Lighting for corals PLEASE HELP...SO CONFUSED!!!?

[mjc041800]

So I've done a lot a lot of reading on the Web and on this forum and I still don't know/understand what light I need for my reef tank! Most people say it depends on your tank and I give them all the info the want but still "it's up to me". I am a noobie and I really don't get it. I want a more softie dominant tank with a few sps. I am on a tight budget and my tank is a 30 gallon bow front-19" height and 30" length. I could use specific answers please and thank you. Choices are always good.

 

[lpsouth1978]

If you are on a budget, take a look at this fixture. It has 4 T5 bulbs and a built in timer. I have been using them for years with good success. It will be great for softies, zoas, and LPS, and will be adequate for easier SPS.

http://www.aquatraders.com/30-inch-4x24W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Digi-Timer-Fixture-p/52323s.htm

If you may want to get into SPS then you could do this Metal Halide System. It is not top quality and has some cheap plastic parts (none with great importance), but works well. I had one (72" version) that is still in use over a 135g reef to this day (purchased about 8 years ago). It is a good light without the high cost.

http://www.aquatraders.com/30in-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54262.htm

Due to the 19" height, I would lean toward the T5 system myself. The Halide will produce A LOT of light and heat for a tank that size.

I hope this helps.

 

[mjc041800]

If you are on a budget, take a look at this fixture. It has 4 T5 bulbs and a built in timer. I have been using them for years with good success. It will be great for softies, zoas, and LPS, and will be adequate for easier SPS.

http://www.aquatraders.com/30-inch-4x24W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Digi-Timer-Fixture-p/52323s.htm

If you may want to get into SPS then you could do this Metal Halide System. It is not top quality and has some cheap plastic parts (none with great importance), but works well. I had one (72" version) that is still in use over a 135g reef to this day (purchased about 8 years ago). It is a good light without the high cost.

http://www.aquatraders.com/30in-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54262.htm

Due to the 19" height, I would lean toward the T5 system myself. The Halide will produce A LOT of light and heat for a tank that size.

I hope this helps.

Finally, thank you so much really!!!!!!!!!

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

So I've done a lot a lot of reading on the Web and on this forum and I still don't know/understand what light I need for my reef tank! Most people say it depends on your tank and I give them all the info the want but still "it's up to me". I am a noobie and I really don't get it. I want a more softie dominant tank with a few sps. I am on a tight budget and my tank is a 30 gallon bow front-19" height and 30" length. I could use specific answers please and thank you. Choices are always good.

Hi Mjc
Reefkeeping is one of those hobbies where, if you ask 3 people something you'll get 5 opinions. Lighting has SO many variables. It depends on what you want to keep, and the size and depth of your tank, what colour you like the light to be, how much you want to spend, ongoing and maintenance costs, and the position of the Moon in March. Deeper tanks need stronger lighting. Led are pricy but have no maintenance costs and don't use much electricty. T5 aren't quite up to SPS unless you get 6 bulb fixtures but you can have just about everything else. You need to replace bulbs every 6-8 months though, and they can be 10-20$ each. CF aren't as good as T5, but you can keep LPS. Bulbs are difficult to get, depending on the hood, and pricy unless you use household twisty bulbs, which probably isn't great on a reef but works well for houseplants. (I have CF lights) T8 are cheap, restrict you to softies, and you probably should replace the bulbs often.

If you're on a budget may I strongly suggest NOT trying sps? I'm a noob myself, and in fact my tank is very similar to yours; roughly 18" deep and wide. I'm keeping LPS- and I need to seriously upgrade my lighting to make them happy. (I have 105 watt compact fluorescents. It's an old fixture). LPS generally require less light than sps but are sort of edging into the care regime.

I'd go with something like:
http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-Quad-30-Aquarium-Light-Strip-Marine-FOWLR-Reef-Cichlid-LED-96W-4x-24W-Bulbs-/111126400194?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19dfa64cc2

I'm researching led myself.
I can tell you that everybody seems to like the 300$ Kessils. *g* PAR38 bulbs are 80$ish US and fit into a normal light socket.
Well that turned into a novel!
hope that helps a bit
ivy

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

If you may want to get into SPS then you could do this Metal Halide System. It is not top quality and has some cheap plastic parts (none with great importance), but works well. I had one (72" version) that is still in use over a 135g reef to this day (purchased about 8 years ago). It is a good light without the high cost.

http://www.aquatraders.com/30in-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54262.htm

Due to the 19" height, I would lean toward the T5 system myself. The Halide will produce A LOT of light and heat for a tank that size.

I hope this helps.

I think halides have by far the nicest looking light, but they're a bit scary in an apartment. Worked in greenhouses that used them, and you can feel the nice warmth on your back.

Can one even buy replacement halide bulbs anymore? Around here if you even ask they assume you're a different sort of reefer.

ivy

 

[mjc041800]

Hi Mjc
Reefkeeping is one of those hobbies where, if you ask 3 people something you'll get 5 opinions. Lighting has SO many variables. It depends on what you want to keep, and the size and depth of your tank, what colour you like the light to be, how much you want to spend, ongoing and maintenance costs, and the position of the Moon in March. Deeper tanks need stronger lighting. Led are pricy but have no maintenance costs and don't use much electricty. T5 aren't quite up to SPS unless you get 6 bulb fixtures but you can have just about everything else. You need to replace bulbs every 6-8 months though, and they can be 10-20$ each. CF aren't as good as T5, but you can keep LPS. Bulbs are difficult to get, depending on the hood, and pricy unless you use household twisty bulbs, which probably isn't great on a reef but works well for houseplants. (I have CF lights) T8 are cheap, restrict you to softies, and you probably should replace the bulbs often.

If you're on a budget may I strongly suggest NOT trying sps? I'm a noob myself, and in fact my tank is very similar to yours; roughly 18" deep and wide. I'm keeping LPS- and I need to seriously upgrade my lighting to make them happy. (I have 105 watt compact fluorescents. It's an old fixture). LPS generally require less light than sps but are sort of edging into the care regime.

I'd go with something like:
http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-Q...194?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19dfa64cc2

I'm researching led myself.
I can tell you that everybody seems to like the 300$ Kessils. *g* PAR38 bulbs are 80$ish US and fit into a normal light socket.
Well that turned into a novel!
hope that helps a bit
ivy

so right now I have a T8 50/50 10000k 24 watt 24" Coralife light, will that be OK for softies?

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

so right now I have a T8 50/50 10000k 24 watt 24" Coralife light, will that be OK for softies?

T8? You don't mean T5 do you? T8 might be ok for softies at the very top of your tank, but you may have a lot of trouble getting anything to grow at the middle-bottom of your tank. I have 105 watts (CF, which are between T8 and T5 in intensity) in my tank, and the mushrooms at the bottom are off-colour because they don't get enough light. Tank is 18" deep.

T5 would be fine. LPsouth listed a good looking fixture.

Hope that helps,
Ivy (between contracts, rc is a great resource for wasting time

 

[mjc041800]

T8? You don't mean T5 do you? T8 might be ok for softies at the very top of your tank, but you may have a lot of trouble getting anything to grow at the middle-bottom of your tank. I have 105 watts (CF, which are between T8 and T5 in intensity) in my tank, and the mushrooms at the bottom are off-colour because they don't get enough light. Tank is 18" deep.

T5 would be fine. LPsouth listed a good looking fixture.

Hope that helps,
Ivy (between contracts, rc is a great resource for wasting time

Yeah I mean t8 :/ I guess I'll look into a different light would a single t5 bulb be OK for softies? although I might keep some of the easier lps instead of sps what light is needed for lps

 

[wbwhale]

I've been looking at the MarsAqua/Chinese black box LED 300W on eBay for about $150. I haven't gotten far enough to figure out all the details but this might be worth a look for you. There's a great thread here with reviews and details:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2474870&highlight=marsaqua

 

[sctip]

I am setting up multiple tanks right now and will be experimenting with MH, T-5, and LEDS also going into a mixture of the lights also to find out the best growth of Zoas and SPS.

 

[whosurcaddie]

Photon 24 https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-24/

Maxspect razor420r http://smile.amazon.com/Maxspect-R4z0r-Razor-Aquarium-Light/dp/B008W8QQKU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_199_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GCWQHYPQXMKJ15PCBBV

Aquatic Life t5 http://smile.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life-2-Lunar-Aquarium-30-Inch/dp/B002LTL4SK/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1437525128&sr=8-15&keywords=30+inch+t5

Two Kessil a160's http://smile.amazon.com/Kessil-A160WE-Controllable-Aquarium-Light/dp/B00QHC6D7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437525206&sr=8-1&keywords=kessil+a+160

 

[whosurcaddie]

Stick to birdsnest or digitata's for your first SPS purchase.

 

[whosurcaddie]

If you go with metal halide stick with a 175 watt fixture. You don't need more power than that for 19" height.

One of these would be all the light you would need and it would be the best looking out of all Ive suggested.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Hamilton_Cebu_Sun_Metal_Halide_%2b_T5_HO_Lighting_System_24_to_25_Inch_Single_Ended_Metal_Halide_Fixtures-Hamilton-HT21751-FILTFIMHTFSE-vi.html

It is on the pricey side but in this hobby more often than not you get what you pay for. A close second would be two of the Kessil a160's I posted earlier.

 

[pdiehm]

AI Prime for a small tank like a 29g biocube

 

[Swensos]

I switched to LEDs after I was tired of having to switch out bulbs and not being sure whether the bulbs were still at optimum light. I really like being able to dim and set the color spectrum on LEDs, but if you want something barebones with power, the Finnex Ray2s are very affordable.

http://www.finnex.net/index.php/ray2_series/?___store=default

 

[sctip]

I'm getting the AI prime for a 20 gallon as soon as I can find a used one.

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

I've been looking at the MarsAqua/Chinese black box LED 300W on eBay for about $150. I haven't gotten far enough to figure out all the details but this might be worth a look for you. There's a great thread here with reviews and details:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2474870&highlight=marsaqua

Heh, I'm looking at these, and the aquaillumination nano/prime and PAR38 bulbs. Kessil/razor/hydra run 300-400$ and there aren't any used ones around. (I'm in Canada). I think the OP is on a tight budget, they're going to have lots of other expenses with a new tank.

ivy

 

[ncaldwell]

I used the aqualumination nano and it worked really well for my softies

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

Yeah I mean t8 :/ I guess I'll look into a different light would a single t5 bulb be OK for softies? although I might keep some of the easier lps instead of sps what light is needed for lps

You're limited by the depth of your tank- I have the same problem. You could keep softies up top in your tank with 1 T5. Don't know how'd they'd do at the bottom.

Canadian Tire sells 24" T5 fixtures (with the wrong bulbs, but you can buy bulbs) for about 25$ Canadian. That's practically free in US money , and I'm sure your local hardware store has something similar. You'd have to hang them, but you can do that with 2 S hooks and a meter of chain.

LPS like more intense light than softies, but less than SPS. 2T5s? Maybe. 3 for sure. 4 might be overkill. From what I've read, they seem to be very adaptable if well fed, as they're from deeper, calmer waters. They seem to like being fed more than other corals, and feeding them is really cool-they put out tentacles, grab the food, and suck it into their mouth. I plan to have an LPS, rock flower anemone and maaaaybe mini maxi carpet dominated reef.

If you look at :

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=422

There's an awesome thread with pictures at the top of each sub forum. Corallimorphians=mushroom corals, easiest thing ever. Zoanthids come in every colour combination possible and look amazing.

hope that helps a bit
ivy