Light brands and suggestions

I can't build so save my life that's why I was hoping to just go with a fixture than has legs or something to go onto the tank. I saw the 4x24 watt fixtures guess I can look into getting two of those... mayble I'll have to resign and look into canopy so I can get some retro maybe... if I can help it I wont. : /
 
I have 2 96 watt bulbs one 12k
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where'd you get a 12K pc bulb? I thought they only came in 10k?

4x65 pc would be a waste of $$$ if you are going to do that then go with the t-5. Or build a canopy and either retrofit a halide or 6x24watt T-5
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I agree with that tho. A 4x65 pc is prolly gonna run the same price as a good t5. And for t5's, yes they're lower wattage bulbs. But they're stronger or something i guess, because you dont need as much wattage as you would w/pc's. And i've also heard that the trick to t5's is in the reflectors. If you havent got good reflectors for them, they're not that great (so i hear).

I really would rather not heat up the tank and have to buy yet another piece of equipment
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i'm guessing you're refering to a chiller? If so, throw fans on there. I've got a single 6 or 8 inch fan blowing across my 55 and it cools it 4 degrees. Makes it evap faster which is what cools it, but its really not that much evap even, and idk...i just kinda think that people make evaporation more of an issue that it should be. Just top off 1 or 2 times a day and dont worry bout it...or better yet, get a top off unit and never worry about it (well, other than fillin up the unit)
 
and i also agree w/rljll...someone here would be glad to help you build one im sure, and it'll be much cheaper than going to aquarium arts or atr and getting a custom one built. But i'm no good at building either, but i built a canopy for my 55. It works for what i need it for (keep fish in but keep the tank well ventalated)
 
I have a hob skimmer a canister filter and one powerhead currently running wires from the back. do you leave the back open for this stuff? (I don't have a sump) also I don't enjoy having restricted access to the tank it's hard enough to get underneath it hate to see what I'd have to go through to do something in the tank though jeremy's setup was nice where it was going to be magnetic and pull the whole thing off but I only have 30' of space to start with and a canopy is going to make that even smaller.
 
yeah the canopies are open back most have doors in front or a top the lists up or can have both like mine
 
ya i'm pretty much in the same boat as far as no sump and every chord going in my tank. I just took the saw and cut some squares out of the back for my remora and for my hob fuge. And then theres 2 inch gaps on the sides for my ventilation and for the light cables to go thru...i'll send you a pic of it in a minute here...
 
ya like i said, i'm pretty sure that the trick to t5's is the reflectors. I dont know what type of reflectors are on that one, but if i were you, i'd make sure you know what type they're givin you. Same with bulbs like rljll says.
 
I'm sending messages to those who have bought their lights to see what they think of them. trying to find those who have had them the longest.
 
Just a thought for you. My friend and I both nave tanks that are 30x18x22H. I have a single 400w SE MH over mine for SPS and zoos. He has a 150w HQI coralife fixture that clamps to the back. He keeps many softies and a few zoos and the tank does very well.
 
hmm I thought I new what mh is but don't know what se in front means and didn't know about hqi... have to look into everything. Don't have the money for this thing but was looking at it. [link]http://cgi.ebay.com/30-inch-150-HQI-Metal-Halide-Power-Compact-reef-new_W0QQitemZ250014139685QQihZ015QQcategoryZ46314QQcmdZViewItem[/link]
 
oh well now I feel silly. :D but something to think about for sure... looks like between 150w and 400w depending... what color of bulb works best if you don't have anything else?
 
My best suggestion is watch this forum and you can look in the main Reef Central forum and find something used.

I got my 36" 2x96 Comapact light for 20 bucks so if you watch for a bit you can find something that will work for you.

With a tight budget used is really the only way to go. And finding things here verses ebay, you at least know that the person selling it is an aquarium guy and can probably answer what ever questions you have.

Shaun
 
Yeah I'm keeping a look out. but saving money at the same time. The guy I found off of ebay looks good and everyone I msg'd says that the lights are still great. I called him he said that his lights are made by catalina in the us UL listed balasts waranty for five years. I was thinking of this if I can't find something used.

mh/pc combo lights
 
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