Help with upgrading tank

[jsdean]

I currently have a 75 gallon that is 46 in wide. I have live rock, protein skimmer and powerheads and it is currently a fish only tank. I want to upgrade to a tank that is 115 or 105 gallon with an overflow so I can have a refugium and make it a reef tank. A local LFS is going to sell me a 105 gallon Oceanic with an ecosystem 3612 refugium and a return pump for $1150. I already have a stand and canopy and I am about to purchase a T5 48" Nova Extreme 8x54Watt . Does this sound like a good deal? Any recommendations?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

[welcome]
I take it money is not the issue? Otherwise you'd probably not be buying a pre made fuge haha.

But ya sounds pretty good to me... I dont think i'd go with the Nova light...i've heard that they're not as good as some because they dont have individual reflectors for the bulbs. Go to reefgeek.com and look through their t5 lighting... The sunlight supply stuff and the icecap stuff in particular is supposed to be awesome. I just ordered an icecap from them and it should be here...tomorrow!! woohoo

But ya, the deal sounds reasonable to me comparing it to the LFS prices here..

 

[jsdean]

This light looks like a good choice. Are you planning on hanging your lights? Would this fit in a normal canopy?

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Fixture_with_Bulbs_by_Sunlight_Supply

 

[sir_dudeguy]

I'm not sure if that fixture itself would hang in the canopy...but you could get the same thing just in a retro fit... Then you just screw the reflectors into the canopy lid. Some people think its hard to retro, but there's seriously only like 4 wires and there's diagrams and stuff to show you how And its cheaper..

Now i'm not sure why the price on this retro is higher...all the ones i've looked at have the actual fixture more expensive...this doesnt make sense though, since there's less there.. lol i dont know. But here's the retro
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_ReefGeek

As for mine though, i got the retro for my 40, so i plan to drill the reflectors into the canopy.

 

[DaltonJames]

NICE I HAVE THE ICECAP ITS NICE

 

[ahullsb]

current usa outer orbit seems to be a great light as well! mh's, t5's with individual reflectors, and moonlights.

 

[jsdean]

The current usa model is an additional $300 but now I would have MH. How would this affect the energy consumption and would it heat up the tank too much? I live in texas and sometime in the summer it is 80 indoors even with the air running full time.