster tank.
 
check ebay or saltwater forums for mh lights. ebay has a 2x175 watt retro system with bulbs for 200 plus shipping. for the nice blue tint alot of saltwater guys like, shoot for a 14k mh bulb or 10k with actinic flourescents.
 
WyldFya;1359105; said:
Not necessarily a good idea, if the fixture isn't properly sealed.
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I probably didnt explain myslef.:(
I was thinking something along the lines of having a lid of course, but just do a little DIY 'cabinet' to sit on tolp with the MH's secured into the 'cabinet'.
 
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