Can someone help me with advice for Cheaper, but efficient lighting for my 55 gallon?

CStrickland said:
I have a pair of the marsaqua 165w lights over my 55 and I'm very happy with them.
This is the light http://m.ebay.com/itm/165w-MarsAqua...ull-Spectrum-LPS-SPS-Coral-Reef-/370857093101 there are several sellers on eBay you can buy them from, I was able to find the pair for $160 by shopping around.

Here is a long thread about them from the lighting forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2474870
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thanks man, I appreciate the info. that's a good price!
 
You can buy some CHEAP lights here in the selling forum. They are used but they are good lights. Kessil and Radion etc. There are a couple threads in there right now that have a radion light avaliable for around $200. Then you can upgrade later.

Personally lights are not the place to try and save money. Buy some cheaper powerheads and dont run a controller etc. You can save TONS of money that way, but not on lights. IMHO.
 
davehead86 said:
You can buy some CHEAP lights here in the selling forum. They are used but they are good lights. Kessil and Radion etc. There are a couple threads in there right now that have a radion light avaliable for around $200. Then you can upgrade later.

Personally lights are not the place to try and save money. Buy some cheaper powerheads and dont run a controller etc. You can save TONS of money that way, but not on lights. IMHO.
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Thant's awesome, I had no idea! I'm gonna go look now. thanks for the advice
 
I've had a 55 for 3yr. and 3 months and that's what I started with ya it's narrow but it will work. For lighting at first I used a DIY GU10 light that worked great for softies and SPS. But it looked ugly because I didn't spend much for an enclosure. Now I use two of the Chinese 165W Full Spectrum LED fixtures atop 2x4s with glass covers that fit onto the top of my tank and I have softies, SPS, & LPS. I got the two on ebay for ~$255 not sure what the brand is.

The 2x4s and glass block some light so I'm working on figuring out another idea for mounting them atop my tank but it works for now.

Here is the Tank Info in case it changes soon: 55 gal., 10gal. sump, 10gal. Refugium, DIY 1/2" PVC overflow, Hydor Koralia 750/850, 2x 165W Full Spectrum LED, SCA-303 (150gal) Skimmer, with 40 lb LR, 40 LS, with a purple dottyback.
 
Again to back up everyone else, 55 is a terrible size for a reef tank, you need more width. so 40 breeder, 75gal(just a little more expensive but MUCH better size) or a 120( absolute best tank for beginner but ya more pricey, as for lights it will be the most expensive piece of equipment you get for your tank and if you get something cheap early on you end up spending even more to replace later. SPS and hard corals need 3 things good light, good water, good movement. prioritize your $$ to these 3 things.
 
homer1475 said:
Mars Aqua on ebay. Cheap Chinese knockoffs. Everyone that is using them likes them. Just purchased a set for my new build.
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Setting up my tank again after years of being in a garage and wanted something that emits less heat than MHs, while staying in a budget. So far so good! I recommend these.
 
CamDAX said:
I've had a 55 for 3yr. and 3 months and that's what I started with ya it's narrow but it will work. For lighting at first I used a DIY GU10 light that worked great for softies and SPS. But it looked ugly because I didn't spend much for an enclosure. Now I use two of the Chinese 165W Full Spectrum LED fixtures atop 2x4s with glass covers that fit onto the top of my tank and I have softies, SPS, & LPS. I got the two on ebay for ~$255 not sure what the brand is.

The 2x4s and glass block some light so I'm working on figuring out another idea for mounting them atop my tank but it works for now.

Here is the Tank Info in case it changes soon: 55 gal., 10gal. sump, 10gal. Refugium, DIY 1/2" PVC overflow, Hydor Koralia 750/850, 2x 165W Full Spectrum LED, SCA-303 (150gal) Skimmer, with 40 lb LR, 40 LS, with a purple dottyback.
Click to expand...

glad to hear that, I've been getting a bit discouraged after hearing the downside to a 55. your tank sounds like a sweet set up, do you have any pictures of it oh here? I'm still learning how to navigate through the forum
 
Land_shark067 said:
Again to back up everyone else, 55 is a terrible size for a reef tank, you need more width. so 40 breeder, 75gal(just a little more expensive but MUCH better size) or a 120( absolute best tank for beginner but ya more pricey, as for lights it will be the most expensive piece of equipment you get for your tank and if you get something cheap early on you end up spending even more to replace later. SPS and hard corals need 3 things good light, good water, good movement. prioritize your $$ to these 3 things.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice (light, water, movement) I will take heed to that. as far as tank size, this will do for now. I'm in a townhouse that I plan on selling in the next year or two. The wife and I are hoping to get out of state and head somewhere warm. I will definitely get a 120 gallon then, when I know that I'm grounded. I will leave this 55 behind when I do move. I already built a base for it anyways, might as well enjoy it the most I can for now. it will be a good learning experience.
 
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