Tank Upgrade Lighting Help

[cmart28]

I just got an Oceanic 215 with the center brace in the middle so I am trying to decide on lighting. I am going to wait until the next PA group buy in May, but I want to have a canopy built so I am trying to plan ahead. Because of the center brace I was thinking of putting two islands on each side of the tank. Right now I am thinking of going with 250W Double Ended MH with T5s. I am going to keep mainly SPS. I am thinking of having two pendants because I will have no corals under the center brace. I am looking at the Sunlight Supply LumenMax 3 Pendants and the PFO 250 watt Dual HQI Metal Halide Ballast. For the T5s I don't know if I should go with 2 lamps or 4 and either two 24" Retro Kits or 2 36" Retro Kits. I am looking at the Icecap 36" 2 Lamp T5 Retro Kit. Let me know what you guys think.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=ICE-T5-4X36R&Category_Code=IcecapT5

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=SL-904335&Category_Code=Sunpendant

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=PFO250DHQI&Category_Code=PFOballast

 

[MikeNapoli]

I think your idea about the two islands, given the center brace, is a great idea. The 30 inch depth of the tank means you need to get 250w MH's or possibly 400w MH's which would be great for SPS.

Have you looked at the Reefstar 400w HQI. They are double ended 400w lights and come with Ballast, Pendant, and a 14K Hamilton Bulb for $300. The Reefstars are really low profile, meaning the don't take up much "depth" space in a hood.

The only down side to them is that the bulbs aren't the traditional bulb. Not sure how to explain it but the currents, coralife, and XM's all have plastic on the ends so they slide in to a fixture. The Hamilton bulbs, along with a few other brands, don't have the plastic they just have the ends that touch metal. (not sure if that's confusing) Anyway it's not really a big issue, you just have to make sure you get the right bulb for when you change bulbs.





As far as the T5's I think you really need to go with the 36". I would be afraid that there would be a dark area in the middle of the tank if the light isn't going across the whole top.

Hope this helps and doesn't add to your confusion.