Lighting question

[BLOCKAIDRUNNER]

Hello, I can use some advise on my 75 Gal. Reef Ready tank. I had this set up years ago and I'm in the process of resurrecting it. There has been a lot of changes in this hobby since I had mine set up before. Lighting is where I'm lost, go MH or go LED and I've found a combo unit combines 2x 250W HQI metal halide, 4x 54W Actinic Blue T5 HO lamps, and 6x Bluemoon LED into one single unit. Is this going to be enough as I plan to have some soft corals and maybe a couple clams. At only $230 it scares me, I want to do it right the 1st time. Also when I had it set up before the water got to hot (82-84) here in Alabama, does most aquariums in central Al. run chillers?

 

[thegrun]

For your planned tank the clams are going to need by far the most light and the light you have chosen will give you plenty of light for any type of coral you may want to keep. MH lighting does produce the most heat of the three most common lights (MH, LED or T-5s), and even with good fans blowing across the water I would suspect you would need to use a chiller during the summer. I can't speak to the quality of the light fixture you are looking at, but it certainly will produce enough light for your needs. I made the switch from MH lighting to LEDs about 5 years ago. There are some advantages and disadvantages to all the different types of lighting, but LEDs have made huge improvements over the past few years and to me the advantages of LED (at least the quality brands) now outweigh any disadvantages.

 

[jeperry3]

Can't answer the lighting question, but maybe I can the heat questions.

Like you I am returning tot he hobby after a few years.

I have run tanks for years in Central Al. without a chiller. However, I have never used MH lighting. VHO for the most part. When it got to The point AC was not doing the job, I open cabinet doors and add fans. I don't think this will work with MH though. Barely kept up a few summers as it was.

Hope this helps

JP

 

[Wryknow]

There's a reason that used MH fixtures are so inexpensive now-a-days. You need to account for all of the costs if you want to go MH. Yes, you only spend $250 on a used fixture but how old are the bulbs? You can easily spend $350 to replace the 2 MH and 6 T5 bulbs. How much will a chiller cost you and how much will it cost to run? Don't forget that you'll be using 700W of electricity on that fixture vs around 200W for LED. Compare the total cost for the fixture you mentioned to a new LED set up and you'll start seeing tha the long term costs favor the LEDs (especially if you are willing to buy a DIY kit from some place like RapidLED.)

 

[DavidinGA]

For softies you don't need MH. I'd get a cheap led unit or a 4 bulb T5 setup over the MH idea....