Lighting Poll and ?

[DeAngelove]

Ok Guys & Gals -
I am in the process of setting up a new tank and haven't been able to decide on the lighting. I have narrowed it down though, and I want to be able to use whatever I buy when I upgrade tanks again later on down the road. I have decided to go with pendants, as I like the look of an open tank. I want to be able to keep just about anything, but I'm especially interested in clams at this point.

OK... anything else I should have added?!

Thanks for the input! ;)

[JimD]

Depends on what you plan to keep on down the road. If you want to combine SPS, LPS and some shrooms, a single 250w 10k and actinics would work fine, if on down the raod you plan on being a hordcore SPS geek, then dual 250w 10k's and actinic would be my lighting of choice givin the options in the poll.

[cpreefguy]

I vote for a single 250w pendent. Ive seen them on hex's as well as 30g cubes and they work awesomely

[Ram_Puppy]

Denise,

I voted for a single 250 as well, I am currently running a 175 watt on mine, along with 6 power compact 20 watt bulbs.. and I consider it 'ok' Go with the single 250 and I think you will be happy.

[DeAngelove]

Hey Guys & Gals -
Thanks so much for all of your input and votes.

I'm really leaning towards the 1-250w MH pendant w/ a 13 or 14k bulb, especially after seeing the poll. My next tank is going to be a 4ft tank (either 75 or 90) and I will probably be upgrading tanks by the end of 2005.

Anyhow... thanks again!
DAB

[Brett Wilson]

On a 36" long tank, a single pendent might create a spotlight effect unless you raise it pretty high...
Other than that, I agree that a single 250 would be better than one or two 150s.
Specially considering you plan to upgrade soon and a 150w would be somewhat inadequit on a larger tank.
-Brett

[theedprado]

as much as you can use without overheating the tank. a three foot tank is a little tricky. mh covers a 2 foot area. so one might not give you complete coverage but two might overlap. this could be good for a high light area. If you are concered with upgrading in the future i would go with the bigger lights. that wat if it gets too hot you could run one 250, but if you upgrade to a larger tank you could easily just add another 250 or two.