Lighting for 180 gallon tank

[longhorn_20m]

I'm in the process of determining the lighting for my tank. I'm looking to have an assortment of corals. I'm leaning towards Zoos / Rics and a few starter SPS pieces.

The tank is 6ft and I was thinking of going either all T5s (probably icecap or SLS 5ft kit) or a combination of T5 / MH. I have read a few articles on the Lumen Bright reflectors. Has anyone used them? Can they provide enough coverage to get away with using two of them on a 6ft tank?

[subsailor]

6ft is a to big of spread for 2 reflectors IMO.

[princer7]

Agreed. I have 4 Lumen Brights (250w) over my 215 - could have gotten away with three. They do sit higher than most reflectors so a taller canopy is needed. Here is a picture of two of them as they were installed in my canopy. I now also have (4) 3' actinic T5s running as well.

http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/Aquarium%20Project/HCCC/Current%20Pictures/Reef%20Tank/Small/IMG_8717%20Small.jpg

[mikedelgado]

those are sweet looking reflectors.

[longhorn_20m]

Princer,

What kind of bracing do you have on your 215? On my 180, I have a large glass brace in the middle (to guess has to be 15-20").

I've never owned a tank with a glass brace and the largest I had was a 58 gallon. I have no clue what the impact would be if I put a light directly over the brace or if it is even worth it. That was why I was leaning towards two, each centered over the open section.

[RayAllen]

Id go with three 250w HQI DE pendants. I personally prefer DE of SE bulbs any day. The pendants are built well and have a protective glass cover under the bulb so you can put one over the center glass brace with no problems at all without having to worry about heat issues. You can get them at a decent cost of anywhere from $99-300 a peice depending on where you buy and if it comes with ballast already. DE bulbs cost a little more but you will love them.

Here is a link to the pendant I have http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=172

You will still have to buy a ballast and bulb but $99 is a good price for the pendant only. The may make a ballast that can run all three but im not sure you may have to buy them seperatley.

Good luck with what ever you choose, this hobby has a lot of options, lol.

[joelb]

there is a calculator for determining what youd need to set up a "bullet proof reef" according to your tank size at GARF.ORG
i think it suggests 4 icecap ballasts and 8 VHO bulbs. i know that would work fine but personally i use 4 X 150 watt Metal halides. im thinking about an icecap to go along with it. good luck

[princer7]

Princer,

What kind of bracing do you have on your 215? On my 180, I have a large glass brace in the middle (to guess has to be 15-20").

The tank I have is brick style. The sides are thicker glass and it does not have a center brace. It is easier to work with than one that is braced.

The Lumen Brights are great as they keep the heat source elevated higher than a traditional light fixture. In addition to better light spread, this allows for better air movement and would possibly reduce the heat buildup on the center brace.

[fishn]

Well just to add my 2 cent. I have a GC 180 with 2X 250 MH in luminarc reflectors. I keep everything form softies to SPS with no problems. With that being said my rock work is set up in two pillers or mounds and the lights are centered abouve those rock structors. I have bee considering getting a third MH but only as a sumlementation to the XM 10K bulbs that I am running in the 2 that I have now. Hope this helps!