Confused About Lighting

[travisurfer]

I have researched many times and Im still uncertain about which forms of lighting are better. I have a 20H tank that is currently lit by a single 65w pc light. I would like to upgrade eventually, just not sure what I should chose.

 

[phishlet]

Tell us a little more about what kind of livestock you have or plan to keep. This will help with a recommendation.

Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of PC lighting so I'd advocate VHO or T5 if you're wanting to stay with flourescent lighting. I don't like the color balance and color rendition with PC lights; especially the actinics.

If you're wanting sps and clams and have a high enough canopy or no canopy at all where you can let the heat out look into a 175watt Metal Halide set-up with an eballast. If you can get the lamp 10 inches or so off the water I think it would spread nicely and you could do a 14k or 20k lamp and avoid actinic supplementation altogether.

Give us some more info on what you're wanting to keep and more people will chime in I'm sure.

Hope this helps.

 

[BLockamon]

Would probably recommend 3 x 24W T5 HO. Make sure you get individual bulb reflectors. You should be able to keep whatever you want with that setup. If you want SPS low in the tank, you can use IceCap ballasts to overdrive the bulbs.

 

[travisurfer]

i mainly want softies to start off with but i really like yellow fiji leathers and clams. i dont think i will be able to afford the lighting required for the latter though. basically i just want to create an environment where my corals can thrive. eventually i may try a bta clone too(just not with the lighting i have now).

 

[travisurfer]

i forgot to add that i like the color of 10000k so i dont really mind the color of pc atinics since im not using them. i may try one of the less demanding sps corals down the road.

 

[travisurfer]

so, 2x 24w t5HO are the best? how often should the bulbs be replaced?

 

[BLockamon]

You might want to check the T5 Q&A thread for replacement time. I think the consensus is about 1 year for overdriven bulbs (IceCap ballasts) and 1.5 years for normal ballasts.

Keep in mind that UV (URI) now has T5 lamps out. They are hands down the best VHO, so I would expect them to be making great T5 as well.

 

[phishlet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7409511#post7409511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by travisurfer
so, 2x 24w t5HO are the best? how often should the bulbs be replaced?

It's preference. I'd rather have metal halide over t5 any day. I'd encourage you to check out as many tanks as you can using different lighting setups to see what you really like. Lighting is a critical component to a successful reef and you want to do it right the first time (unlike a lot of us) so you don't have to throw away money to start over later.

 

[travisurfer]

i am upgrading so i havent done it right the first time. is catalina aquarium a decent brand? if it is, ill be able to get a 70w halide from illuming and then use CA for replacement bulbs. i really like the shimmer effect of mh but the bulb price has kept me away for now.

 

[Naturebatslast]

1 150w metal halide. One bulb, lasts a year, you can keep anything in your tank.

 

[travisurfer]

a 70w halide lasts just as long. are the catalina bulbs any good?

^one problem with a 150w halide is electricity(i dont pay the bill) and i would have to get a chiller^

 

[travisurfer]

which brand T5HO fixture is the best? teklite?

 

[Drewcipher]

I have read many bad things about Catalina. They do business under another name as well. Most people are very disappointed with the product and service. I will point out that I have never dealt with them.

T5s are really good lights. The best ones come with individual reflectors. Tek has a good setup. Reefgeek.com sells good T5s, though assembly is required. I am leaning towards the aquatinics.com 72 inch fixture for my new tank.

I would put 3x24 in there, if you can fit them. You will not be sorry if you go T5.

 

[fkdenton]

I would go with tek

 

[travisurfer]

due to money restraints i think ill stick to the tek 2 light setup in a custom hood. that way i can leave room to upgrade later. what would i be able to keep with this fixture?

 

[travisurfer]

bump^

 

[travisurfer]

and would i notice a huge difference compared to my current lighting?

 

[travisurfer]

does anyone know what i can keep with 2 x 24w teklight on a 20H?

 

[Horace]

I would not go with these options for the vote....Some of those options dont make much sense. For example, why would you have 1x75w VHO but have 2xT5HO? Even 1x24wT5 is brighter than the 1x75w VHO, so 2 of them will be alot brighter yet. I also dont think 70w of MH is enough...I would go no less than 1x150w if you went that direction. I would stay away from PC personally. Im not a fan of them. IMO, I would go with a 150w MH....That would look pretty nice IMO and 150w of electricity is not alot.

 

[travisurfer]

my main problem is because these were the options that i thought may be comparable and becasue they are what i can afford. the only thing i have against mh is the $50 bulbs. i saw t5 HO as being more energy efficient and an overall better option for me. i just want to know what ill be able to keep with it.

btw. i dont think these options were entirely poorly choiced since many are unsure whether the 70w halide or the t5HO is better.