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View Full Version : Which lights to get??


BSchaible
02/17/2009, 11:04 PM
Just bought an Oceanic 140 gallon today and I LOVE IT!

I'm wanting to set up an LPS/Softie reef....

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what lights I should use???

Thanks!!!

xJake
02/17/2009, 11:27 PM
It's hard to beat Champion Lighting's prices on BlueLine MH pendants...

http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=541

You could definitely get away with a single 250-watt pendant for the whole tank. Just raise it up a bit higher to spread out the light.

Peter Eichler
02/17/2009, 11:39 PM
If you're for sure going to stick with softies and LPS I'd just go with one of the cheaper T5 setups such as the Nove Extreme Pro. It will limit you as to what can be kept on the bottom of the tank a bit, but so will 250w MH for that matter. IMO one 250w MH over that tank would be miserable coverage even with the best of reflectors. Also, you'd be surprised how much intensity is lost by raising a MH further off the surface. If going metal halide I'd suggest two 250w.

Johnny C
02/17/2009, 11:56 PM
Check Out CatalinaAquarium dot com, I got a really nice T5 light for $300 that leaves the Nova in the dust, and for a darn' good price! GL ;)

BSchaible
02/18/2009, 12:09 PM
i found on ebay a fixture that is 2 x 250 W MH and 4 x 65 W PC.

Would this be a good choice???

Thanks!!!

reefscape15
02/18/2009, 01:06 PM
Agreed with PETER! If you are never going to add SPS, you would be okay with t-5's, but if you want to get into them eventually, do yourself a favor and get 2 175 or 250 watt MH lights, and then add T-5's as actinic suppliment. Even if your not going to add SPS, the MH with T-5's would look so much better IMO than only T-5's. In my experiance with friends tanks, i would stay away from power compacts. They don't seem to have the intensity or color that T-5's do

shred5
02/18/2009, 01:19 PM
I agree with Peter go with one of the cheaper t-5 fixtures... If you decide you may want to go sps latter go with a good t-5 fixture with individual reflectors or the halides he suggests.

Dave

BSchaible
02/18/2009, 02:40 PM
the t5 fixtures mentioned dont seem to be "cheap". if i went with the MH (i really like the ripple effect they give off) with the PCs, wouldnt the intenisy of 500W of MH be enough to sustain LPS/Softies, PCs could just add a bit of color??

maybe im looking at the wrong t5 fixtures....if anyone can point me in the direction of one.....my tank is 48" long...

Thanks!!!

reefscape15
02/18/2009, 02:52 PM
a 400 watt MH bulb would be plenty for LPS/Softies, but as said before, you can't spread out that light across a wide area very well. There would be about 1' of very intense light, and about 6" on each side of that where the light would still be good for LPS/Softies, but outside of about 2', you wouldn't get barely any light. Also look into T-5 retrofit kits instead of a PC fixture

BSchaible
02/18/2009, 02:56 PM
the fixture i have found has two 250w MH side by side with the strips of PC on the outside edges of the fixtures.


what advantages are there to T5 lighting over MH and visa versa?

BSchaible
02/18/2009, 03:06 PM
what about this: http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Metal-Halide-250-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-LUNAR-MOON_W0QQitemZ180329555776QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item180329555776&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

how is this priced?

BSchaible
02/18/2009, 04:15 PM
bump

Peter Eichler
02/18/2009, 06:02 PM
My suggestion, stay far away from ebay for aquarium lighting...

If you don't want a "cheap" T5 fixtures then check out the ATI Power Module in 48". It's the best T5 fixture on the market and will allow you to keep anything you want but may be a bit overkill for LPS and softies. Which is why I was suggesting the cheaper Tek or Nove Extreme Pro fixture.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ATI-2025&Category_Code=ATIt5


With T5 you get tons of usable light (with a proper fixture) with less energy cost than metal halides. They also seem to penetrate deep tanks rather well. The benefits of MH... The shimmer and IME coral placement tends to be a little less crucial with lower light corals. Also, with SPS deep colors can be more difficult to attain with more powerful T5 fixtures and colors can be more pastel looking.