Light for 80 Gallon for around $200?

[Slammed01]

Hello all,

Im breaking down my 46 Gallon Bowfront and will be moving everything to a 80 gallon 48" Long tank. Currently on the 46 Im running a 36" corallife PC 3x96. I hear those are outdated. What can I get some T-5s for? Hopefully around $200ish......tank will also have a canopy as well.

What are some good brands/setups?

Fish/Reef

 

[jeffesaurusrex]

Aquatraders.com has the Oddysea lights. You can get a 4x54 48" T5 for a little over a hundred bucks. I've never used it, but if you want cheap that's where you can get it. For a little over your budget (about $350 once you get them hung and everything) you can have a couple of the chinese LED boxes, and for a little more than that you can get one of those AquaticLife 6x54 T5 fixtures.

You can also get halides from Aquatraders but you have to be careful - you may need a chiller from the heat of a halide setup depending on your ambient temps and whether or not you have an open stand and top, ect. A lot of people can get away with just a fan blowing over the water.

 

[Donkeykong]

Yes PC's are outdated, they dont produce nearly as much light as a lower watt T5 will, so if you go with T5's you will have less power used which means less heat and better light output. What types of corals do you plan on keeping? If $200 is all you have for lights right now I would go with DIY T5 kits, any fixture in that price range is not going to be very good quality and if you buy a fixture they are hard to upgrade later on. If you go with a nice DIY that has a good ballast and quality Reflectors, you will be able to add more to your canopy later. I have not gone the DIY route with T5's so I dont know what kits are best

 

[sirreal63]

Increase your budget a little, it is worth it. If you buy a cheap, crappy fixture you will soon be buying bulbs to replace the junk that comes with junk fixtures. That is silly to do when you can do a LET retro that will give you enough light to keep anything you want.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_LET_Lighting

This retro is top of the line, has the correct ballasts and comes with bulbs, of your choice, and for the money you would spend on a cheaply made Chinese crap fixture and the replacement bulbs, you could have done it right. If you do the AquaTraders junk, keep in mind it has no warranty, none, and if it dies the day after you get it, you will have no option but to spend more money. Don't buy crap products, it costs more in the end than spending a little more for quality.

 

[Slammed01]

Increase your budget a little, it is worth it. If you buy a cheap, crappy fixture you will soon be buying bulbs to replace the junk that comes with junk fixtures. That is silly to do when you can do a LET retro that will give you enough light to keep anything you want.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_LET_Lighting

This retro is top of the line, has the correct ballasts and comes with bulbs, of your choice, and for the money you would spend on a cheaply made Chinese crap fixture and the replacement bulbs, you could have done it right. If you do the AquaTraders junk, keep in mind it has no warranty, none, and if it dies the day after you get it, you will have no option but to spend more money. Don't buy crap products, it costs more in the end than spending a little more for quality.

Thanks all, i agree with paying for what you get....guess i need to do it like i treat my truck hobby! You pay for what you get. Since i have a canopy should i use a retrofit fit kit and mount it on the top of the canopy? Should a aquaticlife 48" fit or is my option to only go retro? Thanks all


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[Slammed01]

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[sirreal63]

Use the LET Retro, it is a whole lot better than any Aquaticlife.