Hello all. I have been looking around for quite some time and have found the answers to most of my questions. Just a quick thanks to everyone for the great advice you have!! I have done several searches and cannot find what i now need to know.
I am new to saltwater and am going tostart a reef. I have had a rather large tank fall into my lap(119 Gal, 48x18x31) This tank looks a little deep tho at 31". Will i have to push much more light to get to the bottom? I am looking at MH. Also, when i am looking at lighting it doesn't seem like i can get 7 wpg in a 110 Gal that is only 48" wide. Do you take the total watts or the lighting fixture, or just the MH lights in it? Most of the 48" hoods i have found only have 2x150 MH lights but also have 2x150ish Dual Actinic. Would this be a 300 watt hood, or 600? Also, can I just replace the 150 watt MH bulbs with like 2 250 bulbs?
I know lighting can be a real brain teaser, but I am really trying to figure all this out before i get the tank up and going. Idealy I would have enough light to keep anything I find that I like. TIA for any advice you guys have.
I am new to saltwater and am going tostart a reef. I have had a rather large tank fall into my lap(119 Gal, 48x18x31) This tank looks a little deep tho at 31". Will i have to push much more light to get to the bottom? I am looking at MH. Also, when i am looking at lighting it doesn't seem like i can get 7 wpg in a 110 Gal that is only 48" wide. Do you take the total watts or the lighting fixture, or just the MH lights in it? Most of the 48" hoods i have found only have 2x150 MH lights but also have 2x150ish Dual Actinic. Would this be a 300 watt hood, or 600? Also, can I just replace the 150 watt MH bulbs with like 2 250 bulbs?
I know lighting can be a real brain teaser, but I am really trying to figure all this out before i get the tank up and going. Idealy I would have enough light to keep anything I find that I like. TIA for any advice you guys have.