fowlr lighting coralife 4x65 good choice?

[doox00]

I am setting up a 90 gallon tank, have most everything now.

all glass 90g overflow tank ordered
building stand myself (have lumber etc)
typhoon III ro ordered today
asm g1-x ordered today
refractometer ordered today
quiet one 4000 ordered

I am building the sump from a 20 or 30 gallon aquarium.

I need lights yet, this is going to a fowlr tank, the coralife 4x65 a good choice for lighting? if not, what would you all recommend?

also, what heaters would you recommend and thermometer?


thanks again

 

[bertoni]

You could go with very little lighting for a FOWLR. The light is really for your eyes, so whatever you like should be fine. If you want a lot of coralline, too, though, you might stick with the lamps you mentioned.

I would go for 2 200W heaters and a temperature controller or some sort of overheating protection. I've got a number of temperature devices. There's one in my pH meter, for example. Having a few to take a vote is sadly useful, IMO. A lab-quality glass thermometer should be fine, though.

 

[PatMayo]

I concur with Jonathan, You can go inexpensive on the lights if you want. The downside is if you ever want to do something more than rock and fish you will have to upgrade your lights.

Jonathan, I have a quick question for you if you don't mind. I have 2 350 heaters that simply have a remote digital temperature display and setting. This will not protect against failure for stuck on. When you say temperature controller, does this work by setting the thermometer full on and the controller takes care of cycling the thermostat?

Do you have a recommendation for this product?

Regards,

Pat

 

[bertoni]

The temperature controller will work much the way you describe, although I'd set both the heater and the controller to the desired temperature, as a form of redundancy. I use a DIY project, the "thermal shield" from seabay.org, but there are lots of commercial controllers available.

 

[doox00]

thanks for the responses, I was going to go with just some cheap lights, but I figure I may as well get something decent in case I decide i the future to expand. what is comparable to the coralifes as far as quality and use? was looking at a used 4x65 in great condidtion for 120 bux.. but if I can get something else of similiar quality and does the same thing for cheaper I would obviously do that.

 

[doox00]

any particular brand heaters recommended?

 

[tanker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6790460#post6790460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doox00
any particular brand heaters recommended?

All my heaters are Ebo-Jager.

 

[doox00]

hagen tronic ones good?

 

[PatMayo]

I use won brothers from Marine depot.

 

[PatMayo]

Thanks Jonathan for the information.

Regards,

Pat

 

[doox00]

just bought 2 new hagen tronics for 39.76 shipped.. should be fine I would imagine

 

[bertoni]

I've never found a reliable brand of heaters (Ebo-Jager included) but I do use a lot of the Tronics because they seem to fail "off" rather than trying to cook the tank.

 

[Paintbug]

i will add about the lights. i have the coralife 4x65 PCs myself. they would be a good choice for you. like you said if you do decide to get a few corals then you dont have to rush out for new lights. im keeping softies, and some LPS in my 75g with these lights. the only thing being your tank is a 90g which is taller, you would probably be limited to keeping corals in the upper part of the tank. PCs dont penitrate the water like MHs will.