Lighting suggestions for Oceanic 58 RR

[longhorn_20m]

I just purchased this tank today at the AA sale and wanted to get some opinions on what lighting to get. I was thinking about going open top so would use some sort of hanging hood/pendant. I'm not looking to keep SPS, just soft corals like zoos/rics with an anemone for two yellow striped maroon clowns.

Please give me a recommendation, I was thinking either doing just VHO's or a MH pendant ( 175 watt)

Thanks
Justin

[Tim Marvin]

4 VHO's on an IceCap ballast or 6/ HO T-5's from 360ReefFarms. Either set-up will probably set you back around $350-$400 and bulbs are cheaper to replace than halides.

[longhorn_20m]

But would it cost more overall to replace 4 VHOs instead of just a single halide?
What is a good electronic ballast halide pendant?

[Tim Marvin]

I have been using the Icap MH electronic ballast on the megachrome and it has been working great. It also fires the AB and iwasaki bulbs. DE are harder to fire I guess than mogul, but I have had no problems with it. Also check PFO/HQI ballast for a good solid ballast.
Greg at 360reeffarms can get you a smoking deal on the Coralvues.

[witecap4u]

My friend was running a singe 175 10K with a 32W actinic in a pendant over hers. It looked pretty nice and worked well for here LPS/softie tank.

cs

[clowntrigger]

Here are my thoughts...

I would probably go with some PCs to light the tank. The 58 gallon is 21 inches deep, flourescent bulbs are usually pretty good to this depth, if you get too much deeper than this you almost have to consider MH (MH is able to drive deeper). The other thing to think about is heat, if you end up getting MH, you will probably have to end up buying a chiller. Plain and simple, MH throws off a lot of heat.

[Tim Marvin]

I am running 3 MH's without a chiller. I use fans and an open hood. The temp is staying in the 78-80 degree range.

[clowntrigger]

How big is your tank? The bigger the tank, the bigger a sin you can commit against it!

[witecap4u]

I ran a 400W MH and 2 15w actinics in a canopy with a single fan that turned on with the Halide over my 44gal corner tank. The temp never went above 80 after installing the fan. I dont think on a 58 gal that a 175W in a pendant would have any heat problems at all.

cs