Dream lighting (On a budget)

Aynesa

Aynesa

New member
If any of you didn't see my thread in another forum, my aquarium stand is in the process of collapsing. So, I hit my local Craigslist and came up with a 150 gallon tank which used to house a reef that I bought for 100 dollars, glass and wood stand.

I had a 100 gallon that was 26 inches wide, but now this new tank is 48 inches wide, so, the lighting has to be upgraded. So, the exact tank dimensions are 48x24x24. What would the optimum lighting be for a reef tank of those dimensions:

1) all in one system that will serve me as well today and in 5 years. I don't want to have to upgrade next year
2) Will let me keep any coral, no matter how light-needy (Who knows what I'll get into in the future. I mostly do LPS right now, and don't forsee myself going into SPS, but anything's possible)
3)won't break the bank. I've already had to shell out 100 for the glass and wood, 200 for the argonite and crushed coral, and salt

I was looking at systems like this, but, even this is a little expensive for us right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Metal-Halide...wItem?hash=item110301966304&_trkparms=72:1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I currently have a 24" Sunpod 150w MH, and a separate hood that's 24: with 2x65w PCs.

So, any suggestions? Many thanks!

Renee
 
Holy crap lol he said budget.. Thats the most $$$ T5 setup you can get..And 10 x 24dollar bulbs every year ain't exactly cheap long term..

If your new tank is 48"x24"x24" Then its a 120 not 150. Since its four foot long and only 24" deep it would be a pretty good tank for T5s. IMO save the money up for Decent lights. Most of the fixtures on ebay are junk. They come with very poor bulbs and ballasts and the fixtures tend to be very poorly made.. You can get a 4x54 T5 Retro from Reef geek for the same price as the ebay fixture (299).. A decent MH setup would run you about 450 or so for a retro. A good Mh Setup would cost about 600.
 
I would go at least 8x54 with individual reflectors if you are thinking of sps down the road.. you could also do a 6x54 instead to start, and then once you want to try some higher light corals you could then get another 2 or 4 bulbs. do you have a canopy (ie. retro kit option?? or a all-in-one fixture?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13602627#post13602627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aynesa
4x 54T5 would only be about 200w....is that enough wattage for corals?
Click to expand...

For LPS you would be fine.. If you wanted SPS then you would probably need more.. But the good thing about a T5 retro is you can always just add a couple more bulbs later when if you need them.. If you go with 150 Mh then your only option is to replace the entire setup if you want to go to 250s later..Sure 6x54 watt T5s would be better But if you have a 300 dollar budget your going to have to give somewhere.. IMO you would be much better off buying high quality parts that will last for years and you can add to later then spending money on a cheap fixture that you will probably end up replacing the entire thing in a year or two.
 
How much would it cost and how often would I have to replace T5 bulbs? And what about MH? Frankly I don't love MH, they are amazingly hot and buzz constantly. I also prefer to be able to set my fixture right on the tank, or near to it, so that I don't have to see the bulbs when I'm sitting on my couch across the room. Still, they are a great way to get lots of watts in a small area.

I'd say our budget would be somewhere between 150-300, with 300 being the absolute, positive, last ditch TOPS... I'd rather keep it closer to 200 right now.

The tank has no canopy of any kind, it's got a stand and the glass itself. It doesn't even have the glass tops on top. I'm going to have to get those because I have three cats who love to 'go fishing' if you know what I mean. So, I'm going to have to get Versa tops or something to fit on them. To keep the cats out if nothing else.... I'm thinking of adding a canopy down the road, but that has to be then--down the road. Right now I simply cannot afford the canopy. This has come on no notice whatsoever. I have to replace the tank because I can't risk my kids' lives when this stand collapses (Let alone my living room furniture and carpet). So yes, I'd love to save up and get a better set later, but I need something to keep my corals alive *now*.

I have a smaller fixture from my last tank. Could I put my 2 existing fixtures on half this tank, and then the smaller one on the other side, then just put all my corals in the half of the tank with the two big fixtures? Would that get me through a few weeks until I could save up for something nicer?
 
well a 120 is a wide tank. id look into t5s. any light "fixture" really just has a small reflector for halides that wont spread light well over a 120.

find a canopy and look into some t5 retrofits you can grab 6x54 watts now, and than later add 2 or 4 more, grab an icecap ballast and call it done
 
He isn't going to get 2x250 Mh retro for 300 bucks. You might get close if you find a used setup, and I really mean "might". If you dont have a canopy and your want a single hanging fixture your going to have a tough time. Your ONLY option for a decent light is used. Even then thats a tall order.. Trying to get a light fixture that can keep anything in a 120 for 300 or less it pretty unlikely.

Sure you can stick your current lights over your 120 and keep some corals alive..
 
Mounting in the canopy is definitely something I would like to do---later. Right now it's not an option for primarily monetary reasons. What I could get is a retro kit and just rest it on the top for now, add the canopy later.... Definite option. I don't have to get the whole setup here, but I want to have a definite plan before I lay that first dollar down on it. Frankly 2 weeks ago I bought my first Metal Halide hood for my 100 gallon tank, and now I'm scrapping the tank! Basically I didn't want to buy--for example-- a metal halide hood for 300, but then turn around and realize T5 would be better and have to buy a new fixture.
 
Well then why not just buy a single 250 watt MH pendant with ballast now.. Stick it and your 150 MH over the tank.. Then later when you get the cash add another 250 Pendant.. You will have two pendants vs One But IMO once you have to matching they wont look bad at all.. That and if you plan on getting a canopy later it wont even matter. Icecap has very nice pendant, eletronic ballast, and bulb combo for right at 300. The good thing about the icecap pendant IMO is that it can take either 250 or 400 watt bulbs.. The socket is adjustable.. So if you ever get a tall tank or just want more light your covered, atleast as far as the fixture itself is concerned.
 
Not a bad idea... For right now I'm afraid I'm going to HAVE to go with what I have now, with a spare fixture I had from a prior tank on the other half that'll only serve to give the fish a decent amount of light. Then I'll save up the money to buy a nice fixture. A store here in town has a Hamilton fixture with 4 T5 tubes, 54 watts each. I'll save up a couple of months, buy that fixture, and then set it on top of the tank. Save up a couple more months, buy a canopy, mount it inside. For right now I'll just keep all my corals (Not like I have too many) on the well lit half of the tank. It'll be a work in progress for a few months, but when it's done it'll be nice, and I don't see any reason my corals won't survive in a shallower tank with the same lighting they have now.
 
uhh I wouldn't buy a 4x54 fixture. A retro sure cause you can add to it.. A fixture will leave you stuck.. Besides if your going to have a canopy later.. or even think you might a t5 fixture will be a tough fit since they tend to be the exact same lenght of the tank.. Sorry to keep shooting you down :(
 
Sokay, that's what I'm here for ;) I want to know what will and won't work BEFORE I lay money down, bring it home and say "Oh #%^#"

and sorry, my mistake, it IS a retro, but they just have it sitting on top of a tank right now. Looks crappy, works nice.
 
Kewl, If its a Retro then your good.. Its a good idea to get a retro with indivisual reflectors if you can.. Not sure what that one has.. From what I understand they put out a min of 30% more light with the same bulb and ballast combo.. I've read as much as 60% but at any rate everyone agrees they increase the output a ton and are just a good idea. You might want to look on the used equipment forum on here.. T5 retro kits get posted alot.. I seen a 4x54 just the other day for like 150.. Keep in mind with a used kit your trusting the seller on the age of the bulbs so don't pay much for the bulbs.. Base the price off what the ballast/reflectors and sockets would cost you.. Even with that though you can find some great deals if you just keep and eye on the forum..
 
I definately intend to check out the used forum. I just wanted to know what I was looking for first.

So T5 would definately be better for this particular tank? The tank is 48 inches long, what size should I opt for?
 
I would go for the 54w bulbs which fit a 48" wide tank. the bulbs are slightly shorter, but with endcaps and all they are roughly 48".

I would recommend this product. Reefgeeks Icecap SLR 4x54 Retro. Great price, andd upgradeable in the future!

This
 
Well I wouldn't say better. I myself would probably stick 2x250Mh over it with some 14k bulbs and call it a day.. But thats really up to you. If you want to run the numbers they are pretty close as far as cost go.. 2x250MH pendants will run you 500-600. 2x250Mh retro will run you about 450-500.. T5s you have to have 4x54w T5s Probably need either 4x48 VHOT5 kit or 6x54w and even then you will have a little less light then the Mh. 4x48" T5s cost 299.. The very high output kit cost 360 and the 6x48" kit cost 449
Cost wise they are pretty close it just comes down to want you want.. IMO if you want lighting that you can move from tank to tank. 250 MH pendants would be best.. If you want lighting where you can spend a little now and add a little at a time then 48" T5 retro is a good choice.. The advantage of the MH pendants or retro is if you go to a 6 foot tank later you just need to buy another mh pendant or retro.. With the t5s you will have to stagger the bulbs Either way will work But say you decide to get a 36" cube or even a smaller tank.. Then you will have to replace all the T5s.. With the MH you just sell one. haha Choices choices
 
Reef lighting is so complicated *sighs* Why can't the darn corals just GROW? ;) Don't they know that's what we want them to do?

Alright all, thanks for your advice. Very likely I'm going to go with the T5s. I don't have 6 feet of empty wallspace anywhere in my house to worry about any future upgrades. I'd have to actually move to do that, and when that happens we'll be better off financially and more able to sink a grand into a nice lighting kit. I also would like to add a wood canopy in the future (I like the way they look, and I do have cats that go fishing if the tank isn't covered), in which case the pendents wouldn't work. They'd shine on wood and the tank would be bereft of light :)

The T5s also run cooler, and in Las Vegas heat is a very real factor for human habitation. Every year we have people die of the heat. Not saying that would happen with Halides, but when your house is already 80-85 degrees, well, there's a reason I have a 1/4 horsepower chiller.

It also sounds like with T5 I could still get the same amount of light to the corals for less wattage. 2x250 vs 4-8x54. That'll look alot more plesant on the power bill.

I will say I prefer the flowing look of Halides. The way you can see the shadows of the water ripple through it. Those are nice. But the buzzing every canopy I've ever made truly drives me nuts.

So, I think T5 it is.... unless you guys see something I'm missing?

So all in all, I'll probably just do the T5 retro and canopy.
 
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