Lighting for 180g

[biggin]

Any recommendations for lighting my 180g?

It is 30" deep but I am not going to plant it so any ideas or options?

I would like if all possible not to do a traditional hood and do some type of light setup above the tank.

[xtc]

I'd consider doing some primary T-12s and a couple evening spots or something similar- I plan on playing with Peanut's lighting. It's such a big tank, cool lighting will make it that much more cool. Same with yours.

[biggin]

That was basically what I was thinking.

But wanted to throw it out there for some suggestions.

[AndrewH]

The main problem with lighting a 30-31" tall tank is the particle saturation in the water. There's a very long and complicated formula to calculate the light loss, but for the most part you're gonna need something pretty heavy duty just to be able to see anything at the bottom.

I'd maybe recommend a single 150 watt halogen or even a pair of 70 watt MH suspended above the tank, but then again, I'm not too sure how high you'd have to have it to get the light to hit all the areas in the tank.

I'll do some research to see if I can come up with some estimates for how much light you'll loose and see if I can find solutions others have tried.

[rolloffhill]

Andrew beat me to it, I was gonna suggest MH pendants.

[AndrewH]

I'm pretty sure that'd be your best bet for reaching all the way to the bottom (plus it'd look attractive).

[kewlkatdady]

I'm not sure the "EXACT" dimensions, but a buddy of mine has a 105 show. It has a 48x18 footprint (same as the 75) but its taller. He has (2) 48" 40w 50/50's. He even has black (3m CQ) substrate and its fine.

I just can't remember how tall it is, but its gotta be close to 30" tall.

[kewlkatdady]

his has got to be 28" tall. So Since you are not planting the tank, before you go out and spend $100's on MH, I'd at least try some power compact or something much cheaper.

[kewlkatdady]

I would like if all possible not to do a traditional hood and do some type of light setup above the tank.


Does this mean you do not want a canopy full of lights, or you do not want just a simple light strip on top?

[AndrewH]

his has got to be 28" tall. So Since you are not planting the tank, before you go out and spend $100's on MH, I'd at least try some power compact or something much cheaper.


Halogen = $30 for 300 watts or $20 for 500 watts :D

[rolloffhill]

I'd like to see the link for those prices....

[biggin]

Where at? I have been looking around and have not really seen any that price....

MH = $30 for 300 watts or $20 for 500 watts :D

[AndrewH]

These are the Halogen, but I've seen the same thing in MH.

150 watt - $10 (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=17302-290-MQF-150W&lpage=none)

300 watt - $30 (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=36131-290-MS188&lpage=none)

500 watt - $21 (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=74015-290-QL-500-WL&lpage=none)

Now they'll be a little on the industrial looking side, but simple shroud will fix that.

[rolloffhill]

That is far from the typical MH pendant light...

Apples v oranges...

[AndrewH]

Hmm, not really. The MH pendants have differnet guts, but it's simple to build a shroud or "decorative" pendant if you have the right guts.

[biggin]

Is there any real reason I could not go this route?

[AndrewH]

Ascetics.

If you dont' want to have something hiding the source, you'd have to live with the fixtures.

[biggin]

I can deal with that....

[AndrewH]

That is far from the typical MH pendant light...

Apples v oranges...

Ok, after looking I can't find the MH versions online. But I'm sure I saw them in the store. But sucking it up, I'm probably wrong.

Here's an option for a High Pressure Sodium pendant (high pressure sodium will yeild the best colors, and has a very high lumens per watt rating).

175 watt HPS (high pressure sodium) - $30 (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100060145&N=10000003+90401+501161&marketID=401&locStoreNum=8125)
I know, looks like industrial gargage, but with a wood canopy, or a sheet metal (or other material) shroud it could be a nice fixture.

Now to change the HPS to MH, would be a ballast swap (MH ballast = big $$$).

[AndrewH]

I can deal with that....

Personally, I don't think some of them look too bad.

[rolloffhill]

Ok, after looking I can't find the MH versions online. But I'm sure I saw them in the store. But sucking it up, I'm probably wrong.

Here's an option for a High Pressure Sodium pendant (high pressure sodium will yeild the best colors, and has a very high lumens per watt rating).

175 watt HPS (high pressure sodium) - $30 (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100060145&N=10000003+90401+501161&marketID=401&locStoreNum=8125)
I know, looks like industrial gargage, but with a wood canopy, or a sheet metal (or other material) shroud it could be a nice fixture.

Now to change the HPS to MH, would be a ballast swap (MH ballast = big $$$).


HPS is going to give a yellow tinge to them not ideal IMO. Any of these lights and wood= HEAT, bad idea...but that is all IMO.

Correct me if I am wrong but HPS and halogen don't use ballasts where MH do...

[kewlkatdady]

I never thought of these...

Heat is an issue with any high powered lighting.

What is the color spectrum of these lights...?

[AndrewH]

HPS is going to give a yellow tinge to them not ideal IMO. Any of these lights and wood= HEAT, bad idea...but that is all IMO.

Correct me if I am wrong but HPS and halogen don't use ballasts where MH do...

HPS will be really red-ish in appearance and does require a ballast. Hologen will also be on the red-ish side (but not as bad as the HPS) and does not require a ballast.

Wood can be used, but I would highly advise against it. Lots of fans and big air gaps would make it work.

I never thought of these...

Heat is an issue with any high powered lighting.

What is the color spectrum of these lights...?

Colors range from 2000K to 4100K. But if you have a couple of blue filters you can raise that to whatever you want it to be (something I haven't talked bout in the light 101 thread but mean to). Color filters simply change the color output by blocking the rest of the colors (sort of). You do get less light output, but on a 300 watt fixture it's probably a good thing.

Heat is an issue and is why you typically see MH fixture suspended well above the tank. Some people use small fans to blow air across the ballast/housing to keep the fixtures cooler, or blowing across the top (exterior) of the tank to keep the tank from heating due to lighting.

[AndrewH]

There are lots of issues with using these light sources, so if you're wanting to let me know and I'll help you with the design if you want.

[biggin]

Maybe the answer has already been said but is there any reason I can not just use like 6 t8s? or something?

[AndrewH]

I have 6 - T8s on my 90 gallon and that might work for your application. The only thing I'm thinking is getting enough "viewing light" down at the bottom, but I guess there really doesn't need to be a ton of light.

[biggin]

How deep is your 90? It seems like it was pretty deep.

I have 6 - T8s on my 90 gallon and that might work for your application. The only thing I'm thinking is getting enough "viewing light" down at the bottom, but I guess there really doesn't need to be a ton of light.

[AndrewH]

25", 6" shorter than yours.

[AndrewH]

The next time I'm gonna head out that way, I can bring my fixture along to let you see what you'd get?

[biggin]

I can put 10 it is wide enough.... JK

I think I will put my 4 t12 over it when I get it up on the stand with water and see how much light I get.... That should give me a good idea right?

25", 6" shorter than yours.

[AndrewH]

Yup, 4 - T12 should give you some sort of idea.