[marciemp]

Hi,
We have a 92 gallon bow front corner tank. Right now it has a 36 inch power compact light (I think, it was second hand). The light has 2 bulbs that are U shaped, one white one blue, and it has 2 moon lights. Our tank has fish, live rosk, inverts and 3 colonies of zoanthid polyps. I would like to add corals. Not sure if I want the really high light requirement corals since we are pretty new at this. The shape of our tank is the problem. It is a beautiful tank with a maple stand and canopy, the tank is about 24 inches deep, and there is a glass lid between the tank and the canopy that the light sits on. The 36 inch light is as wide as it can get, so we would need to put a light behind that, or maybe we could get a whole new light? I have seen some single metal halide lights that clip onto the side of the tank and are adjustable in height. Would this be enough light for our tank. What would be the best light for our tank, that would work in the canopy. What kind of fan would we need in the canopy then, it already gets pretty hot in there with the light we have now?

I guess in the long run I might like to get into the more difficult species like anemones and hard corals, so it would be worth it to get a really good light. How do you control the algea then, it seems to grow pretty fast in our tanks already.

Thanks,
Marcie

[RyanG]

Marcie, how much are you willing to spend? MH's or T5's would be the way to go.

[marciemp]

Not really sure on the $$$, it would come down to seeing what is out there and then saving up for it. I am really more curious as to what would fit and work with our tank. The shape is unusual, espcially for a SW tank, and because of the canopy, I worry about heat. Metal halides seem soooooo hot. THe tank at one of the LFS seems to have lights that aren't really in a fixture. They are more like individual lights all attached to a plank/board above the tank (on the bottom of the tank that is above it) What exactly are T5's (a link or picture would help). I was thinking I could fix lights to the top of the canopy in some way, then several lights would work. I just keep thinking to stay away from MH because of the heat, maybe they seem scary. The LFS's are not really much help since they all seem more concerned about their profit of course!

The shape of the tank is like a big triangle with a bowed front. It is 3 feet long on each side and the front is about4 1/4 feet long. So the biggest light that will fit all the way across is 36 inches. Another much shorter light could also fit behind that.

Any suggestions for actual lights, pictures or sites to look at?

Thanks