90 gal lighting opinion please

[JeffD]

hi folks, I have a standard 90 gallon tank thats 24" deep that i'm trying to figure out how i'm going to light. I want to be able to keep softies, lps, and maybe some sps.

I've used halide in the past and although i'm not big on the bulb prices and hydro costs I'd like to come up with some type of compromise. Originally I was planning on going with dual 250 mh with either vho or t5 to suppliment.

I have seen a few nice tanks with all t5 and a few really look good but coming from halide i don't think i'll be happy with t5's by themselves over the long haul. So, what i'm thinking is maybe going with a single 250w mh maybe hqi (yes a 400 would suit better but the $$'s in hydo) in the center of the 90 gal and then try and stuff at least 4 x t5's in the canopy with it.
I have a spider type halide refelector already and i'm planning on widening the reflector to broaden the area of coverage to span most of the 48" width..I realize the intensity will not be like having 2 x 250's but with the extra supp t5 it might just give me most of what i'm looking for..

sorry to be so long..I would like to hear some opinions on this and maybe even from someone who has tried a single 250 on a 90.

tanks in advance, Jeff

 

[aquajamieb]

wont an MH be right over the center brace if you use only one single light? Could it melt it? I would go with an already built fixture or retro-fit. I am in the same boat, I have a 90 and am trying to figure out what light to use too. I will probably go with an Aqualight 48" with 2 250s.

 

[USC-fan]

the center brace is going to be a problem. I would get 2x 250MH with VHO supp.

I'm going with 2x 250mh with PC supp just because the cost in going with vho or t5. That might be something else to think about if you want to save money.

 

[JeffD]

you have a point about the center brace..especially bad for shadowing.. I wonder what 2 x 175w mh + either vho or t5 with it..might mean i would have to put any sps up top..

I downsized from a 180 that had 3 x 175w mh on it and i would say with having a dsb and allot of lr, the intensity from the 175's was not awesome, but adequate..

how much $$ for the aqualight?

Jeff

 

[aquajamieb]

its around $900

 

[JeffD]

kb, i dont know about where you are but around here the price of quality pc's is crazy and from what i read they dont last as long as vho
or t5. As long as you dont overdrive the t5 that is..then again, i'm told a t5 is a straight pc

 

[USC-fan]

sorry i was talking about the price of the fixtures.

This is the one i was talking about.

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=333&HS=1

Its only $360 and it comes with 2x 250mh and PC supp.

 

[aquajamieb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9602277#post9602277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kb-smoker
sorry i was talking about the price of the fixtures.

This is the one i was talking about.

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=333&HS=1

Its only $360 and it comes with 2x 250mh and PC supp.

but its junk, and aquatraders has the worst customer service ever, if they have any.

 

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9602298#post9602298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquajamieb
but its junk, and aquatraders has the worst customer service ever, if they have any.

maybe you should check out the 750+ post thread about this fixture,

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1037172

Seems to be getting great reviews. The only thing bad i hear is the free bulbs are too yellow.

 

[JeffD]

I was checking them out also..did a pile of reading and searching on these..The price is impossible to beat but check the wiring in both the ballasts and light before using it. Make sure everything is fastened tight and grounded well.
If these are new models they may have corrected the poor QA with the electrical. The other thing I was factoring with this unit is that no doubt within a few months you will probably be wanting to buy replacement bulbs for the whole unit..Factoring that into the price of the unit and the wiring probs they once had was a factor on me passing them up..After all the bulbs are "FREE" my 2 cents

 

[dobly_1999]

If you have a canopy, you can find some good prices for 250w MH and T5. I went with 2 250w and 2T5 55w. I am adding another 2 t5 55w for 10k light.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

I have a 90 gallon and I just have 2x 175 watt MH pendants with 12k reeflux bulbs. the light is sufficent for me and I have some sps- just keep them at the top. I like these lights and I feel no need to upgrade. Just my opinion.

 

[JeffD]

thanks for the replies all..I decided to DIY my setup once again. The way I see it, this way i know how it was built, will outlast any of these electronic made in china units hands down.

the parts order has been placed and consists of the following for my 90 gal

2 x 250w magnetic ballasts
2 x 250w XM 10k's
2 pfo 12" spider type reflectors
2 mogals, 2 metal outlet boxes, wire
2 x 110w actinic uri vho lamps\ballast\endcaps

will need some odds and ends not on the list but no biggie. Will be using a dead APC UPS box to retro my ballasts in.

total cost a little over $500..but i can sleep well at night, and have no worries of cheap electronic ballasts dying, having to swap out cheapo "free" bulbs incl in the low priced units etc etc..

cheers and tks!