OK,
I'm going to be setting up a 90 gallon (48x18x24) tank in the next few months and I'm starting my homework now. This is my first large aquarium so I'm looking for a bit of advice. With so many different lighting systems on the market, it's tough to decide on something.
If you guys were in my shoes and had the opportunity to do it all over again, what would you purchase given your own experience?
Questions: (I will have actinics as well so these questions only pertain to MH).
(1) What wattage would you recommend? I was thinking either 2x250 or 2x400. Heat is not *that* big of a concern as I'll be running a chiller. I want to be able to support anything my heart desires; from clams to SPS to anenomes without having to put them on the top of the water column.
(2) The $60K question.... what ballast would you run? I'd really appreciate hearing some specifics. It seems that there are a ton of companies out there making ballasts and I'm having difficulty sorting through all the verbiage.
(3) The hood will be an Oceanic hood. They look pretty short... Is anyone running 'super-halides' under the standard Oceanic hood? Would it be a better idea to have a custom hood built that provides a bit more space?
Steve
I'm going to be setting up a 90 gallon (48x18x24) tank in the next few months and I'm starting my homework now. This is my first large aquarium so I'm looking for a bit of advice. With so many different lighting systems on the market, it's tough to decide on something.
If you guys were in my shoes and had the opportunity to do it all over again, what would you purchase given your own experience?
Questions: (I will have actinics as well so these questions only pertain to MH).
(1) What wattage would you recommend? I was thinking either 2x250 or 2x400. Heat is not *that* big of a concern as I'll be running a chiller. I want to be able to support anything my heart desires; from clams to SPS to anenomes without having to put them on the top of the water column.
(2) The $60K question.... what ballast would you run? I'd really appreciate hearing some specifics. It seems that there are a ton of companies out there making ballasts and I'm having difficulty sorting through all the verbiage.
(3) The hood will be an Oceanic hood. They look pretty short... Is anyone running 'super-halides' under the standard Oceanic hood? Would it be a better idea to have a custom hood built that provides a bit more space?
Steve
