Any suggestions please

[gemmasicolo]

I posted this in the Lighting forum but I figured I'd ask here too since I am a newbe.

I have a 65 gal 12x48 tank that needs lights. Keep in mind I'm a newbie and know nothing about lighting other than what came with my nano cube.

I have a canopy on top, does this also mean I will have to do a retro?

Is there any simple suggestions anyone can give me about the type of lights I should get and maybe a website to help me? I plan on having a reef tank.

Any guidence would be appreciated.

I'm leaning towards t5. I do want to have some corals and an anemone.

This is what came with the tank, can I use this for anything? I do want to use the canopy.What type of lights are these? The two extra bulbs he gave me say actinic on them.

<a href="http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n271/gemmasicolo/?action=view&current=cap004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n271/gemmasicolo/cap004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n271/gemmasicolo/?action=view&current=cap005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n271/gemmasicolo/cap005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n271/gemmasicolo/?action=view&current=cap007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n271/gemmasicolo/cap007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Henry Bowman]

The lights you have would be OK for a basic fish only tank. The fixture and bulbs shown in the photos will NOT produce enough energy for a good reef tank. You might be able to get away with putting some easy hearty corals high in the tank but that's about it.

Since you already have a canopy, retro would be the way to go.
Check reefgeek.com for good retros. The easiest retros would be T5's. Metal halide is also a viable option also.

Hope that helps.

[gemmasicolo]

I guess maybe i'll use this untill I get the tank cycled and eventually when I decide to add coral I'll look into new lighting. I'm looking at $200-$300 for a retro kit? I better get another job....

[Sisterlimonpot]

for lighting issue's this is a lot of good reading... well worth it.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074
scroll down to the lighting section and it will enlighten you. (pun intended)

[IslandCrow]

If you want to keep an anemone, yes, $200-$300 will be about the minimum, unless you can get a good deal on something used. I'd do some research on what type of lighting you want to get, and then look around for some used equipment. Metal halide parts are usually easiest to find, but I see a lot of fluorescent ballasts for sale as well. Exactly which corals you want will have a huge impact. If you just want soft corals, you can get away with Power Compact lighting or VHOs, which is much cheaper. If you really want that anemone, though, they're generally going to require metal halide or quality T5s.

[gemmasicolo]

I'm getting so confused with all the talk about Metal Halide vs. T5s. I thought T5s were better (less heat)

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14836993#post14836993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gemmasicolo
I'm getting so confused with all the talk about Metal Halide vs. T5s. I thought T5s were better (less heat)

Its really not a matter of one being better. Its all depends on what you want to keep as for the corals. Yes, the T-5 lights may be a little cooler, but there are only certin corals that you can keep. The Metal Halide are hotter, but you can keep anything with them.

You really need to make a list of what corals you want to keep. You may be able to use the T-5 lights.

[Henry Bowman]

Flipper62,

I have an Aquactinics Solar Flare and keep a variety of SPS and hard corals. There are no limitations to T5's "IF" you get a good light with great reflectors. You should see some of the T5 lit reefs in Europe. They put most US reefs to shame.

Other Brands of T5 lights that can be used to successfully keep hard corals or any other marine life avail in the hobby are:
ATI Sun Pro
Geismann
Infinity

[loyalrogue]

I agree.
Anything that can be kept under MH can be kept under T5 w/ quality reflectors.

That being said, Gemma, what you have is a Normal Output (NO) bulb and fixture.
A VHO is the same size (T12) but the bulb is 110w instead of the 40w you have there, and the ballast is different.
The cheapest option may be to replace the ballast in your current setup and go with two 48" VHO bulbs which have built-in reflectors.
That'll give you 220w and you'll be able to keep soft corals, LPS, and bubbletip anemones.

You could also go with a couple of different T5 retro kits or retro fixtures for around $220-260 plus the cost of bulbs for a 4 bulb configuration which will give you 216w, but that will actually be higher par with stronger light directed down into the tank than the VHOs.
You should be able to keep anything with that.

Lastly, you could go with Metal Halides.
Someone local is selling a couple of 250w Icecap ballasts and reflectors with bulbs for about $220 on the FMAS forum.
Here's the post from this morning: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1620645
That'll give you 500w which is more than that size tank should ever need.

Btw, if you want to go retro let me know, I probably have a variety of new and used parts for VHO and T5 in my "junk" drawers that should fit in your budget.

[gemmasicolo]

Loyalrogue:
With the MH lights, will I have to get a chiller?
I'm seeing a lot of people switching from MH to T5s.
Let me know what you have and prices for the T5 retro so I can do my homework and see if this is something I can do now or wait a little more down the road.

Thanks

[KarlBob]

Just to throw this out there: Your icon shows a clownfish, gemmasicolo. You should know that keeping clownfish does not absolutely require having an anenome. Clownfish can live perfectly healthy lives without anenomes. Any corals that end up in your tank will be much more likely to lead healthy lives if you do not have an aneonome.

If you have anything from a toadstool leather coral to an anthelia (waving hand coral), your clownfish may eventually decide to perform their "hosting" behavior with one of your corals.

When they feel like it, anenomes are capable of uprooting themselves and moving around an aquarium. They can move in a deliberate path from one place to another, or simply drift with the current. In the process of moving, they often sting other corals, sometimes fatally.

One reason why people say T5HO lights can't support SPS is the fact that the cheapest T5HO fixtures available in the US do not include individual reflectors. As mentioned above, the reflectors make a big difference.

Edit: Whether you would need a chiller with a metal halide system depends largely on the temperature in your fish room. If you live in a cold climate, or keep your home at 68F year-round, you might not need a chiller. If you live in a place like Phoenix, or you set your A/C to 82 in the summer to save money, you would probably need a chiller.

[gemmasicolo]

I just found this local ad for sale, tell me what you think and if it will fit my canopy:

Selling my aquarium parts. This is a 48" fixture. It features 3 spots for double ended HQI Metal Halide bulbs. Internal Ballast assembly for a clean installation. Nothing gives that natural shimmer like the HQI lights.
2x 250W for the daylight spectrum 1x150 for the actinic. Bulbs are included but are old. Everything is original.

Condition: Cosmetically dirty. It could be cleaned up though. There is a layer of cooked on salt from service under my hood. No dents, dings. never dropped etc. UV glass is perfect, no chips.
Mechanically: Excellent. All components work as new, the light strikes instantly, no blown ballasts, capacitors, ignitors etc.
Bulbs: Original, need to be changed for reef use, just fine for fish only use.

Aquamedic Spacelight. One of the best German names in Reef keeping, the aluminum housing is built to last. One of the best lights money can buy and is way more compact then pendandts and external ballast assembly.

[Henry Bowman]

T5's or MH both impart heat to the water. If you have fans on the lights, you can get away without a chiller (depending on where you live and how cool you keep the room).

As far as the used light goes, I'd ask for a photo. I like the idea of 3 lights as you can use 1 20K light and 2 10-14K lights and have a nice combo / color.

If the price is good, go for it. I'd also look at how long the selling party has been a member here and if s/he has sold anything here before.

[Gtstricky]

Buy this (http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_111_112&products_id=1606) and you will be fine.

Cheers

[THE ROOK]

3 - 250's are too much for a 65. It may be a longer fixture. The center light would be directly over the brace. Wouldn't work. I run a Current Outer Orbit unit on my 75. It has (2) 250's, (4) t-5's & some moonlights.