Uber cheap 180g budget build lighting help needed

[Bigtrains]

First off, my fiance, 12yr old, and myself have been trolling here for quite some time. I'm now to a point where I need some opinions from other budget minded people. My 150g tall budget build was going smoothly until the tank gave way. My LFS buddy has always worked with me. He knows a guy going through tough times and looking to sell a 180g RR tank and stand. This is setting us back a few bucks, but it's for the kids.. right?! lol I plan to reuse my simple 40g sump, ASM G4, and return pump. We saved the 200+lbs of base rock/ live rock. I built a 48" MH/T5ho frankenfixture but it's going to be too short for the new 72" tank. My options are kinda slim and I'd appreciate some input. We plan for typical reef safe critters, LPS/Softies. This will be a bare bottom tank.

Locally for sale used 72" MH/T5ho $250
Aqua Mars 165W LED
All T5
LFS Ocean Revive fixtures (we would have to save a month or two)
Used Kessils Ocean blue @ $135 ea. I'd seen on a trader board.

Opinions welcome. I've done some research on the Chinese LED's and leaning that way. Also would like to say that this place is great. Thanks!

 

[ReefPharmer]

First off, my fiance, 12yr old!

Not sure where you live but that's a bit young by most people's standards. By the time she is 18 and can legally marry, she'll be a different person. Don't lock yourself in...

As far as lighting, for your needs you can use 3 Chinese black boxes on that tank going side to side. $300 and they should work well. I'd take their optics off or get one without optics to improve spread

 

[Bigtrains]

Meh, it's Oklahoma. Sooo many things we aren't "supposed" to do. She's the first potential wife that doesn't frown upon spending $100 on fish. Had to lock it in!

 

[jayball]

On that tight a budget I would just go with the 3 black boxes. 6 good ATI T-5 bulbs will run you near 150 and the halides with a pair of T-5 will run you close to it for new bulbs (not counting the fixture).

 

[Bigtrains]

We've got giesemman and ATI in our other fixtures. I ran Plusrite 14k's in the other fixture. We are just tired of bulbs. I'm hoping that down the line the drivers in the black boxes may be upgradable. We like mushrooms and polyps of sorts. Maybe a flower nem? I'm hoping somebody will chime in who has been using these lights for over a year. Because at that rate, I could afford to buy one every year or so at the same price to replace bulbs and the electricity to run them.

 

[ReefPharmer]

We've got giesemman and ATI in our other fixtures. I ran Plusrite 14k's in the other fixture. We are just tired of bulbs. I'm hoping that down the line the drivers in the black boxes may be upgradable. We like mushrooms and polyps of sorts. Maybe a flower nem? I'm hoping somebody will chime in who has been using these lights for over a year. Because at that rate, I could afford to buy one every year or so at the same price to replace bulbs and the electricity to run them.

I ran chinese lights for a few years on a 180 mixed reef with sps growing fairly well. Had 3 fixtures side to side and then went to 4 fixtures I I I I like that. For your needs, 3 are sufficient. The issue with those back when I had them (full spectrum) is that some of the Lower wavelength leds burn out. If you are a diy kind of person, you can replace the leds, otherwise you can use the fixtures for a few years and if too may burn out, you can replace them.

 

[hart24601]

Black box value style fixtures all the way! I have had fantastic success with them.

My 120 running 3 black boxes before going to hydra 26's.

 

[Bigtrains]

Awesome! I'm def a DIY guy (I troubleshoot locomotives) and like the idea of LED replacement. I plan just to keep a very simple tank with live rock, a big skimmer, some flow, and regular water changes. Thanks!

 

[pyroboy1der]

Another vote for the Black box. I've got 3 on my 180 right now and they're great. I did a full DIY fixture on my old 75 gallon tank but when it came time to replace it the black boxes were significantly cheaper than even just buying components to build a comparable fixture. For the money you can't beat them.

Here's my tank 2 years ago when I first moved into it with the 3 black boxes over top. Still using the same lights with zero problems.

 

[Bigtrains]

I really appreciate the help! I think 3 Aqua Mars fixtures it's going to be! Plus I just cut up my vintage Hamilton fixture to make a 175W MH fixture for my soon to be step son's 10g nano. I'd prefer to take some of the cost savings and pump it back into coral from my LFS.