lighting? ?? for 75 softie tank

[csago05]

I am starting a 75 gallon softie dominated tank and was wondering which one of these lighting systems would be the best

http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-48in-Metal-Halide-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54247.htm

http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-48in-Metal-Halide-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54248.htm

http://www.aquatraders.com/48-716W-Metal-Halide-T5-LED-Combo-p/54267.htm

Would greatly appreciate your help

 

[birdman1979]

I think all of those fixtures are overkill for a softie tank. A two bulb fixture with quality T5 bulbs with good reflectors will be sufficient for zoas in your tank. ATI or similar brand bulbs are VERY powerfull.

 

[Yanni]

I run 6x39w t5 tek light from sunlight supply on my 70g softy tank and its a perfect amount of light for growth and for getting a nice balanced color spectrum. They are fairly cheap and are built very well with very nice reflectors. I have run mine 14 hours a day for 6 years inside a canopy with absolutly no issues at all. Those fixtures in your link are built with very cheap parts and have had alot of issues, you get what you pay for i would buy light that may cost a few bucks more up front but will stand up over the years...both sunlight supply and ATI have been very reliable for me.

 

[cloak]

I would much rather use a MH setup. Maybe two 175 watt bulbs.

 

[csago05]

I like the look of mh would the two 150's work even if I wanted to keep a few lps and I also have a clam but mainly sorties love the look of them

 

[cloak]

I don't think you'll have a problem with the two 150 watt MH's. Just put things with a higher light demand up top and the rest down below. If you were to use two 250 watt bulbs you can pretty much keep whatever you want IMO. Something to think about.

 

[csago05]

Well the 250 and the 150 are the same price. I don't think I will ever get into sps at most my clam and maybe a rbta. Mainly leathers I like the movement. So 150 or 250?

 

[cloak]

If there the same price you might as well go with the 250's. Better safe than sorry when it comes down to keeping anemones and clams long term.

 

[csago05]

Okay thanks for your help

 

[cloak]

:thumbsup:

Take your time and research though. No "shotgun" purchases...

 

[Monkeyfish]

I think all that light is overkill for a softy tank! I have 2 50/50 96 watt CF bulbs on my 180g and all corals are growing fairly quickly including 4 different leathers, shrooms, purple efflo, a couple of gorgonians and GSP.

 

[jus1moretank]

Has anyone ever used those lights? They seem to have real good prices.

 

[Devaji108]

how about a DIY led setup that way you could ramp up or down to your needs....+ you get the shimmer of MH with out the higher cost.
I love mine!
GL

 

[randomfishguy85]

odyssea stuff is known for being low quality. Sometimes its simple stuff like a ballast dying on you, or it could get more complicated like it catching fire. do some research on them and you wont see a lot of good press.

 

[Waggs]

I was thinking about doing MH lights with 4 T5 lights and since I'll be doing a rather user friendly reef tank, I've decided on the t5's with 2 x 54W T5 HO 12,000K Fluorescent Lamps, 2 x 54W Actinic Blue Lamps. I just hope it's enough for my 24" deep tank. I have 2 MH 250 watt fixtures and ballast but the power requirements and heat have me waiting to see if I need them down the road. Any feedback would be halpful.

 

[MBIETZ]

Remember that the 250w halides will be hotter and more expensive to run so same price at first but way higher price in the end.