WTB: 48' lighting

yeah defintly dont need pc unless you would plan on low low low light coral witch you arnt so.t12 florects would work fine. just get a 50/50 bulb.only 20 bucks at petco while pc is like 75 for a bulb.
 
Not sure where you are buying your bulbs Matt but I used to buy PC bulbs all the time for under $20. Shoot, sometime Hellolights would have a B1G1 sale - so it worked out to $10 each.

Plus, FWIW, I used to keep more than "low, low, low light corals" under PCs and they did fine
 
I kept zoas, anenomes, green star, leathers, and palys all under pc lighting and they did great. I also got my bulbs for around $20 (the 65w bulbs) each, so that's not the part of it I'm curious about. If he wanted to go to shrooms and what I listed above, and that was all, and didn't want to drop $400 on a t-5 fixture, I'd more than understand starting with PC to wet his feet in this hobby so to say. The thing that confused me was when he said he wanted to do it on a FOWLR tank...PC lighting on that would be totally unnecessary and a drain on his electric bill for no good reason.
 
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it is a 2 48" bulb N/O light. used when tank was getting set up. Still have the box. Bulbs used for almost 5 weeks so still new.
 
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Nate - well, we all know how some folks start out fish only and then the bug hits and they expand from there. That could be one reason why he may be thinking of going the power compact route Buy something that works now with fish only but also allows you to keep some coral if you so desire. That way, when you start to experiment with the shrooms, zoas, anenomes, green star, leathers, and palys - you don't need to buy another fixture (until you really make the plunge and want that $500 T5 or MH setup :) ). But if he is sure he is staying fish only - you are right.

Anyway - Tdoan - IMO if you are sure you are staying Fish Only forever - then go for Tom's light at $40. It looks just like the one I have - except his is normal flourescent and $10 cheaper than the PC one I have and will save you some on electric costs. However, if my thinking of why you may be asking about power compact lighting is correct, then per my previous PM to you, my light at $50 (which is the same housing retrofitted with 2 power compacts, reflector and ballast would work well for you.

Just really depends on what your long range plans are.
good luck
 
^^^^^^^

lol story of my life.

FOWLR flourescent to 8x65w pc softie reef to 2x250 MH mixed reef

+1 for sure Tdoan, if you think you might go into softies, go the PC route now, and save yourself some money.
 
LOL - same here. I remember when I had my 72g as FW - and bought my 37g to set up SW - someone here said why bother - you know you are going to convert that 72G to SW down the road. I scoffed then - and look where I am now - LOL
 
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