Lighting for my AGA 20g. H reef tank...

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Abarnswell

New Member
I am setting up my first reef tank. It's a AGA 20g. high tank. I told the LFS that I wanted a low light tank -- I was only going to keep things that didn't need a lot (or any!) of light (mostly because I'm a chicken and don't understand light requirements well).

Anyway, they sold me this light: a Satellite 65w 1-Lamp 24-Hour Lighting System. The package says it is a "SunPaq 10,000k Daylight and 460nm Actinic together in one lamp, along with a Lunar Light to create a low profile, performance tuned, 24-hour lighting system... blah blah blah."

The LFS manager told me that this was powerful lighting, and that I could keep anything in it -- any type of corals. But compared to what you guys talk about, 65 watts doesn't seem like very much light to me. What do you think? Based on this lighting, is this a low-light tank, a medium-light tank? What?

Thanks for any help...
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I have the coralife 2 x 65 on my 20 high and many people run as much as 150 WMH pendents on 20's. It depends what you want of course but yes that is very low light for corals using the old standard - 4W/gal (although it really doesn't apply to nanos) you would need at least 80 W. Personally I would return it and get a 130W instead. Another option would be 4 T5's but they are still a bit expensive when compared to PC.
 
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incysor

New Member
That's low-to-moderate lighting for a 20. I've got a 96w powerquad over a 10g for comparison. However you should be able to keep lots of stuff under that light with no problems. Mushrooms, zoos, LPS, leathers, polyps.

If you can return it quickly either for the cash, or for 100% credit I would, and upgrade your lights like john suggested.

It sort of depends on how much they charged you for the light. You can get a 96w powerquad online for about $100 shipped.

Here's a couple 130w PC fixtures for about $125 before shipping.
http://www.innovativelights.com/24pocofi.html

or a 96w t5 fixture for $235
http://www.innovativelights.com/24t5fixtures.html

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Abarnswell

New Member
I can return the light. I paid $108 for it. I have a glass canopy. Can the lights suggested in the previous post sit on top of a glass canopy?
 
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Abarnswell

New Member
I found this web page that has a handy lighting/needs reference chart, based on the size of the tank and what you want to keep in it:

http://www.marineandreef.com/Info/light ... _hood.html

It looks to be very handy, and it says the same thing you guys just said, too. I think I might want to upgrade my lights a bit. I haven't opened the box yet, so I know they'll take it back.

I have a glass canopy on my tank, so I need some kind of lighting fixture that can lay on top of that, or maybe a lighting fixture with legs that will stand on top of my canopy?

Do I need to worry about anything overheating and breaking, like the glass canopy?

Thanks for the help!!
 
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incysor

New Member
You'll want to remove the glass top. It impedes evaporation, which will raise your temps outside the acceptable range.

I don't necessarily agree with the chart, well the SPS column anyway. A lot of SPS requires more than what is listed, and MH is really recommended. But there are some SPS that are easier than others, and would probably do fine. Again, research is the key to figure out the specific requirements, as opposed to the general guidelines.

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Abarnswell

New Member
What do I cover the tank with then? I have four cats. I can't leave it completely uncovered. One of my cats is stupid enough to jump in and ask questions later. :)
 
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incysor

New Member
Use eggcrate. Plastic ligting grid material available at Home Depot, Loews, etc... It's easy to cut using regular wire cutters.

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djconn

djconn

New Member
I had a JBJ 65W X 2 over my 20 gallon high. I liked it for the most part because it was affordable. I wouldn't try any wattage lower than 130 on a 20 high simply b/c it has to reach a greater depth than a 20 long. I kept lots of corals in the tank. Almost everything except SPS.
 
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reefman23

New Member
The lighting depends on what corals you have or want to keep. I think the a 15H measures 20"Lx10"w(?). If so, go with the coralife 96watt quad light. It is around $85 and is the most watts you can get for a 20" power compact fixture.

If you want light demanding corals, you may want to consider a 150watt metal halide...

Hope this helps...

Jesse
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
Jeese hit the nail on the head IMO, the 96 watt powerquad will give you a good amount of light and with the depth of the tank I don't think a smaller light would work well. The only other option to light this tank for a reef IMO would be a MH pendant.

PS :welcome to nanotank!! :mrgreen:
 
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reefman23

New Member
For a 24" high tank, you will want to seriously consider using metal halide rather than compact fluorescent. A 150 watt 14,000k MH setup would work perfect over a 12"x12" tank. This kit would work really nice in a custom canopy...easy to build and the kit is plug-n-play. http://www.illuming.com/

This one is a good choice too... http://www.hellolights.com/cope.html

This one is pretty popular... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113352


You can probably find better deals if you look around...the most affordable way to do metal halide lightin is using retrofit kits.

Jesse
 
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leecrosby

New Member
FOUND ONE ON EBAY 1X175METAL HALIDE KIT $150 WITH BULB HERE IS THE ITEM#ON EBAY 7742274582 CAN SOME ONE TELL ME IF THIS IS A GOOD ONE AND IF SO WHAT BULB10KWHITE,15KBLUE WHITE,20KWHITE
 
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leecrosby

New Member
i bought the auqalight advance series HQI metal halide fixture that hangs on back. its 150 w 20000"k do you think it will work.
 
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reefman23

New Member
That would work very well. The 20,000k bulb is very blue, and is less intense than the lower kelvin bulbs like the 10,000k and 14,000k, but it will definetly work. The HQI's are the way to go, the mogul type 175's arent as intense. Just make sure that you have the glass shield in place to help with UV rays that are released by the double ended bulbs.

Just curius, where did you get it and how much did you pay, if you dont mind me asking?

Jesse
 
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