Help me with lighting

6mmmedic

6mmmedic

Member
Im trying to figure out just what watts mean versus types of lighting. Currenty I have a fixture with 2X65 PC's 50/50. I want to have various corals and so have some corals now im my 55g tank. The question is should I add more light and what kind. I can add a 96watt 36" PC for about the same price as 78 watt T5HO 2-36 inch bulbs. Whats going to be better and how does wattage compare with the type (PC, HO, MH) lighting. Does wattage really tell me anything or should I just shoot for T5HO but arent PC's basically conjoined T5's. Any experts wanna line me out?
 
ahammer

ahammer

New Member
hey im no expert but i did a lot of research and it seems that PC lighting get hotter then T5 and i had a choice and i chose T5 ovr PC im not sure if its a better deal or anything because its less wat. 216 compared to 260 for my choices but i had a budget anyhow, and T5 is more exspensive but i went with it anyways. sorry i couldnt help much but i just searched forums google etc took me four days of searching haha
 
jerryatrick

jerryatrick

Active Member
The 78 watts of T5HO will give you better results than the 96 watts of PC. If you wanted to keep softies and LPS you could combine the T5 fixture with the PC fixture you currently have. If you are interested in clams and SPS you would have to spend a lot more money on a T5 fixture that has 4 or 6 bulbs as mentioned by thetopcat. You want to look for a fixture that has individual reflectors. You could also go with a metal halide fixture (250wx2)
 
canareef

canareef

Member
I'm far from an expert but I started out with PC then moved to HO T5's and now I have a 250w metal halide. IMPO I would save a couple more dollars and go for a MH fixture. I wish I would have bought one in the first place but 20/20 hindsight of course. With the metal halide you can have your choice of corals only thing is the heat they create. Lighting is one place I think you shouldn't cheap out on. Go BIG then you won't be replacing them later when you want a clam or acro's ect. I spent almost a $1000 bux on the lights now sitting in my basement before I went and bought a $380 aqua med pendant 250w.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I agree... I would go with a nice t-5 or metal halide or combo set up because the more you get into corals the more you'll see the limitations of the PC lighting and wish you would have gone that way... and not have had to buy yet another fixture. I started with PC lighting (which I could afford at the time) and upgraded to 700+ watts of t-5/halide lighting over my 90... which was just money wasted on the pc lighting then.
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/2917304
I agree... I would go with a nice t-5 or metal halide or combo set up because the more you get into corals the more you'll see the limitations of the PC lighting and wish you would have gone that way... and not have had to buy yet another fixture. I started with PC lighting (which I could afford at the time) and upgraded to 700+ watts of t-5/halide lighting over my 90... which was just money wasted on the pc lighting then.
Excellent response. But, if bought correctly, you could put any wattage MH over your 55 gallon for less than $100. Trust me, I did it.
 
6mmmedic

6mmmedic

Member
I see...with that said if i kept my PC's i have now and added a Nova Extreme T5 108 watt 48 inch fixture then should I be okay on this 55 untill I get a bigger tank? I really dont want to spend the money and deal with the heat created by MH unless someone can line me out on the details. I can get the nova setup in T5 for a hundred bucks right now
 
6mmmedic

6mmmedic

Member
Originally Posted by SaltFan
http:///forum/post/2917326
Excellent response. But, if bought correctly, you could put any wattage MH over your 55 gallon for less than $100. Trust me, I did it.
Teach me the way.....i want MH for under a hundred
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Core and Cap Ballast- $25
Bulb 14k $7.99 x2 = $16 or
Bulb 20k $2.99 x2 = $6
Reflector = $25
Wiring from Lowes by the foot.
Mogul Socket x 2 = $9
Add it up, and you know where to get it. Just look for those particular items on the auction sight, you will find them, and you will find them for those prices.
Was unable to send either one of you a PM, your system does not accept
 
6mmmedic

6mmmedic

Member
not sure why i cant get PM's. Can you take pics and line me out on the set-up. I know nothing about MH. Looking at the nova 4 bulb 48" T5's and getting rid of my PC's now
jsharumATcox.net
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
ok, can do. Keep your PC reflector though, will come in handy. Do you have a canopy over your tank? If not, your going to need to get something up there to hold up the lights. Will send pics.
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Got the Bulbs, Ballasts, and the Mogul Sockets on THE BIG AUCTION SIGHT. Everyone knows the one, but I can't type it out here or they'll delete it.
 
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