** lighting- need recommendation please

[rndlee77]

Hi there, I am in the market looking for a good lighting system, any help will be appreciated..

I got 90 gallons glass tank with overflow box built in. 48x18x25 ..
i also got a artica chiller 1/5 hp, aquaC skimmer ev120 w/ mag500 , and Quietone 4000HH return, UV steralizer, and sump with refugium.... my next item to buy asap is the Lighting.

please let me know what type of metal halide do I need for this set-up. wattage , bulbs, blue bulbs, the full descpition will be very helpful. so I can pass this info /description to the LFS or search on line.

thank you , am new to SW ( 1month, did lots of reading, but, nothing tells me about specific lights to get, so I turn to here, please help) , getting 1 item at a time and want to make sure I dont have to upgrade anytime soon. thanks

 

[Duchess]

You could email Greg at Reefgeek.com and ask for his suggestions. He was very helpful to me with my lighting question.

 

[Duchess]

By the way, welcome to Reef Central!

 

[Fishie Nut]

I'm a little further along than you ... been here since December and I've got the same size tank. I just purchased the Aquamedic 2x250 HQI 10000K, 2x54 T5 actinic. Dollarwise it's the best deal anywhere. I got mine at Marine Depot. I havent' even installed it yet. Still waiting to fill my tank ... waiting to get all my equipment first, then LR/LS et al.
I did basically what you did. I looked everywhere. There are more expensive units PRO and Maristar and Geisman, but for an 18" deep tank, 2x250 is great for anything, SPS Clams, and anything else.

Welcome.

 

[Fishie Nut]

Just an aside: here's the link

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium...medic_ocean_light_t5_combo_series.asp?CartId=

 

[sjm817]

[welcome]

 

[adam_not4u]

I'm hoping there's going to be more help here for you because I'm going with 2x250 MH and 2x110 VHO's on a 75 gal. I heard that it was a good mix to have a strong lighting for sps and such and have 1/2 of your intense lighting with actinics.

T5's are more energy eff. but don't really have the humf that I'm wanting.
I'd use them in a heartbeat if they are indeed vho's and I could get them in actinics at around 110W or so.

Hope someone give you some insight from experiance.

 

[rndlee77]

thank you for the helpguys, i will check with Greg at reefgeek.com and also check out marine depot. but you mention 18"deep is good enough for aqau medic 2x 250, but mine is actually 25" deep, will that be ok as well ?or do I need something different? thanks again... I am really anxious to setting up soon,,,

 

[bertoni]

The usual recommendation is one bulb every two feet or so, which would be exorbitantly expensive for your setup. Do you have a canopy or were you looking at pendants? Some of the Sunlight Supply reflectors can cover a 3x3 area. Your tank is very narrow, though.

This site has lots of data on MH reflectors and bulbs:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/