Lighting for new setup, need some help.

[Fally]

I am helping a friend setup a 220 Gallon tank. He is ready to start pricing the lighting. The braces that run across the top of the tank split it into three sections. I thought that a 250Watt on each end and one 400Watt in the middle would be a good setup. I am curious what others think of this. Is it enough? Should we go with three 400watts? I think the tank is 30 inches deep.

He is going to use 4x65watts of PC actinic to supplement the MH.

I was looking at insidesun.com to buy them from. Has anyone else had any experience with this vendor? I had a local guy tell me he got all his lights from them and they were great.

What about these lights with 10k XM bulbs?

http://www.insidesun.com/index.php?...d=2&prevstart=0

http://www.insidesun.com/index.php?...d=2&prevstart=0

Any opinions would be appreciated. I use PC lights in my own setup and do not know alot about MH's.

Are the XM bulbs coated for UV or do they need a piece of UV glass in the fixture?

Thanks!

[Whoyah]

I think your on the right track. You will need 3 MH bulbs for that tank. Deciding on the combination of the MH wattage will kind of depend on the type of coral he would like to keep. I would think you need 3 x 400 if the tank is for SPS and it is 30" deep. Softies and LPS could be kept under 3 x250 or 1 x 400 and 2 x 250.

You should consider T5 bulbs over the PCs. T5s produce more light compared to PC, based on power usage. Plus T5s have twice the life span of PCs. I would go with either 4 or 8 36" (39 watt) T5s over a 6 foot tank.

You should check out www.hellolights.com as well.

Single ended bulbs (aka Mogul) do not require a glass shield for UV but Double ended do.

[Fally]

Awesome, thanks for the reply.

He wants to set his tank up so he can keep just about anything he wants. Should he go with three of the 400's?

He already has a 4x65watt PC fixture over his 55Gallon. I was going to take it apart and mount the 4 fixtures in his new canopy.

[The coral Bandit]

Fally I'm setting up my 210 with 3x 400w MH as well that way I can grow anything.
What K rating are you going to use, this is my next thing to buy. My local store told me to have fast growth use 5500k or 10k if I want just better color of the coral is should use 14k or 20k. I want both!
anyone have an opinion on this or proven results?

[perpetual98]

Oooh, I bet I could hook your friend up with some deals. Is it going into a canopy where he can use a retro setup?

I could probably get you a deal on a 3x250 or 3x400W halide setup along with some T5 for supplementation with IceCap SLR reflectors and ballasts.

Eric

[dakar]

I am helping a friend setup a 220 Gallon tank. He is ready to start pricing the lighting. The braces that run across the top of the tank split it into three sections. I thought that a 250Watt on each end and one 400Watt in the middle would be a good setup. I am curious what others think of this. Is it enough? Should we go with three 400watts? I think the tank is 30 inches deep.

The pair of 250's and a single 400 in the center worked out pretty well over our 180g tank. If offered a bit less intense lighting areas as well as higher lighting towards the center. But eventually I lucked into a great deal on a trio of 400w waterproof ballasts so the lighting got bumped up to 3x400. Now that tank was only 24" deep, @ 30" I think I'd start out at 3x400w.

Since I don't subcribe to the possibility of 'too much light' maybe a 1Kw lamp or two just for fun, though they do generate a LOT of heat to get rid of.