any advise on DIY PL lighting

[jovian]

hi guys

yeah i m just a greenhorn. see some of the threads from this forum. just have some questions to ask u guys. i guess is abit newbiz, i wish u guys give me some advise.

i m planning to setup a 3ft tank. currently on the verge on saving $$$. just getting some info on the setup. shld i hang my lighting or just put ontop of my tank?

1. 3ft tank is abt how many gallon. and abt the watts/gallon theory

2. where can i get good, cheap reflectors? from Kelantan Lane? [can any1 give me the address. thanx]

3. 10000K 36watts and 10000K 50watts. which i shld i get ? shld i get just two 55 watts so is nt as hot as three 36 watt. what abt 10000k compare to 6500K.


sorrie i guess all this questions are abit stupid to ask. but i m really blurr with it. i hope some1 can give some gd advise, maybe with pictures on the diy lightings. between shld i go sinter electical at simlim or nature aquarium to get my stuff.

ya lastly, which type of diy fan shld i get? ac or dc fans?, how many needed to cool down 3 ft tank? [no $$ to get chiller]

i really thanx to those who willing to help n read my post.
hope to cya guys

thanx

joe

[kelstorm]

i m planning to setup a 3ft tank. currently on the verge on saving $$$. just getting some info on the setup. shld i hang my lighting or just put ontop of my tank?
as u hang your lights, the spectrum of light must be strong enuff to penetrate the bottom of the tank, but it will prevent splashes from the fishes onto the lights. but u might have to drill holes into the wall to hold your lights.

1. 3ft tank is abt how many gallon. and abt the watts/gallon theory
there is a conversion table in AQ.. u might want to try to look for it.. i also cannot recall.. paisay

3. 10000K 36watts and 10000K 50watts. which i shld i get ? shld i get just two 55 watts so is nt as hot as three 36 watt. what abt 10000k compare to 6500K.
i would recommend getting the 10000k lights. btw, u talking abt PL or FL or MH. it sure sounds more like PL or FL to me rather than MH. in marine, we look at the light spectrum not watts. thus, i suggest u go for the 10000k lights. as for whether to go for 3 x 36 or 2 x 55, it depends on whether your 2 lights of 55 is able to cover the tank. also, ur lightings will have to depend on what u want to keep. if it is just fishes and no corals, then a 8500k is suffice but if u want to keep corals like hard corals and clams, then try to go for MH


sorrie i guess all this questions are abit stupid to ask. but i m really blurr with it. i hope some1 can give some gd advise, maybe with pictures on the diy lightings. between shld i go sinter electical at simlim or nature aquarium to get my stuff.
it really depends whether u want a DIY or purchase off the rack and ask chan to modify for u.

ya lastly, which type of diy fan shld i get? ac or dc fans?, how many needed to cool down 3 ft tank? [no $$ to get chiller]
go for AC coz with dc, if the fan drops into the tank, u gonna have electrocuted fishes. also, it is safer. for a 3ft, i recommend using at least 3ac fans. i recall seeing a post on this, telling ppl how to go abt doing it in AQ. u might want to search for it.

[tawauboy]

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1. 3ft tank is abt how many gallon. and abt the watts/gallon theory
there is a conversion table in AQ.. u might want to try to look for it.. i also cannot recall.. paisay

ya lastly, which type of diy fan shld i get? ac or dc fans?, how many needed to cool down 3 ft tank? [no $$ to get chiller]
go for AC coz with dc, if the fan drops into the tank, u gonna have electrocuted fishes. also, it is safer. for a 3ft, i recommend using at least 3ac fans. i recall seeing a post on this, telling ppl how to go abt doing it in AQ. u might want to search for it.
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to convert, calculate lxbxh in cm and divide 1000. then divide by 3.785. this will give us gallons. as for w/gallon guide, don't know if it applies for marine tank, but applies to planted tank as plants need sufficient light to grow well.

think Kelstorm typed too fast. think he means us dc fans, which is safer to use. ac fans can electrocute fishes.

[kelstorm]

yes.. paisay.. thanks for pointing it out.. if not, later i hai si ren..(get ppl into trouble)...[]

[vache]

I dont really recommend MH unless you are ready to invest. The cheapest MH i can find is about 200+. And also lotsa heat on to your water. Chiller go with MH will be ideal. Even if you had MH but your water temperature shoot up high, your coral might not be able to survive or grow well.

Get from chan 1 3ft light with 2PL first, then you judge yourself whether there is sufficient light. If you think you need to add more, then buy another 3ft light from chan again. He is a reasonable and nice guy. No point jump into it too fast. Its may be a hassle to go here and there, but will benefit you of knowing the reasons being why you do and did this etc...

But somehow dilemma. Some people said that marine FL is better than PL. Some of those branded one like AB, they use FL instead of those PL. So what is what, im not too sure. but for sure you need to get actinic light and not those light that you get for planted type. Actinic will have some blue color in it.

[wangzx]

If the tank high is 1.5 ft tall. 4x36W 10K FL or PL will works for most of the corals & fishes. Ofcos' if you have enough cash, you can invest on more FL/PL or MH. Anyway, by ratio is min. 3W to 1 gal. of water. Also, think of the water temp. For corals, not more than 28oC. Ideal 26.5oC.

Rgds