Metal Halide advise

[mike ling]

I am now so pardon the ignorance.

I've a 40 gallon tank the is 18"wide x 36" long in surface area. Currently I've only aragonite & sand and water in it. I am in the market for a good lighting system before cycling the tank with life rock. I have been advised, by a local reef aqua shop, to get a $800 36 " Metal Halide lighting system, with 2 compact fluorescents by WonBrothers for this tank. I was told that getting a cheaper lighting option would only cost more in the long run becuase I would want to get more interesting invertebrates in future = change lighting for newer one.

I am thinking of getting a 24" Metal Halide lamp because it is cheaper ($500) and also because I only plan to have life rock on one end of the tank. I plan to have a few anemones and a few clown fishes and a pair of Jawfishes, some bottom crawlers like shrimps & hermit crabs.

Is it true that I need Metal Halide lighting for an anemone ?
Can I only use a Metal Halide Pendant and not have the compact flourescents ?

Halogen lamps look to give the same type of white light, has anyone tried them for reef lighting ?

Any suggestions for lighting that will cost less than my car payment ?

[xvulture]

There is a lot of science behind the whole lighting topic, but truthfully, it is how much your wallet can handle and what type of specimens you are going to keep in the tank. I have used all the different hardware, i.e., basic florescents, power compacts, VHO and now metal halide. I have seen a tremendous difference in the amount of growth in the tank once I changed over to the MH lamps. I have a 92 Corner with two 175watt MH with four Actinic 32 watt PC, the colors are unbelievable. But before that I kept a good variety of inhabitants in the tank, you be hard pressed to keep some clams happy, same goes for the stoney's, most like the intense light.

Take it in stride and do the research on the fish and corals your planning on and it all works out. The reef is one of the easiest tanks to keep provide your water quality is right and once your tank matures and kicks in it becomes totally self - sufficient.

For the inhabitants you are planning on keeping I think you could easily run the tank off regular flourescents. This is only my 2 cents, so the most useful knowledge I can pass along is to read and educate yourself as much as possible from the so-called experts. What works for someone else doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you.

Good Luck.