What light? $150 or less for 20g tank

[AbNoXioUs]

My wife is having me get rid of my 30g tank... This tank I'm transferring to is a 20g about 20" wide.

I would love to grow SPS frags in there, but I have to make sure the light is under $150 since the old lady hates how much it all costs...

I'm ok with not growing the SPS, but again it would be nice.

Send me links and let me know what you think would be the best buy! Thanks~

[Wmich2008]

DIY led or a two bulb t5. Reefgeek has a few different retrofits. May want to look at some of those. You could also get a DIY led setup from rapidled. They sell 18 inch strip heatsinks that would probably work well for you.

[AbNoXioUs]

I'm not sure I can DIY unless it was step by step video and a package purchase.

[Wmich2008]

It's really super easy. Get the solder-less kit and it will seriously take you like 1 hour.

[Wmich2008]

Or get a two bulb t5 and call it a day. The retrofit from reef geek is right around your budget.

[Triggercdog]

Take a look at the par 38 bulbs ledtric or rapidled has....I am thinking about getting one for my 30 gallon rimless frag tank...

[azjohnny]

this one is simple to install and would be plug and play, enough light for soft corals. No clams or SPS

http://www.hellolights.com/1851x96wcf5050quadretrofitkit-squarepin.aspx

[azjohnny]

this one is simple to install and would be plug and play, enough light for soft corals. No clams or SPS

http://www.hellolights.com/1851x96wcf5050quadretrofitkit-squarepin.aspx

replacement bulb for fixture
http://www.hellolights.com/96wquad505010000kactinic03-squarepinbase.aspx

[Wmich2008]

Forgot about par38s. Two rapid led 12 bulb par38s would be under your budget. Not sure about the spread though.

[pwoller]

SPS? Used 150watt MH fixture. People are selling them cheap to try LED's these days.

[Michigan Mike]

With PAR 38 bulbs they need to be hung pretty high above the tank to work correctly. There are a lot of variables to led and most look like a DIY project unless you buy a premade fixture. I wouldn't even consider PC lights. A 4 bulb T5 is easy can be found in your price range and will give you the light you want for SPS and a lot of color combos to play with. I have a fishneedit 4x24 t5 and its okay but you can save a little more money(dont tell your other half) and get a TEK 4x24, also Aquaticlife linkable T5's are much cheaper and you can start with a 2 bulb light and add an extra 2 bulb light when you need it.

[Wmich2008]

Not to high jack the thread, but Michigan mike what do you think of the aquatic life t5s. Are they a decent fixture?

[Michigan Mike]

Link able fixture or the high end fixture with the timer and moonlights?
They are better quality than most. The reflectors are good, the ballast are spec program start = good. The thing I don't like is the linkable fixtures are made so you have to unscrew screws to change bulbs = bad. The timer is nice on the "elite" fixture bit if it dies your fixture won't work without it = bad. Also the 4 bulb fixtures don't have fans like the 6 bulb fixtures = bad. I also prefer not to buy a fixture that comes with cheap bulbs but they are on the better end of cheap bulbs. I only buy ATI,KZ and GE although GIESSEMAN is also very good and worthy too. The price of the "elite" fixture is up there and after you replace the bulbs with ATI bulbs your into a lot of money already so I went the extra mile and got an ATI Sunpower instead.
Good company, stands behind their product.
Can be pricey and the moonlights die quickly but are cheap if not replaced for free by Aquaticlife.

[Michigan Mike]

SPS? Used 150watt MH fixture. People are selling them cheap to try LED's these days.

Agree
For sps only, its awesome but most other corals can be acclimated or shaded or placed properly even in a 20g for a 150w halide. Can't say I regret my sunpower but I wish I would have found this deal earlier...
I got 4 reef optix pendants w bulbs, 2 blue wave 150w m-81 and a dual 150w m-81 blue wave ballast for $200. That's like $50 for a pendant, bulb and ballast.
Here's one of them on my 36g corner tank with supplied Phoenix 14k bulb.
Love the shimmer of halides...http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o535/Mike_Mcdougald/Snapbucket/976948C7_zps6a9d96c0.jpg

[AbNoXioUs]

What about this light?
http://www.marinedepot.com/Marineland_Reef_Capable_LED_System_with_Integrated_Timer_Flexible_Mount_LED_Light_Fixtures_for_Aquar iums-Marineland-AS330011-FILTFILDFX-vi.html

[rtparty]

Aqua medic has an awesome deal on their pendants right now. 150w is like $110 with ballast. You just need a bulb. I got my phoenix bulb for like $38 with reefgeek's last sale.

That is my recommendation. 150 watts isn't too much for a 20g tank. Just raise it up a little bit.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[minireef30]

Fishneedit.com halides work well for me.
That is a good price on the Aquamedic pendant too.

[AbNoXioUs]

So what do you think about LED though? Like the one i posted above?

The tank is now in my office on the desk so i want the light to be sexy as well as efficient.

[rtparty]

So what do you think about LED though? Like the one i posted above?

The tank is now in my office on the desk so i want the light to be sexy as well as efficient.

Not a great choice really.

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[nanoreefer1000]

DIY led, more money at first but no bulb replacement and they last a long time.