Lighting for Juwel Trigon 350

[sinclair]

I am just about to move from freshwater (Malawi Cichlids) to marines, and intend to set up a reef tank. I have a Juwel Trigon 350 tank that I am going to convert and was looking for some advice on lighting. I expect to go down the MH with actinic bulb route, so any advice on quantity/quality would be appreciated. Attached are tank dimensions
Cheers

[sinclair]

Hi,

Can anyone offer any insights on this?

[cubera]

64 inches deep plus the distance of the lamps above the water...You might be able to mount (5) PFO (or similar)reflectors (400 watters). You could then run different lamps and forget about VHO/PC, etc. This would be an easy and less expensive way to light that monster:) Another option would be (3) or (4) 1000 watters:):)

[sinclair]

thanks for the reply Cubera - apologies but the measurements are in centimeters!!! Also, what do you mean by PFO VHO/PC?

Cheers

[Chuck S]

You tank is 24 inches deep. I remember talking to someone about these tanks before so I know they are made in England thus everything is in the metric system. For your tank its a weird shape but you could do the following.

You could use 2 400watt halides with a 110watt actinic on each end. Then in the back you can add a 55 watt power compact to help light things back their since the tank is shaped like it is.

[cubera]

LOL...sorry about the confusion:) I like Omegatron's suggestions. It provides enough and the right type of lighting for a fairly diverse reef:) What are you planning to keep?

[sinclair]

No problem!

I hope to keep mainly soft corals, an anenome, and a few fish.

Will I need as many MH's as that. I thought that one 25w 10k MH, and two actinics might be ok - let me know as I want to get it right!

Thanks

[tendar]

So it is about 48 inches across. I guess it would also depend on the the opening over the tank.I am guesing this is a acrylic tank so the opening on top may not be big enough to acomidate 2 halides correctly anyways. If it will have room for 2 halides over the water then 2 would be best. if there is not enoght room then 1 will work but will not light the ends very well so at best you could probably keep mushrooms and such at the ends of the tank.

[sinclair]

Tendar,

thanks for your help. I think you are right - it will be difficult to squeeze two halides in as the front of the tank is bowed. I'll concentrate the majority of corals in the centre of the tank, then at the ends keep things that don't need too much light. Hopefully this will create quite a bit of diversity and an interesting set up.

Thanks again

[tendar]

SOunds like a good plan.
Good luck

[sinclair]

one last thing! Should I get a 150w or 25w MH, and what about the actinics?

ta

[tendar]

Definetly go with 250's for your depth tank. Actinics are really up to what kelvin bulb you get and how much blue you like in your tank. I run a HQI DE 250 AB Aqualine 10K bulb on its own with now actinics and really like the color but that is just me.

[sinclair]

Thanks for all your advice! Over here in the UK Arcadia do a good combined MH and actinic lamp that I'll get. I will get the single 250w MH version, or the dual 150w one if it will fit.
Apart from colour, and simulating dawn/dusk when timed right, what else do the actinic lamps do?

Thanks again.

[tendar]

They add more spectrum in the blue range which is more light in the tank so does go to total watts of light in the tank.