[blacktipfl]

my tank is i believe a 37 gallon hex that id like to keep corals and anemones first i was thinking of using a 20 inch power compact coralife that actinic 03/10000k 50/50 lfs cost was 150 something found on the internet for about 90 then i was looking at metal halides and i found one made by current usa sunpod that says it has a 1x150w 14000k power paq and also come with 12 built in lunar lights 6 white and 6 blue. the metal halide light would be around 250. my question is should i go ahead and get a metal halide or would that be overkill on my tank?

[passinetti2007]

I'm surprised no one has responded to you yet and I appologize. I hate it when no one responds to my questions in good time and you see a million people read your questions but get no response.

With that said, I'm not sure current usa has a light that would fit that tank the shortest light fixture that you are describing is 24" i believe. I've been begging current for a month now to build me a 12" fixture like that for my nano. If you want coral and anemones you will need metal halides. You can get away with some corals with T5s but no stoney corals. Also the hex tanks are deep and even with a T5 I believe you'd have to build your rock up high for the corals to get the right about of light. zoos and mushrooms are what you are looking at and i'm generalizing but you won't be able to get much without halides. At least that is what I've heard and I've talked to some coral specialist. Hope that helps.

[blacktipfl]

thanks for the advice on marine depot they have a 20 inch metal halide they didnt have a 12 but they also have a 16.5

[King Nine]

The cheapest metal halide lights are at aquatraders www.aquatraders.com . I just ordered mine today after reading the thread about it at reefcentral http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

It will be a week or more before my tank and light gets set up so it will be a while before I can report back on it but the guy who tore his apart inspecting it on reefcentral likes it.

Hope that helps

[ericwebster]

I heard as a rule of thumb you want to have about 7-11 watts of lights per gallon of water for LPS hard corals. Light is important, but so are flow and calcium/alk levels.

[blacktipfl]

i would order that one from aqua traders but they dont have it in stock so i dont know what im gonna do

[crazygator]

i still prefer the diversity of m.h. alot of other systems out there but not sure about the long haul. plus m.h. are easier to fix if you know where to go

[blacktipfl]

im just gonna wait until the 20 inch on aquatraders comes into stock until then i have just a plain old 20 light and ill wait on gettin anything real cool in my tank till then

[King Nine]

The exact same light is for sale on eBay under the name "Hommby" It is $20 more but might be worth it to get one now if he has your size.

I've emailed the guy and asked if he was the same as Aquatraders and he emphaticaly said no. But is the same light none the less.

[blacktipfl]

i checked yesterday and didnt see any 20 inches the smallest i found was like 24 so if anybody knows any other places 2 ind 20 inch metal halides im up for suggestions

[angie555]

King Nine do you have this light? I am looking in to buying it are there any faults?