Budget Friendly Lighting for a 18x18 cube

[gveng]

Current choices are 70w MH viper clip on metal halide, 2x par38 bulbs, or diy LED fixture. Trying to keep this budget friendly.

Primarily going to keep easy care coral such as zoas, lps and various soft corals.

Thanks!

 

[nanoreefer1000]

IMO 1 PAR38 bulb should do, I'd do a DIY fixture though.

 

[gveng]

IMO 1 PAR38 bulb should do, I'd do a DIY fixture though.

Really? one can cover an 18"x18" foot print? :eek2:

 

[nanoreefer1000]

With no optics, perfect for softies and lps, so so for sps

 

[rtparty]

A 150w metal halide would be my choice. One bulb per year to change and no guess work.

Check into aqua medic. They had theirs for cheap a while back.

 

[cerolost]

what no kessil?

 

[nanoreefer1000]

what no kessil?

PAR38 is cheaper and has better spectrum
Maxspect is coming out with a spotlight, it's like a Kessil but controllable, better spectrum, and cheaper.

 

[cerolost]

Which par38 are you suggesting?

 

[nanoreefer1000]

Reefbreeders and LEDtric are my favs, Coral Compulsion short after.
My fav PAR bulb is the bigger one from CC, it's 40 watts with one nice spectrum.