can I have corals in my tank?

[Noah_Count]

Re: Re: Re: Lights

Re: Re: Re: Lights

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10823764#post10823764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33
PC's are one if not the most outdated products in this hobby. If your starting out...don't "upgrade" to pc's.

Another opinion of yours I guess. I was just trying to suggest a way to save some money. Not everyone has loads of money for lighting and PC's are still a viable option as long as you're not talking a full blown reef. I won't clutter up the thread arguing the point anymore though.
cajundolphin since you are not a DIY'er I would still suggest you look into some of the commercially availabe PC fixtures . You can keep softies and shrooms with them, I've done it in the past. As already stated, they are not for LPS and SPS but my impression was that you weren't anywhere near wanting to do that yet.
I apoligize for cluttering up your thread. I was only trying to help.

 

[bmcq]

Try HelloLights web site. http://www.hellolights.com/ They have a wide variety of lighting at reasonable prices. If you have a friend with some electrical ability, you can probably put together a really nice T5 setup for around $200. This would be a good investment at this stage of your tank, and allow you a lot more flexibility with the future of your tank.

 

[cajundolphin]

Wow, I am really confused now....lol. I am from Elizabeth, La. It is central La. A midpoint between Alexandria, Lake Charles and Leesville. About an hour from each.

 

[ArgonDreams]

With all due respect to Luke, he has very definitive opinions on lighting and filtration. While I agree that T5 fixtures are ideal if you are upgrading, I don't always agree with his choices for application or the veracity of this opinions.

For T5 fixtures, in general the reflector (the metal backing) is best when each bulb has one. However I know a lot of people are happy with a single reflector such as the Nova Extreme T5 fixture. You will get more lighting out of a Tek with individual reflectors though.

On Compact fluorescents, they don't put out as much intensity Watt for Watt as a T5 or Metal Halide light. However they are relatively inexpensive and given you are doing mushrooms and polyps they should be fine.

Some quality sponsors:

Drs Foster and Smith

That Fish Place

Marine Depot (Link shows Compact Fluorescent)

Premium Aquatics t5 Tek fixture (Optimal)


On the subject of PAR. It's the only way to judge the intensity/spectrum of a given lamp. However I hardly know any vendor that rates their lamps based on this because the measure changes from system to system, unless you put it on YOUR system and test at a given depth it's hard to quantify. This is why the watts per gallon general rule was even used. It may be garbage, it may be inaccurate comparing across lighting types, but it helps people understand. To better help people understand I tell them a ROUGH rule for lighting is:

Normal Output (What the poster has) --> Compact Fluorescent --> T5 HO --> Metal Halide

Each step up increases the intensity. There is debate on the final step if Metal Halide is superior or inferior then T5 lights. However I see most people running Metal Halides on the high end and supplementing with T5.

So my advice after all this: I recommend a T5 fixture with individual reflectors like the Tek fixture from Premium Aquatics. However if your budget isn't there the Nova Extreme from Foster and Smith is good too. Finally, if your budget is less then that I would recommend a compact fluorescent fixture from Current USA at Foster and Smith or Marine Depot. Finally, if you have a good budget, you can never go wrong with a Metal Halide lamp, it allows you to put just about anything you want for corals if you get the right wattage (and PAR ). I personally like the Sunpod system for that.

 

[luke33]

I'd look through the used forum for a good t5 fixure, you may be able to find a good deal. If you are going to get pc's.......spend as little as possible. Look at the pc fixtures at aquatraders if you have to get pc's. It will cost you around a hundred bux and this way when your going to upgrade you won't be out alot.

 

[cajundolphin]

thank u all for ur help! I would like to eventually turn my 30gal into a nice reef tank and there will have the expensive lighting and try to do everything right. But as for my 55gal I am mainly interested in only a few polyps and shrooms if possible and spend most of my energy on awesome fish for it.

 

[Nasty Wendy]

Central La. I'm in New Orleans. I was going to suggest a few shops to check out if you were in my area. Good luck with your project.

 

[Lotus99]

If you just want some mushrooms and low light corals, a PC fixture would probably work. A T5 would be better.

An anemone under PC lighting isn't the best idea. Some people get away with it, but if you're new it's even riskier.

Definitely check the "for sale" section here for used equipment. There are often people getting rid of PC lights when upgrading.

 

[BangkokMatt]

Aside from the lights I would really consider getting rid of your cannister filter if you are going to add corals. The live rock will filter and the cannister will simply produce nitrates