Lighting Question - T5 - HomeDepot quick fix..??

P

philipfwilson

New member
I am new to reefs. I have a 90 gal reef tank and setup 3 months ago. Water cycled and dead rock in tank. I have more rock to setup and live rock as well.

I have to get moving on the lighting.

I am going to build a canopy. Seems pretty simple and I have watched a bunch of youtube videos.

My questions is that I would love to have the EcoTech Radion XR30w G3 Pro LED Light Fixture. I need two thats about 1,500 bucks. Too much right now.

Can I just go to homedepot - 4-Light T5 White High Output Fluorescent High Bay buy a simple t5 setup..

put a few bulbs in there for time being. Coralife T5 High Output Lamp - 39W - 10000K - 36 in


Any feelings on this setup

http://www.marineandreef.com/48_inc...sVrgHXghuMKljOWMsJ1dTQDTR6a6TxYzBjBoCemvw_wcB



Any diy out there ??

Phil
 

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What is your goal for the tank? FOWLR? Corals (soft or hard)?

FYI - lots of good led options for you that won't bust your wallet. Check out Mars Aqua on eBay and here. You'll be surprised.

-ryan
 
If you are going to have a canopy and want to do T5, then buy some LET T5 retrofits. Good reflectors and good price.

If you want to run T5/LED (which is a great combination and what I run on all my tanks), just leave some room to add LED fixtures at a later date...
 
Ahh - I think you answered it. :)

Reef = some type of coral.
FOWLR = fish only with live rock

Reef needs more intense lighting than FOWLR.

What are your water parameters?

To help you decide what to do, I suggest reading the sticky (more like memorizing it) called SETTING UP. Then memorize the one called DIRT SIMPLE CHEMISTRY.

-ryan
 
You can get away with one of the horticulture t5 fixtures from amazon and the like. You will be limited to sps top, lps middle and softies on the sand bed. I only say this because the horticulture reflector is not made as well as ati and the like and for your tank depth you will have some par drop off from that. Use good quality ati or equivalent bulbs, not the 6500k bulbs that may come with the fixture.

You could also go with 2 of the ebay chinesse leds as rsain sugested. the only drawback is for full spread you need 12-15" of height from the led to the water for good light coverage.
 
is the light fixture 36" or 48"? i'm assuming 48". if so you will need 54w t5 bulbs. it will work just fine. you might like it so much you get all good stuff in the future and stay with t5's and forgo the leds.
 
Ok..I bought 299 - Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 HO Light Fixture - 48 in.

Ok..I bought 299 - Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 HO Light Fixture - 48 in.

I broke down and bought a regular light.

Its a good light and very bright. I will have to build a canopy since its so bright.

Also, fan is very loud.

Overall good value and light.

Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 HO Light Fixture - 48 in.

Coralife
Item # 254128 / Manufacturer Part # 8607
Was $418.09
Now $299.38

The Coralife 48" Lunar Aqualight High Output T5 four lamp light fixture, is a step up in performance from the Aqualight Dual lamp T5 HO light fixtures. The 48" Lunar Aqualight features two 54W T5 HO 10,000K daylight lamps and two 54W T5 HO Actinic Lamps, and 4 uniquely adjustable LED moonlights.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/48in-coralife-lunar-aqualight-t5-ho-light-fixture
 

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images new tank light.

images new tank light.

I broke down and bought a regular light.

Its a good light and very bright. I will have to build a canopy since its so bright.

Also, fan is very loud.

Overall good value and light.

Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 HO Light Fixture - 48 in.

Coralife
Item # 254128 / Manufacturer Part # 8607
Was $418.09
Now $299.38

The Coralife 48" Lunar Aqualight High Output T5 four lamp light fixture, is a step up in performance from the Aqualight Dual lamp T5 HO light fixtures. The 48" Lunar Aqualight features two 54W T5 HO 10,000K daylight lamps and two 54W T5 HO Actinic Lamps, and 4 uniquely adjustable LED moonlights.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/48in-cor...-light-fixture
 

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The Chinese black box LED's on Ebay are $85 or less shipped and you can use them for FOWLR or Reef and any corals you like. They come with free shipping.
 
philipfwilson said:
I broke down and bought a regular light.

Its a good light and very bright. I will have to build a canopy since its so bright.

Also, fan is very loud.

Overall good value and light.

Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 HO Light Fixture - 48 in.

Coralife
Item # 254128 / Manufacturer Part # 8607
Was $418.09
Now $299.38

The Coralife 48" Lunar Aqualight High Output T5 four lamp light fixture, is a step up in performance from the Aqualight Dual lamp T5 HO light fixtures. The 48" Lunar Aqualight features two 54W T5 HO 10,000K daylight lamps and two 54W T5 HO Actinic Lamps, and 4 uniquely adjustable LED moonlights.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/48in-cor...-light-fixture
Click to expand...

That light will be ok for fish only and softies but not much more if it's only a dual bulb.
 
clear up for me

clear up for me

Ok.. it has 4 bulbs..I thought with this I can have a full reef. Correct??

I don't have a par meter but guessing it should be ok

What can I run?

I just bought this in hopes of having full reef.


1 GALLON PACKAGE - ESV B-IONIC CALCIUM BUFFER SYSTEM
240123 $33.99
Ordered: 1
Shipped: 1
$33.99

1 GALLON - ESV B-IONIC MAGNESIUM
240127 $22.99
Ordered: 1
Shipped: 1
$22.99

MR. CHILI MIXING JUG "“ CLEAR 1 GALLON JUG
200111 $2.49
Ordered: 3
Shipped: 3
$7.47

DISPENSING PUMP "“ 1 OZ.
000134 $3.99
Ordered: 3
Shipped: 3
$11.97

100 MM FUNNEL
000142 $3.99
Ordered: 2
Shipped: 2
$7.98

​


Phil
 
Coralife Lunar Aqualight - Too loud - running at 59db

Coralife Lunar Aqualight - Too loud - running at 59db

Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 HO Light Fixture - 48 in.

Coralife
Item # 254128 / Manufacturer Part # 8607
Was $418.09
Now $299.38

This is going back to the store. It sounds like a train running thru the house.

I ran a sound meter on my phone.

With the light it was running at 59db and without down to 42db.

This light is too loud !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad the light is very bright.
 
Lighting Question - T5 - HomeDepot quick fix..??

If you like the light but the fan is too loud, you might consider replacing the fan with a quieter one...it looks like it's a standard electrical component fan. Of course, opening the case will void the warranty... http://youtu.be/0RAln_r4Y60
 
Seems like you're a seat-of-the-pants guy. I'd have done more research and saved a few more dollars to get a better fixture than that. It will limit you, the fan will be loud, and it really closes off your access to the tank. It'll get a lot of salt creep too.
 
I got one of those 165w black box LED's and the fan is SooOOoOO quiet even on max settings! I see you linked to that Pet Place, I actually shopped around there in person for a light months ago and wasn't impressed with their selection or price range :b

For about $75 I can now grow any corals I want :) it's only a 29 gallon tank so you may need 2 fixtures if you decide to get the same one I have.
 
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