I just purchased a new Oceanic 125, a tank I will be setting up when I
have all the components (which will be about 6 months the way my money
is going). The thing I have thought the most about, is how to light
this tank which will be live planted and CO2 injected.
A 6' tank presents problems when using flourescent, I think, because you
can hardly get 2 watts/gallon even if you cover the thing with 36"
tubes...and besides, if you do, you will have spent a fortune doing it.
I figure $320.00 just for 4 dual-tube fixtures (unless someone knows
where to get 36" shop light fixtures), and at least another $100 -
150.00 for bulbs (if you use something like the ultra tri-lux bulb).
Well hell, If I'm going to spend that much on lighting, maybe I should
consider metal halide or VHO. I can put 350 watts of metal halide for
the same money and have it hanging from the ceiling, to boot, giving me
excellent access to the tank (a luxury I don't presently have due to the
fact that I have flourescent strips all over my other tanks).
Anyway, I have never seen metal halide or VHO lighting in action, nor do
I know anybody who has. Can anybody shed any light on this matter?
This will be my first go with serious CO2 injection, so I know I need to
get my watts up. How will my rainbows look with this much light on them?
I'm not sure if I want to drown out the beauty of my fish; but, on the
other hand, I am really getting into this plant thing. Where does The
List draw the line here?
I am open to any suggestion or sharing of personal experience with
lighting this size tank. I'm not sure exactly what fish I will be
keeping in this tank but it will be community. I will probably put a
rather large tribe of Pappin Cr. Tris in there and maybe a splendida
variety or two.
Thanks
Jim