Lighting Options?? Need Help.

sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Hi Everybody,
I need some help selecting lighting for my tank. The tank is a 125g 72"x18"x22"
I would love to do LED's but I do not have the money to get one of the AI, or Eco tech fixtures. Even a DIY is WAY out of my budget. So knowing that I would eventually want to do LED's I need a temporary solution. That being said I think that I am going with a cheapo fixture.
I currently have a Odyssea HQI 250w MH fixture with T5(24w bulbs, 4 bulbs all blue). I will use that on the middle section of the tank. I need something for the other two sides (the tank has two center braces). I have found a 24" T5 96w fixture for $65.00, I could get two of those to flank the bigger MH light. I would put any light hungry corals in the middle of the tank. Would the T5's on the side be enough for other corals?? Another choice is to do a 20" T5 fixture with 72w (these would probably fit better over the tank and not overlap the larger MH fixture) But I don't think that that is enough power to penetrate down to the sand. Thoughts??
The other choice I could do is get a couple of smaller MH combo fixtures to flank the 250w MH. Same brand I could get a 150W MH with T5's (2x14w blue) for $99.00 each.
So I could just do the cheaper, less light T5's for 65.00X2=$130.00 Plus hanging kits for $25.80. That would be $155.80 all day long for 192 watts of light.
The MH would be $99.00 x 2 =$198.00 Plus two hanging kits for $37.80. That would be $235.80 all day long for 356 watts of light. And remember that this is just for the sides of the tank there will be 346 watts (250w MH and 96w T5) in the center of the tank. I would also need to get a hanging kit for the middle fixture ($18.90).
I am also up for ideas of other fixtures that are similar in price. So feel free to suggest away. When I do upgrade I plan on it being to LED's and I plan on doing it right and spending the money to get something nice (those new Radion fixtures are air tight).
Yes I know that the Odyssea fixtures are not the best, they are cheap, but that is the band-aid fix that I am looking for (unless you can suggest something else).
Any input is appreciated!!
Thank you,
Ryan
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I'd keep an eye out for a single used fixture. Surely someone up in the metro area has got to be selling one somewhere. When it comes to the flourescent tubes it's alot cheaper to replace 4 longer bulbs then it is to replace 8 shorter ones.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3416767
I'd keep an eye out for a single used fixture. Surely someone up in the metro area has got to be selling one somewhere. When it comes to the flourescent tubes it's alot cheaper to replace 4 longer bulbs then it is to replace 8 shorter ones.
True. But how would that work if I have my 250w MH fixture in the middle of the tank??
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
60" tek light is my input!
Why put 3 fixtures above ur tank? Sell that Mh one...the tek light will work for sps if thats ur worry.
Im not sure if the sale is still going but i know a place where one was on sale! I'll look and pm u!
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Quote:
It wouldn't.
it wouldnt wat? Grow sps? Yes it will! U may have to keep em in the top 12" but it will indeed...
I havent done it but i know people that have!
The tek light at 60" runs from $320-$620 depending on how many bulbs u want. + u have to get the bulbs!
I suggest 4-8 bulb system! I dont even think they make a 2 bulb lol
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3416775
it wouldnt wat? Grow sps? Yes it will! U may have to keep em in the top 12" but it will indeed...
I havent done it but i know people that have!
The tek light at 60" runs from $320-$620 depending on how many bulbs u want. + u have to get the bulbs!
I suggest 4-8 bulb system! I dont even think they make a 2 bulb lol
I agree the tek lights would be nice. But that is about 2 to 3 times my budget. I am looking for something to get me by while I save up for a nice LED system. Dude? you just got an LED fixture right? How do you like it and what price range was it?
As mentioned I already have a MH light and was looking for two fixtures to supplement the other two sides. The plan would be to have this going for about a year (so maybe no need to replace bulbs) so I can save some monies. I think that I am leaning towards the smaller 150W MH fixtures on each side and the 250w MH in the center. So I would only need to spend about $250.00 and I would have 3 MH over the tank. I would try to get a 20000K bulb for the MH's.
Again I agree that tek or other T5 fixtures are better but I am not looking for a $800-$1000.00 fix. I would take the savings and put that aside for the LED's (well that is a lie, I want to also get 2 MP40's)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3416772
It wouldn't. I'd probably sell it or keep it around for another tank later.
I think he was talking about me keeping the MH fixture on the middle of the tank. LOL
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
hes talking about finding a used fixture (1) to replace the one u have! Try CL or the auction site!
Their are some Leds on the auction site and oddsyea fixtures that dont hurt the bank as much!
My leds are made by stark...u know iron man! LOL
seriously though ud need 3 of em and they are $300+
im in need of another now for my 75gal build.
They are awsome imo, dimmable, 20leds 3w crees, 10blue, 10whites....i love it!
I run the par bulbs on my smaller tank and the par isnt as good as the actual fixture ive got!
Leds are the way to go now days but the bank hurts right off the back...i believe they pay for themselves down the road but i havent made it that far to be honest lol...
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3416841
hes talking about finding a used fixture (1) to replace the one u have! Try CL or the auction site!
Their are some Leds on the auction site and oddsyea fixtures that dont hurt the bank as much!
My leds are made by stark...u know iron man! LOL
seriously though ud need 3 of em and they are $300+
im in need of another now for my 75gal build.
They are awsome imo, dimmable, 20leds 3w crees, 10blue, 10whites....i love it!
I run the par bulbs on my smaller tank and the par isnt as good as the actual fixture ive got!
Leds are the way to go now days but the bank hurts right off the back...i believe they pay for themselves down the road but i havent made it that far to be honest lol...
Thanks Dude!! You are right I would need three of them and dropping a G on lighting is not an option. Especially with all the other tank related purchases that I need. I will check out those Stark LED's and get an idea if that is something that is a choice for later.
The more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards the Odyssea 150w MH T5 combo unit. That would give me 2x150 and 1x250 of MH, plus some T5 for the blue look. All the fixtures would be from the same company and should match. I think if I take my time and hang them right it would look nice.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Probably not what you want to hear, but (2) LumenBright or (2) Lumenarc III reflectors could be rigged in a hanging unit with a little thought and work and would give you good coverage!!!!
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3417070
Probably not what you want to hear, but (2) LumenBright or (2) Lumenarc III reflectors could be rigged in a hanging unit with a little thought and work and would give you good coverage!!!!
Beleive it or not. I just so happen to have a lumenarc reflector for a 430w Son Agro with ballast. It is about 13 years old from back in the college days. And I have access to another Lumenarc reflector without a ballast. Can that light set up be converted to a single ended MH??
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
All you want are the reflectors.... Not sure what the reflector you have looks like, but just google Lumenarc III and it'll give you an idea. You would need (2) ballasts 250W and the sockets aren't hard to get at all.....
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3417082
All you want are the reflectors.... Not sure what the reflector you have looks like, but just google Lumenarc III and it'll give you an idea. You would need (2) ballasts 250W and the sockets aren't hard to get at all.....
Yes I googled it. That is the exact reflector I have. and I have another one that I might be able to borrow from a friend. But the one I have is HUGE it is for a 400w light. Are you saying that I can just get a ballast, socket, and bulb for the one I have now?? The ballast I have would not work? How pricy are ballasts and sockets? Looks like its time for me to do some searching online.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sorry....can't say for sure what ballast you actually have in your possession.....Do you have a pic or any numbers off the ballast? Depends where and what your looking for as far as ballasts.....You can find a lot of them pretty reasonable since a lot of people are swapping out to LEDs....Just have to search around a bit....Sockets aren't super expensive IMO......
Any info or pics of the ballast?
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387902/lighting-options-need-help#post_3417377
Sorry....can't say for sure what ballast you actually have in your possession.....Do you have a pic or any numbers off the ballast? Depends where and what your looking for as far as ballasts.....You can find a lot of them pretty reasonable since a lot of people are swapping out to LEDs....Just have to search around a bit....Sockets aren't super expensive IMO......
Any info or pics of the ballast?
I have a pic that I took with my phone but I don't know how to get it on here. but here is the info on the ballast.
Model DHPS430
60Hz
120V
4.05A
SV (selectable voltage). it is a Diamond brand.
I think I figured out how to get the pic to my PC so I can upload it.

Here you go!!
 
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