65Gal Lighting Questions

[joester2k3]

Hello all. I am new to this forum as well as the hobby but i do my best hehe. I am looking at getting a lighting system that will sustain corals and such. I was looking at Metal Halide setups and they seem pretty pricey right now. Is there another setup i could use that will sustain corals or is Metal Halide my only option.

Thanks

Joe

 

[ga_reefer_guy]

T5 would be good either a 4 bulb or 6 bulb set-up would work depending on what you want to keep.

 

[joester2k3]

What is T5????

 

[Desert Aquarium]

I would start here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=212

 

[joester2k3]

would something like this work

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7740124514&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

 

[joester2k3]

or something more on the lines of this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Current-USA-Nov...ryZ46314QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Desert Aquarium]

Considering your choices...

T5 would be considered on the low end of Reefkeeping lights, and the second option, although price wise is attractive, would provice less than 3 watts per gallon. I would aim for more than 4 watts per gallon.


*DISCLAIMER - The noise I create is only a resonance of that which was aquired by reading this site

 

[joester2k3]

i see with the Nova if my math is correct im at 2.4watts per gallon. I actually need a 275Watt system to produce a enough light for the corals then. hmmmmmm Well could i go with this system for fish only for a while and then add a MH light later when im ready for corals??? or should i get it now

 

[ga_reefer_guy]

T5's are by no means the low end of reefkeeping lighting if they were you would not be able to keep sps, clams under them as you can MH.
This tank even won tank of the month using just t5 lighting check it out
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/totm/index.php

Here's an ongoing thread that can answer some of your t5 questions:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=679852