and the setup begins!!
- Thread starter TANK0789
- Start date
timschmidt
Premium Member
Kar brings up a good point. IF you absolutely can't afford the lights now, then you have a choice:
1. Buy cheaper lights now and then possibly have to upgrade and buy the better lights anyways.
2. Don't set the tank up and wait until you have the bare minimum to have a salt water tank. (i.e. Tank, lights, filtration)
3. Set up tank with live rock and sand but don't have lights and just let the tank cycle a REALLY long time until you are ready to make a substantial light purchase.
I didn't buy what I really wanted and am now going back and repurchasing almost everything because of initial costs. If you think it is expensive now, doing it twice costs even more. Just thought I would share from my own experience.
True the cheaper lights may perform a similar job but the only way I know to see how one light performs compared to the other is to use a PAR meter and measure the two. The big difference from eBay and a reputable dealer is the customer service after the fact. If something goes wrong (everything breaks) then the reputable companies have to keep a good image and often will go above and beyond to make sure anything that is broken is fixed quickly and cost free. Drs Foster and Smith have been wonderful to me and are available almost all the time.
I do not intend to be negative or say anyone is doing anything wrong, I just hope my explaination helps convey the message about purchasing a "cheaper" product to get it now as oppossed to waiting a bit and getting better quality products.
1. Buy cheaper lights now and then possibly have to upgrade and buy the better lights anyways.
2. Don't set the tank up and wait until you have the bare minimum to have a salt water tank. (i.e. Tank, lights, filtration)
3. Set up tank with live rock and sand but don't have lights and just let the tank cycle a REALLY long time until you are ready to make a substantial light purchase.
I didn't buy what I really wanted and am now going back and repurchasing almost everything because of initial costs. If you think it is expensive now, doing it twice costs even more. Just thought I would share from my own experience.
True the cheaper lights may perform a similar job but the only way I know to see how one light performs compared to the other is to use a PAR meter and measure the two. The big difference from eBay and a reputable dealer is the customer service after the fact. If something goes wrong (everything breaks) then the reputable companies have to keep a good image and often will go above and beyond to make sure anything that is broken is fixed quickly and cost free. Drs Foster and Smith have been wonderful to me and are available almost all the time.
I do not intend to be negative or say anyone is doing anything wrong, I just hope my explaination helps convey the message about purchasing a "cheaper" product to get it now as oppossed to waiting a bit and getting better quality products.
Rustylugnuts
Powdered Toast Man
One benefit of the light that Kar suggested is the lesser hit on the electric bill. 468w vs over 1100w While possibly not the same output that T-5 HO fixture should still be able to support just about any of the critters that the metal halide setup you listed and could and be much more reliable (because its a great fixture from a very reputable brand).
ok how about these something that comes with a 5 year warrenty
http://cgi.ebay.com/72-Aquarium-Lig...0651927QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
http://cgi.ebay.com/72-Aquarium-Lig...0651927QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
Rustylugnuts
Powdered Toast Man
The problem with those would be the lack of individual reflectors. A reflector with each bulb greatly increases PAR available to the critters in the tank.
