messiah

I need a new hood for my small tank - only 24" x 12". My current hood is a crappy effort that came with the tank and as I'm looking to setup a small reef aqaurium - I need better lighting.

Recommendations please of good upgrades - shoulD I be going for T5 lamps or metal halides? The tank is only 12" BTW.

Any ideas of cost?

OllyK

Have a look back a couple of days for the marine fish thread.

Many marine tanks are "open topped" with the lights wall mounted above.
I suggest your tank may be rather small, especially for a reef tank.
It seems metal halides are more expensive to start with but last longer and overall may work out cheaper.

HTH

Tiggs

24X12 is a tad dinky for a reef? the more water the easier it is to keep levels static (the sea is a good example!)

i am going to set up a reef but i know i need a tank bigger than my 350 litre planted tank to do it right.

T

messiah

I know its only a tidgy tank but I was planning on only have 2 or 3 fish in it, was intending to nuture liverock / corals primarily before going for a large tank next year when the extension will be built. I think the T5's will enough really - when the big tank comes online this small one will become a hospital / breeding tank.

Tiggs

In that case T5's will be best - no point spending loads for a tank that is going to end up a spare (make sure you have enough watts though for the corals.)

Jeff Wiltshire

this is should give you some ideas of what's required

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/i...howtopic=39861