Lighting a Large Viv

technofile · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 10:01 PM

I know this must have been asked before but I am having no luck finding any threads. I am planning the construction of a large display for my living room. It will be 66"Long x 48" Tall x 26" wide. I know it is going to take some monster lighting to penetrate to that depth. I am taking the heat load into account by installing an elaborate cooling system for the lights and top of the viv. So I don't think that heat should be too much of a problem. So with that in mind how much light do I need? I have been considering a pair of 400 watt MH, but would love to hear opinions. I have also considered cf and vho lighting, but they seem less likely to be able to cast light all the way down to the bottom.

Thanks, Holly

HappyHippos1 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 02:27 AM

Cheapest would definitely be 4 or 5 fluorescent home depot shop lights. Only 4 feet long though so you'd have to catercorner them to fill the whole viv. You could probably fit 5 in the viv with that width. That'd give you about 400W of bright light (80W a fixture). Heat wouldn't be a major issue but I'm unsure of how well the light would penetrate to the bottom also. However, think of a large building, they use those lights and rooms stay lit.

I'm impressed with mine, I finally got one for my 55g viv and the light is about similar to AH supply 2x55W bright kit minus the excessive heat and for $80 bucks less. I bought the AH supply light for a planted aquarium so the light isn't totally needed in a viv and now I don't need a reverse light cycle to cut down on heat!

technofile · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 03:13 AM

I have considered cf lighting and figure that I should be able to fit either 15 or 18 55watt units of the AH style. Which would put me at either 825 or 990 watts. So in terms of wattage it comes out surprisingly similar to the 2 400watt MH. Though I am thinking that the MH will have a less expensive bulb replacement and have greater penetrative depth. However I less sure of this last point which is in part why I am looking for opinions.

One other benefit of having all thoose rows of light would be that I could stagger the start and end times to mirror a sunrise and sunset, though I don't think this is a important point it would be a nice benefit if I went that route.

So am I thinking in the right direction? What would you choose if it were not about money and was all about what the ideal would be?

Thanks,
Holly

Android1313 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 04:25 AM

Holly,
I would probably go with T5 HO lighting. It is available in 5 foot lengths (60 inches-80 Watts each ), that would probably work great lengthwise on that viv. Also T5 HO run cooler, take up less space - you could probably fit 20 of them across (1600 watts-yikes!), are more energy efficient, and last longer than CF, or other fluorescent lamps. You could wire the T5`s to separate timers, to simulate the sunrise/sunset like you wanted to do.

technofile · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 06:01 PM

Andy, I have no experiance with HOs do you think the light will make it all the way down to the bottom? I ask as NO fluorescent lights always seem to diffuse there light too much.

I am looking into HOs and while the bulbs are amazingly slim (5/8") they will still require a reflector. One supplier had HO reflectors that were 2.75" wide (don't know if that is typical yet) which would mean that I could only fit 8 or 9 accross the top for a mere 640 or 720 watts. Is this a typical reflector? Or did you mean me to use them without a reflector. I ask because as I said I am thinking that fluorescent seem to have such a diffused light I would think that a good quality reflector would be key to getting light all the way down to the bottom.

Looking forward to you opions and I will continue to doing research on HO lights.

Thanks,
Holly

Wetts11 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 09:27 PM

I run T5 HO on most of my tanks with great luck. However, my deepest tank is about 28" and you can tell the light isnt nearly as bright at the bottom as it is at the top, I am however only running 4 bulbs on that tank. With my experience with saltwater aquariums I would definately go with Metal Halides if you have a way to combat the heat. 400 Watt Halides can penetrate 5 feet of water which is much harder to penetrate than air! Plus Halides have an actual daylight shine and shimmer as they run which stimualtes growth in all plants. I would definately use Halides if you have the money!

technofile · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 03:01 AM

Thanks for that confirmation Wetts11. That is what I suspected but was unable to find out for sure (about the depth of HO). I take it that you agree then that 2 400watt MH would be the best option so long as I can adaquatly deal with the heat?

If anyone else has an opinion that differs from this I would love to hear it. Otherwise I will go with this option.

Thanks,
Holly