Upgrade to HQI or not??

[MoonDark]

Hi guys, I currently have 2x 36 watts PL , ( 1 white 10.000k and 1 blue 7.100k )
The nano is this one
It has
13 G
the measures of the "Cube" are
14 inches High , and 15 inches the rest. a pseudo cube

The heigh of the top of the aquarium to the wood is 14 inches ( 33 CM )

I was thinking on puting a pedant with this bulb

http://www.aqua-medic.com/products/lighting/aqualine10000.shtml

Here are the questions

1)with How much distance to the tank should I hang the hood ?
2) I have to change my PL each 6 months for optimum lightning , how much would that be for HQI ???
3) Is 70 watts enough for zoos, rics, shrooms, GSP and some LPS ?
4) Is 70 watts 13.000k HQI better than 2x36 watts PL ( 72 watts )

Help please

 

[Anonymous]

hey nice tank - I really like it - size, shape. rockscaping........
Standard for MH above tank distance is 6 - 12 inches. generally it is nice to be able to raise it up when you change bulbs or add new corals to avoid light shock which can stress/kill them. Some say MH bulbs are good for up to 18 months but 12m would ensure minimal change in spectrum/intensity between changes. For the corals you have listed PC lighting may actually be the better choice. Most of these corals do not need the intense point source of light that MH gives you. A 70W MH pendent would be nice, but may not be a necessary upgrade for your tank - more of a personal choice thing. As far as K rating that is also personal choice - with 10K being the standard, but bluer 13,14, 20K getting more attention these days.

 

[MoonDark]

I was thinking about the 13.000k for the blueish tone that it has...

I have think about it, maybe I will try to make a better hood for my curent PL , so they get a little raised, I think that could help me with my corals , since 72 watt PL and almost 4 CM above the water , is a little bit overkill

 

[Anonymous]

PL?? you mean PC right or am I confused. Normally flourescents of any type are posed about 3 - 6 inches from the water Also I don't think it is overkill at all - and if you do redo your a hood a pendent type is always nice as I said before so you can acclimate new corals to your light slowly by starting it out up high and lowering it an inch or so a week till they adjust to full power. And your setup is perfect for that just a couple hardware store chains and hooks and you'll be in buissness.