need new lights, dont know what to get.

[tonyydeee]

Hiii, i wanted to get new really strong coral lighting, good enough for clams,
i have PCs at the moment, but idk what lights to get now, any suggestions?

i have a 75 gallon, i was thinking about getting these? http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...0&pcatid=18700

[ErikH]

I would go with MH. 3x250 HQI mini pendants. Bulbs from Light Spectrum Enterprises are 25 bucks, and would only need to be replaced every 1 1/2 years. The life of a is about the same. When you overdrive the bulbs, which you would want to do with them for clams, the bulbs life gets cut in half unless you can keep them VERY cool.

Or you could try and go the LED route....

[jrsatx20]

i can tell u this. i have a current fixture t5x4 24 wts. and a retro glo fixture 24 wt x 2. the glow refelctors are way brighter than the current. i tested by leaving two actinics on the glo and then swaped they same actinics and put them on the glo fixture and i could see a big difference. just my 2cents

[FireWater]

It all depends on placement of the clams. That light will let you keep a lot of different items. I ran the 48" 6 bulb fixture over my old 90G for a long time and was happy with it although, I did not try to keep clams. The depth of my old tank was 25" w/ ~ 2" of sand.

Lighting is going to be a lot about preference and past experiences. Some folks swear by MH, other like T-5, and there is the LED crowd as Erik mentioned. Spend what you can for a quality fixture whatever route you go.

[ErikH]

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/

All of the lights you will find there are good manufacturers. They all use single lamp reflectors (SLRs) and are very good. I honestly would go with one of those three (other than the retro on that link) and you would be more than happy. SERIOUSLY SAVE FOR A FIXTURE LIKE THOSE IF YOU NEED TO! 6 or 8 bulb configuration would be what you want. I have a 6 bulb T5 over my 40g breeder frag tank.

The biggest thing you dont want to scrimp on is lighting. Filtration has taken a back seat with the design of the Reef Octopus line of skimmers.

[tonyydeee]

Tanks so much guys! NOW im thinking about getting these http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Met...ton_Technology

i would need 2 right?
do i have to hang them? or can i just put them over my glass canopy?
also, do i need to upgrade them? or are the standard specs well enough?

[StevenSeas]

I am going to have to throw my two cents in here. I don't think that you need 6 or 8 t-5 bulbs on your tank In order to grow clams. I know this because in my girlfriends (that's really mine, shh don't tell) she has had a Derasa clam for a little less than six months and it has grown at least 1/2-3/4 of an inch all the way around and is about a 6 inch clam now. This clam has been kept on the sand bed.
The kicker is that her lighting just comes from a Four bulb, T-5 retro fit kit that I installed. It was the hagen Glo ballast, with 4 individual reflectors. For 4 or 5 months the bulbs were the last months of her Glo bulbs. After that we did switch over to UVL bulbs for color choices. But my point is You don't NEED a huge mh or T-5 setup to grow clams. All I am saying is look at your options.

[Europhyllia]

I think it also depends on the clams.
Derasa and Squamosa will be happy on the sand and thus less light requiring. Maxima and Crocea would have to sit higher, prefer rock and require more intense lighting.
I grew Maxima at a very fast pace under a 5 bulb ATI fixture.
If you are a charter member consider checking our library on MAAST. We have a great book on clams available.

[Mike]

Usually less heat from a T5 set up, than with MH (T5s do produce some heat though, just less). Our T5s are on 13 hours, while our MH are on for only 5 hours. The MH are stronger, but therefore cause more nuisance algea when they are on longer. We get to enjoy our tank more each day with T5s.

[txg8gxp]

LED's........Yes I had to say it