another newbie needing help...

[seltzerd]

Hi all,
I have spend hours reading all these posts and now I think I am even more confused...
I have a 24 g nano and a 47 g bowfront. I am replacing my bowfront with an AGA 90 gal reef ready and I am psyched! It is 48x18.5x25 high. I am loking at new light (since my bow is only 36")
What to get...... Isn't that always the question? I have a humu, maroon clown, anemone, hippo tang and saddle puffer. I have a few polyps and a shroom, but want the capability to have soft, SPS and LPS corals. I figured I need a MH, but now (after reading) think maybe T5 (HO) system. Money is always an issue, but I realize this will likely be in the 500-1000 range and am okay with that.
The Coralife aqualight pro with MH and PC? (or better brand with combo)
the Aquactinics Solar Flare?
I am really confused and am not looking at these two only. I am open to hearing about MH vs HO T5 and good brand vs better.
I live in Illinois and it gets HOT in summer, am a little worried about MH and my lack of a cooler at this time. My house has A/C, but works hard too keep house at 80 in mid summer.
Thanks in advance

 

[mr_x]

i like the look of halides. i'd go with them for a 25 inch deep tank, over t-5's. i also like the "shimmer" effect halides produce.
2 x 250 watts with actinic or t-5 suppliment would be my choice. use a few fans over the tank, and you'll have alot of evap, but you'll be ok.
btw- you might run into problems with those carnivores possibly eating some corals.

 

[seltzerd]

Do you think the aqualight pro is any good? I hear people say its 'nice', but I want good. Any thoughts on good systems out there?

 

[nwdyr]

I don't know if this will help, but I have a 250w MH 14000 k light on a 40gal frag tank, and I really like it! make sure you shop around allot!!! you don't have to pay big money for a MH light. Mine came with a clamp and a kit to hang it from the ceiling ( which is what I did) Ballast and all was only 175.00 not a "name brand" but some times it don't matter JMO

 

[wangotango]

Either two 250w halides with or without actinic supplimentation, or the 7-bulb Aquactinics Constellation T5 fixture, or TEK 8-bulb fixture would all be good choices.
Yes the shimmer of the halides is nice, but to each their own.
-Justin

 

[mr_x]

the sunlight supply maristar fixture is available in 48", with 2 x 250 watt ushio metal halide lamps and your choice of T-5 suppliment.
sweet fixture.
gieseman makes nice fixtures too, but they are very pricey.
name brand matters most of the time. make sure the ballast and lamp is good quality. those knockoffs don't put out the PAR(usable light) that the higfh quality fixtures do.
just my .02

 

[bill109]

i have a 90 gallon.. and i had this same issue.. i bought a t-5 8 lamp fixture.. made by tek.. soooo nice.
check out REEFGEEKSoCOM
i love it.
covers the whole top of the tank and i can keep almost anything (havent tried my luck with any anenomies, or stony corals.. but with some better bulbs then what it comes with you should have no problem) if you keep stony's place them at the top.
the tek t-5 has no fans in it but just run a fan across the top of the fixture.
another HUGE plus with this is no sound, all in addition to individual parabolic reflectors..

good luck with it!

oh yeah.. with 8 bulbs your bulb selection is almost endless lol

and check out the awesome actinic lights tht come with it! the legs you have to buy.. but DEF worth it.

(ahah im embaresed to put tht up there, that was a long time ago lol)

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2600310
Either two 250w halides with or without actinic supplimentation, or the 7-bulb Aquactinics Constellation T5 fixture, or TEK 8-bulb fixture would all be good choices.
Yes the shimmer of the halides is nice, but to each their own.
-Justin
x2 on the TEK..

 

[indyws6]

Greetings

I also have a 90G AGA RR tank and chose the Current Outer Orbit light fixture. It has 2x150W PowerPAK HQI MH, 2x130W SunPAK dual-tube 420/460nm CF Actinic and 6 LED moonlights. It is well-designed and well-built and I would recommend it. It wasn't cheap, but it also wasn't the most expensive. I got mine from a place (that I can't promote here) that has lower prices for it than any other I found.
It comes with legs for tank mounting as well as a stainless steel cable hanging kit. The MH's, Actinic's and LED's are on separate power cords, so it is easy to connect to timers or a controller (which I do) for dawn --> Day --> Dusk --> Night lighting. Using a fixture with 2x 250W MH would definitely allow SPS placement lower in the tank, but I am not having trouble with the 150's. Plus, I'm saving 200W of electricity that would otherwise be used for 8 hours every day.

Hope this helps...

 

[seltzerd]

Thanks for all the input. Will still need to decide, but feel like I have a better understanding (and maybe a better idea to shop around- thanks bill)