lighting that won't break the bank?

[yogoshio]

I have read up about those. My only issue is I have the acrylic/plastic lids on my tank. I think that would get too hot. I have recently put a yellow headed jawfish in my tank and know they are known for jumping so don't know how that style cover will work.

Get a screen instead then. It's cheaper than anything else on the market right now, and the ONLY answer less than your budget.

 

[steveo9043]

Get a screen instead then. It's cheaper than anything else on the market right now, and the ONLY answer less than your budget.

I'm looking into that right now. Trying to see if I can buy one for my tank or if it will have to be a DIY project.

 

[ska d]

I have read up about those. My only issue is I have the acrylic/plastic lids on my tank. I think that would get too hot. I have recently put a yellow headed jawfish in my tank and know they are known for jumping so don't know how that style cover will work.

get rid of that cover and make a little frame with mesh to keep fish from jumpimg, it will greatly improve your oxygen exchange.

 

[ska d]

are there any reef clubs in your area. alot of times people will have stuff sitiing around not in use but dont advertise them for sale or only sell to members of their club. and when it comes to diy, some reef club members will even be willing to help you with the build. your situation isnt that unique, meaning lots of people have bow tanks and cant hang from the ceiling, and have had to come up with inventive ways to solve their issue. as for your price point. are you absolutely stuck at 150. i know this hobby is expensive, but you are going to be spending money no matter what. theres no way around that. i not saying you have to go out and break the bank on lights, but it is one area you dont want to skimp on too much. especially if your tank is going to a focal point in your living room. if it was in your man cave down in the basement thats a differnet story. you might not care what it looks like and can slap togther a diy without worry. i have one ( not the only one) light over my tank that looks like something a kid in a grade 7 shop class built. heck they could probably make it better. its a 120w led chip mounted on an ugly heat sink, with a pc fan strapped to it. it looks like hell, but the 20000k light produces is all i care about. it hangs from the ceiling but if i had to id slap together a pvc frame to hang it. i guess my point is, yes you could find a solution for 150, but its probably not going to look very good (over the tank) and the light it produces might not live up to your expectations. and within 6 months youll hate it and want to upgrade. any thing can be done, but what are your expectations. remember its not just i want to keep a few types of coral, that can technically be done with any light, and i mean any (maybe not sps, but shrooms, sponges, etc....)

 

[jwblocal701]

Check this out on Craigslist

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/for/3345142221.html

 

[steveo9043]

are there any reef clubs in your area. alot of times people will have stuff sitiing around not in use but dont advertise them for sale or only sell to members of their club. and when it comes to diy, some reef club members will even be willing to help you with the build. your situation isnt that unique, meaning lots of people have bow tanks and cant hang from the ceiling, and have had to come up with inventive ways to solve their issue. as for your price point. are you absolutely stuck at 150. i know this hobby is expensive, but you are going to be spending money no matter what. theres no way around that. i not saying you have to go out and break the bank on lights, but it is one area you dont want to skimp on too much. especially if your tank is going to a focal point in your living room. if it was in your man cave down in the basement thats a differnet story. you might not care what it looks like and can slap togther a diy without worry. i have one ( not the only one) light over my tank that looks like something a kid in a grade 7 shop class built. heck they could probably make it better. its a 120w led chip mounted on an ugly heat sink, with a pc fan strapped to it. it looks like hell, but the 20000k light produces is all i care about. it hangs from the ceiling but if i had to id slap together a pvc frame to hang it. i guess my point is, yes you could find a solution for 150, but its probably not going to look very good (over the tank) and the light it produces might not live up to your expectations. and within 6 months youll hate it and want to upgrade. any thing can be done, but what are your expectations. remember its not just i want to keep a few types of coral, that can technically be done with any light, and i mean any (maybe not sps, but shrooms, sponges, etc....)

Right now I could stretch the budget a little further maybe $200 but not much further. I can always wait a little longer before I purchase them. However I know I won't want to spend over 400-500.

Check this out on Craigslist

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/for/3345142221.html

Looks nice and thanks for helping out. My only issue besides it being a hanging feature is that its 17in deep. At the center of the bow I am at 18in deep and on the sides I am at 12in deep. That wouldn't look too good in my opinion with the over hang.

 

[steveo9043]

just looking around on ebay and saw a few things that look interesting to me. Would like to hear some opinions. Also if its possible to buy one then add maybe some extra LED strips to get it to where it needs to be later, I will take that into consideration.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-51-Aquar...513?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2576676cd9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-Aquarium...363?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5896c9c7eb

This one is only 36in of light but will mount to a 48in tank. I have the typical great wall of china look going on so easily 6in on each side are just sand.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marineland-...135?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccb3cf787

 

[yogoshio]

Don't get T5s, you're trying to save money not spend it long term.

And I think you'd be happier with the halide pendant alternatives than the 48" fixture. You're better off getting the pendants with some actinit supplements. Those marineland fixtures are garbage....

 

[steveo9043]

Don't get T5s, you're trying to save money not spend it long term.

And I think you'd be happier with the halide pendant alternatives than the 48" fixture. You're better off getting the pendants with some actinit supplements. Those marineland fixtures are garbage....

Ok I just ordered 2 of the halide pendant alternatives you posted the link to earlier. Now lets talk supplement lighting.

 

[yogoshio]

If you're looking for blues I'm selling my ecoxotic actinic pro modules for $150.

Or you can get some stunner strips from ebay as well. The same seller of the pendants makes LED actinic strips that should work. This would obviously be a much cheaper option, lol. Or if you want a middle option ecoxotic stunner strips would be good too.

 

[steveo9043]

If you're looking for blues I'm selling my ecoxotic actinic pro modules for $150.

Or you can get some stunner strips from ebay as well. The same seller of the pendants makes LED actinic strips that should work. This would obviously be a much cheaper option, lol. Or if you want a middle option ecoxotic stunner strips would be good too.

Sorry for the late reply. It's going to be a little while till I get the blue strips.

 

[steveo9043]

Just got my lights in today. Night and day difference in the brightness and overall look of the tank.

 

[DragonFish]

Very nice! I'm actually thinking about one of the small ones for my nano. Does it look any bluer than that in person? The pic looks closer to 10,000K not 14,000K.

 

[steveo9043]

There was no markings stating they actually are the 14000k and not the 10000k. As for bluer it is hard to really tell with the blue back ground and the big difference in intensity.

I will go through and add some comparison photo's from before and after. (also these are taken with an iphone 5, not the best camera)

The light just radiates in and out of the tank.

 

[steveo9043]

before

after

If I remember correctly the first picture was taken in the day time. The 2nd picture was at night. I will try to duplicate pictures to the T later. But you can see the difference in the color of the rock.

 

[steveo9043]

before

after

too me the LED lighting has a more realistic look to it. A few of my before pictures look fake to me.

 

[foxriverat]

Are you still happy with the lights after a few months? I am looking at these for a 55 gallon FOWLR I am going to be setting up. Like you. I also cant break the bank.

 

[badsmitty]

if your interested I have 400 w electronic ballast 4 sale
blue line $50.00 each

 

[foxriverat]

I am a novice at this stuff. Are those ballasts for Metal Halide. I kind of like the plug and play leds he is using.

 

[foxriverat]

Your killing me grc