Is this light even enough for Tonga Deepwater LR?

[oli5]

Hi everyone, when I bought my 75g, it came with this light: http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA...9/cl0/coralifeswt5aqualightdoublestriplight48



Is this enough even to have Tonga Deepwater Live Rock? Enough for softies? Thanks

 

[kodyboy]

not even close. You would need about 4-6 of them to keep anything happy, and those bulbs are really not that great either.
I would go with an aquactinics t5 unit (DIY reef, aquariumspecialty) or if that is too much maybe this:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=FI-XL-T4854&Category_Code=Finnex-T5
not the best (crappy reflector, not the best bulbs), but not too bad for $200 with bulbs, then you can upgrade to good bulbs later. An OK solution, but not the best. Another option would be to look into the sellers forum and see if anyone is selling a decent light unit.
I would spend the money at the beginning and just get the aquactinics fixture, great unit and you won't be sorry later.

 

[oli5]

but is the light ok for the live rock?

 

[saltycreefer]

Fine for live rock. Coralline grows better in dimmer light.

 

[kodyboy]

For the liverock by itself it migh be OK, but not much else, and not for too much on the rock itself either. Are you planning on keeping any corals?

 

[oli5]

if I add coral I'm going to buy the sunlight supply t5 6x54w fixture. I'll only keep soft corals because they're easy to take care of

 

[aclos3]

You could always do things like sun corals that don't have lighting needs. They are very colorful!

 

[kodyboy]

I like the aquactinic t5 5 bulb fixture because it has better reflectors and active cooling. This gives it the same or better PAR with one less bulb.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9303613#post9303613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltycreefer
Fine for live rock. Coralline grows better in dimmer light.

That is not really the case (at least in this context). Coraline still needs a decent amount of light and the proper spectrum.

 

[skimmy]

mkay, first, that place you gave us the link to is waaaay overpriced, i wouldnt buy a damn thing from a place that charges those prices...

here you go, check these out, you can have live rock and soft corals with these, and their quality is the same as coralife.


http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=293

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9305845#post9305845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by koraltek
mkay, first, that place you gave us the link to is waaaay overpriced, i wouldnt buy a damn thing from a place that charges those prices...

here you go, check these out, you can have live rock and soft corals with these, and their quality is the same as coralife.


http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=293

Premium Aquatics is one of the best online stores you could ever buy from. Their prices are as good or better than most places and their service is exceptional.

If you are shocked at a $200 price tag then this is certainly not the hobby for you. Most everything is expensive in this hobby.

Aquatraders is hit or miss (mostly miss, but you may get lucky). I had one of their T-5 units and it was not very good. The reflector rusted in a month.

--Ray

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9305845#post9305845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by koraltek
mkay, first, that place you gave us the link to is waaaay overpriced, i wouldnt buy a damn thing from a place that charges those prices...

here you go, check these out, you can have live rock and soft corals with these, and their quality is the same as coralife.


http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=293

You may also want to check out the used/for sale forums. You may be able to find something there.

---Ray