I am about to purchase this lighting setup for my Reef, *opinions please!!*

[synyster11]

Please let me know if you think this lighting is going to be a good setup for me. Please keep in mind that I am on a tight budget. "Tank specs below" I think I am going with the IceCap 660 VHO, and running 4 48" 110w VHO's. I am going with 2 12k "50/50" , and 2 Actinic Blue bulbs. I am unsure about what bulbs to get. Please provide any input, or other lighting suggestions that would keep me in this price range"i found none". Keep in mind this setup will cost 179.00 + 100.00 in bulbs. This seems to be a good amount of lighting for a good price 5.5 watts per gallon.
Tank Specs.
Tank has been running for 7 months.
80g Reef Tank
100lbs of LR
Green Star Pol.
Other Large Polyps "looking great"
Mushrooms "various kinds"
1 Sebae "i know, i know, but this is why I got into saltwater"
2 Green Tip Anemone "they were free"
1 Sea Apple "I am not into fish, so no real danger"
2 Brittle Star, 1 Chocolate Chip Star
1 Clown
1 Blenny
Lots of inverts.
Future Plans:
More and More Soft Corals, and maybe Hard Corals.
Few more clowns, and may something they will get along with. "have not looked into it"

 

[mlm]

Personally (and many others) find that the 10 k aquasuns are ore red than white. I used them for a while until they were out when I needed them so I tried the actinic white and realized that they where truly white.

 

[synyster11]

So, it seams this should be a ok purchase. I like the blue look but how blue do you think it would be? All, I really car about is what is best for the tank and keeping the price under 300.00

 

[plum70rt]

For my VHOs I use 2 actinics, 1 aquasun, and 1 50/50 white, nice combo a little on the blue side,

 

[synyster11]

Do you think the 4 48" 110w VHO's will be enough for my tank. I just dont have the cash to add MH yet, and my tank is really needing the light now.

 

[mdhyde]

I have an 80 gallon and I run a 6x55watt. It is way more light than I think it needs. At night I cut it down to 2x55 for better viewing. Ever look at a tank too long then walk away and the room is fuzzy???
I think 4x110 is plenty. But then most of the posts I read here, everyone seems to have a lot more lighting that I would ever give my tank. So who I am to say the guy with a 10 gallon nano and 400 watts of light is wrong? haha

 

[mdhyde]

and that seems quite a good price for the lights!

 

[quazi]

You can buy the ballast a *lot* cheaper. e-mail me (check my profile) and I will tell you where.
I would go with the URI 50/50s. I had 2 50/50s and 1 Actinic and it was too blue for my taste. I switched to all 50/50s and the tank lools great. I am having great sucess with SPS in my 55 with 3 -110 VHO URI 50/50s. I think your setup would work great!

 

[broomer5]

synyster11
From your tank specs/coral list, and seeing that you want more soft corals in the future ~ I think that choice of lighting is great.
You can always add MH later - but if the budget is tight - go with what you've selected.
I think you'll be pleased with 440 watts VHO over that tank.
Over my 75 gallon - I'm running the same bulb combo as plum70rt
(2) actinics
(1) 50/50
(1) aquasun

 

[synyster11]

Hmmm, the site is messing up.. Could you email me the name of the place you are talking about. I would love to same some money on this...
Thanx
Chris@pminet.com
Originally posted by quazi
You can buy the ballast a *lot* cheaper. e-mail me (check my profile) and I will tell you where.
I would go with the URI 50/50s. I had 2 50/50s and 1 Actinic and it was too blue for my taste. I switched to all 50/50s and the tank lools great. I am having great sucess with SPS in my 55 with 3 -110 VHO URI 50/50s. I think your setup would work great!