Lighting upgrade & need help!

[Pimps]

When I decided to go s/w with my 35g tank 3+months ago, my LFS sold me a PC setup with 1 dual daylight bulb & 1 actinic 440nm + lunar light claiming this would be enough should I decide to get into corals. Basically, I was suckered! :mad2:

With a birthday & the holidays around the corner, I'd like to upgrade my lighting to support soft corals and/or an anemone in the future, but tbh I don't know jack about lighting and can't really understand the lingo! :frog:

I'd like suggestions for a light setup that (1) supports softies and/or a BTA anemone, (2) that looks great and (3) wouldn't require me to upgrade for a very long time. One note, I cannot attach a light fixture to hang from my ceiling.

Basic tank info: 35g, 36x16x13, black Tahitian sand bed 2in, home to a pair of True Percs & a variety of snails.

Any help would be appreciated ty! :fun4:

 

[clowns101]

For you to keep an anemone and some softer corals I would like to see about 4 watts to the gallon.So inorder to do that you would need about 140 watts.So really you could do like a 150 MH or a 6 bulb t5.You might be able to do something a little bit diffirent but just to be safe I would do about 4 watts.

 

[Pimps]

Clowns101, thank you for the reply. :fun4:

Do you have any setups you could recommend?

Any specific bulb Brand that is better than the next?

Would I need any additional equipment to plug this unit into other than a power strip?

Sorry for nooby questions, but like I said I don't know jack about lighting!

TY for your time :bounce3:

 

[clowns101]

Well if your going to go MH I would go with the Low Profile ReefStar HQI Metal Halide System.They are a bit high at the $279.99 mark but Im sure you can find them cheaper than that!

If you want to do a T5 lighting system I would go with the Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures.They are 4 bulbs and come in a 36 inch length.The 36 incher is 156 watts.

Also I would not reccomend pluging a light that pull sso many watts into a power strip.I had done this with a 150 MH and it would not fire up.

And dont worrie about noob questions.We were all at that point at one time.And we never stop learning!

Thanks,
Austin/clowns101

 

[rcorbitt]

There are tons of posts about lamps, you should do some searching. IceCap has just released a couple of 48" fixtures that are getting good reviews. I expect they will also make smaller ones in the future.

Coralife and Current make fixtures to meet your specs, but both are struggling to keep inventory to the wholesale distributors, so getting replacement/warranty might be an issue. Maybe use retrofit in a hood?

Regardless the quality of the ballast and the lamps are the most important things to consider, in my opinion. I like ATI and Giesemann lamps for T5. I agree with Clowns101 about the wattage recommendation.

With regard to powering the lights, you'll want timers, or a controller for dimming. Some fixtures have this built in.

 

[Pimps]

If you want to do a T5 lighting system I would go with the Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures.They are 4 bulbs and come in a 36 inch length.The 36 incher is 156 watts.

Also I would not reccomend pluging a light that pull sso many watts into a power strip.I had done this with a 150 MH and it would not fire up.

And dont worrie about noob questions.We were all at that point at one time.And we never stop learning!

Ty for the reply and kind words :fun4:

I don't plan on doing MH, I do like the look of the Nova unit you suggested, it's cheap! How often would they need to be replaced?

I got scammed on my Current PC, you don't even want to know how much my LFS got me for. :mad2:


@rcorbitt;16158411 - Thank you for the reply. :fun4:

I did a search but I couldn't find any threads pertaining to tanks my size, or near my size.

Also, I don't know what a retrofit hood is LOL. :frog:

 

[clowns101]

Ya know Iv never heard of anyone having to replace them in the first 3 to 4 years.Also forgot to answer the question about the light bulbs...I really like the Slimpac's they seem to have good reviews and have a good color!

 

[Pimps]

OMG just saw that Nova Extreme Pro 36inch WOW!

:lolspin: