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chatyak
08/25/2007, 10:44 PM
Hello All,

Planning a 55 gallon beginner reef tank... (just basic hardy corals) along with fish and invertebrates of course. My question is... I am unsure of which lighting to use... I've read a lot but am still a bit confused.

I would appreciate input from those of you who have more experience and please help me choose a lighting system from this website here

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/tcategory/lighting.php?category_ID=63

Because I will be buying through them.

Thanks for your time!:)

chatyak
08/25/2007, 11:20 PM
Actually I am thinking of going with this one... what do you think?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~ES53406~tab~0.html

pdhenderson
08/25/2007, 11:26 PM
For that price why not go with one 250 watt Mh for now? Just a thought

chatyak
08/25/2007, 11:29 PM
Would that be a better investment and could it cover the same area? Please post a link to which model you are talking about. :0) Thanks

kodyboy
08/25/2007, 11:41 PM
https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=55_90&products_id=465&osCsid=d4476bbca8ae87c17d824ae97304a897
get the above, more expensive but a MUCH better fixture...Power compacts are not very good. Aquactinics make great stuff, I have a three foot fixture over my 92 corner, grows anything:)
If you do get it I would suggest the following bulbs for a nice crisp ice-white/bluish look
2 blue + (ATI)
2 aquablue special (ATI)
and one UVL super actinic

pdhenderson
08/25/2007, 11:44 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10635528#post10635528 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chatyak
Would that be a better investment and could it cover the same area? Please post a link to which model you are talking about. :0) Thanks

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/jg/index.php


Opens up the possibility that if you want to keep corals that demand more light, its at your finger tips.

pdhenderson
08/25/2007, 11:45 PM
ps
Looking forward to seeing your project develop as I myself am building a 55 gallon 36"

chatyak
08/26/2007, 12:04 AM
Thanks guys..

Now what about this proposed system just for kicks while we are on the topic.

This fixture

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/l-fl-hood2.php?product_ID=sl-t5tl4804

And these lights


3 of these
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/bulbs.php?product_ID=lb-t54802


and 1 of this
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/bulbs.php?product_ID=lb-t548a



Is that decent as well?

Also....... do I need to buy a ballast for these lamps or is the ballast included in the light fixture... it's confusing the way it's written.

Much thanks.

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 12:14 AM
the aquactinics is a better fixture than the tek, it has a fan and splash shield included and has better reflectors.
your bulb selection has good par, but will be very yellow. If that is what you like, great, but I like more blue myself.

chatyak
08/26/2007, 12:16 AM
Hmm... I am not sure which color combo it was going to produce... I am looking for a rich "white light" sensation with some blue in there as well.

What would you recommend for that?

Does that site ship to Canada too? That's the reason I was using JL

chatyak
08/26/2007, 12:18 AM
Does that Aquactinics fixture have a bracket kit that will fit a 55 gallon? I can't seem to find one.

Thanks again for all your help... much appreciated.

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 12:21 AM
the aquactinics sits right on top of the tank, there is a bracket kit you can buy but you do not need it.
I do not know if DIY ships to canada, send an email Deb is cool.
for your color preference go with what I said above, should be a nice icy-white color.

mile sq. reefer
08/26/2007, 12:26 AM
You really have to plan ahead. I've been there. If you are going to keep a reef, you will probably start with some softies and LPS. Once you are satisfied with your success in keeping these corals you will want to stock SPS. The PC's will not cut it. MH is the way to go, yes, I am biased . T5 are also another option but they don't have the look of a reef with the MH. I keep a successful 55g reef that is SPS dominant with 2x150w DE MH only. I went the PC route and wished I never spent the money on them. This was before the T5 revolution. It really depends on the look you are after. You would be fine with 2x150w DE MH or a 4x54w T5. 250w MH are not necessary since the tank is only 20" high. That just opens another issue of having to add a chiller. Oh yeah, if you do decide to go T5 over the MH, make sure the T5 setup has individual reflectors for each bulb.

chatyak
08/26/2007, 12:34 AM
Hi mile sq. reefer,

Yep planning is key... that's why I've been reading for a long time :0)

I am leaning towards this Aquactinic fixture with 5 T5 bulbs that kodyboy pointed out.

Just need to find a place that reasonably ships it to Canada and I need to sort out which combination of bulbs I want.

I would like a bright and natural look over a total blueish look. I am thinking:

1 UVL Super Actinic
2 GE 6500K
1 Giesemann Midday 6000
1 Giesemann Actinic Pure


Decent?

mile sq. reefer
08/26/2007, 12:53 AM
I run MH and dont use T5's so I can't tell you if the bulb selections you have will give you the look you want. SPS, just about any coral, can be kept with both lighting options. Hopefully someone who uses T5's can chime in and give you more advice. Good Luck. Mile.

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 09:02 AM
that is a lot of yellow bulbs, but that is a more natural look
the UVL super actinic is better than the geisemann pure actinic
the 6500/6000k bulbs will really wash out the actinics, you might not even notice that they are on.

chatyak
08/26/2007, 10:05 AM
Hmmm do you know where I can find some pictures of what the tank looks like with the different light combos?

Would you mind taking a photo of your tank ? hehe

Perhaps this then:

3 UVL super actinic
1 6500K
1 6000K


That may be a bit more suited.

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 10:45 AM
again, the actinics are going to be washed out (they get overwhelmed easily)
how about
three aquablue, a blue + and a GE6500
that should be white with a hint of blue, if you want more yellow go with two ge6500 or replace one aquablue with a 6500
it just depends on how yellow you want it
my tank (camera is not working) is quite blue as I have two fiji purples (look more blue to me) an actinic +, a ge3000K and a super actinic. The fiji + are very blue with lots of PAR, but not easy to find and expensive. I have lots of geisemann bulbs because that is what I could originally find, but ATI is better overall. UVL still has the best pure actinic.
From what I can tell you want a look far more yellow than mine, more like natural sunlight with a little blue.
Look at the metal halide frequently asked questions thread, here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=254667
pick a color you like and I should be able to tell you what bulb combination would come close.

chatyak
08/26/2007, 10:54 AM
Thanks Kody - Will do

In the meantime... what do these acronyms mean?

PAR
ATI
UVL

UVL is ultraviolet light?

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 11:00 AM
photosynthetic active radiation, the light used by organisms for photosynthesis
ATI-- manufacturer of aquarium stuff, don't know
UVL--ultraviolet resources? Company that sells light bulbs

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 11:02 AM
photosynthetic active radiation, the light used by organisms for photosynthesis
ATI-- manufacturer of aquarium stuff, don't know
UVL--ultraviolet resources? Company that sells light bulbs
https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/index.php?cPath=55_59_86&osCsid=51517177effd182e9f9b05d9df57e881
this place:)

chatyak
08/26/2007, 11:05 AM
Ahh interesting..

Wow there are so many lighting options from these photos... I'll get back to you in a few minutes with a couple I like.

chatyak
08/26/2007, 11:19 AM
1)

Near bottom...

Right thumbnail under "AB 250 watt 13000K MH"

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/images/misc/DSCN3390AB13K_Actinics.jpg

3)

Near bottom...

Left thumbnail under "AB 250 watt 13000K MH"

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/images/misc/DSCN3388AB13K_Only.jpg

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 11:31 AM
looking at those colors (which are very yellow to me, my tank is closer to the blueline 10 at the bottom:)) I would suggest:
front
aquablue special
blue +
GE 6500K
UVL super actinic
aquablue special

I would get an extra GE6500 and blue + so you can play around with the configuration:)


here are some PAR readings of the various bulbs thans to the Grim Reefer:



T5 bulb PAR ratings

ATI

Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann

Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

AquaZ

Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266

Helios

Daylight 309
Super Blue 225

Current Sun Paq

Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252

GE Daylight 340

UVL

Aqua sun 345
Actinic White 293
Super Actinic 210

chatyak
08/26/2007, 11:44 AM
Thanks Kody

Now when I look at these PAR readings... what am I specifically looking for.... do certain fish need a certain PAR rating or is that more or less for corals?

My corals will come later on in the life of the tank... after fish and invertebrates.

I'll look for those types of lights and see which website carries them.

Also, what is the reason for 6500K over 6000K?

Thanks alot.... really helping to de-confuse the issue for a saltwater newbie :0)

kodyboy
08/26/2007, 12:28 PM
the higher the PAR the better
for corals only, no photosynthesis for fish:) actually it is the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae that is photosynthetic, not the coral
no real reason