- 1). Determine the livestock you want to keep. Light-loving animals, such as clams and anemones, require greater levels of light.
- 2). Choose the lamp. There are many factors that go into choosing a lamp, including:
- Wattage: The wattage required is determined by the depth of the tank. Tanks up to 20 inches deep require 175 watts, those up to 30 inches deep require 250 watts and those up to 48 inches deep require 400 watts.
- Type of lamp: There are two types of halides: single-ended (SE) and double-ended (DE). An SE lamp is attached at one end with a threaded base. DE lamps have connections on both ends that are inserted into sockets.
- Start mechanism: Halides have two primary start mechanisms: probe and pulse. Pulse lamps are more common because they offer benefits such as reduced heat loss.
- Light temperature: For proper coral growth, lamps should typically be between 5,500 Kelvin (K) and 50,000K. - 3). Choose the fixture. You can install the individual components of a lighting system yourself. However, the easiest way to install a lighting system is to choose a manufactured fixture that fits your requirements. For example, there are clamp-on fixtures that don't require any installation. Another type of fixture, called a pendant lamp, simply hangs over the tank. And there are combo hoods, which provide slots for a combination of MH and fluorescent lights. Combo hoods also typically incorporate a cooling fan.
- 4). Assess the cooling requirements. One drawback to MH lighting is the amount of heat it generates. Temperature in an aquarium is critical, so the lighting system or the water needs to be cooled to offset the heat from the lamps. A cooling system can be a fan under the hood. However, the preferred cooling method is an external water chiller, because it causes less evaporation.
- 5). Uninstall the existing lighting system. Requirements for uninstalling will be determined by the type of existing lighting system that you have. Because halides have special requirements such as for energy, it is important to install all proper components and not reuse components that aren't appropriate.
- 6). Install the new equipment. Actual installation will be determined by the type of fixture that you choose and whether you will install a cooling fan or chiller. For example, a clamp fixture attaches simply to the edge of the tank or other nearby fixed surface and may not require a cooling fan. A pendant lamp hangs above the tank, typically from the ceiling. The most difficult to install is a combo fixture that includes a fan or other components.
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