Lighting question...

[hotjeepinmomma]

Hey i'm new at this whole thing and i don't really know what i am talking about so please bear with me! What kind of lighting to i need in a 135 gal tank? We are wanting to do reef but it might take us a while, there are two light hoods with 4 bulbs on each side and are 15 watts a piece so there is 120 watts worth of lighting is that enough for corals and anemones? Thanks please don't use big terms cause i won't understand what you are talking about!!

 

[scsinet]

Your lights are insufficient to anything but non-photosynthetic corals.
If I were you, I'd look at a T5 or metal halide lighting system. T5 is probably what you'll want to go with, so I'd research T5 fixtures that are the length of your tank and use individual reflectors. You should see individual reflectors mentioned in the product highlights or description if it has them.
Lots of people here swear by the Nova Extreme or the Tek systems.

 

[hotjeepinmomma]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2453214
Your lights are insufficient to anything but non-photosynthetic corals.
If I were you, I'd look at a T5 or metal halide lighting system. T5 is probably what you'll want to go with, so I'd research T5 fixtures that are the length of your tank and use individual reflectors. You should see individual reflectors mentioned in the product highlights or description if it has them.
Lots of people here swear by the Nova Extreme or the Tek systems.
Well how many watts are you suppose to have?

 

[wangotango]

Originally Posted by hotjeepinmomma
http:///forum/post/2453220
Well how many watts are you suppose to have?
There's no set amount persay, but it would help to know the dimensions of the tank and what you're planning on keeping.
-Justin

 

[scsinet]

Watts are largely irrelevant. With the introduction of T5 and reflectors playing such a big part, the whole game has changed with sizing lighting systems.
I usually recommend 6x (6 lamp) systems for people to keep whatever they want for an average dimensioned tank - that is, 6 lamps spanning the length of the tank. Since a 135g is likely a 6' tank, you can try to find a 6 foot fixture, but most companies make only 3 and 4 foot T5 fixtures. So in your case, the Tek 6x39W fixture would work well, but since they are only 36" wide, you'd need two. That'll set you back about $750.

 

[hotjeepinmomma]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2453231
There's no set amount persay, but it would help to know the dimensions of the tank and what you're planning on keeping.
-Justin
It is 72 inches long 18 inches wide and 25 inches tall... i haven't really figured out what i am going to keep

 

[wangotango]

The 72" Aquactinics Constellation or 72" Nova Pro would be decent choices, but I wouldn't keep anything that is high light demanding in the bottom 1/4, IMO. If you're not too concerned about cash, go ATI.
-Justin

 

[moprint]

The Nova Extreme Pro is $584, The ATI is $739 for a 6 bulb 36" fixture and you would 2 for a total of WOW $1500, the Tek 6 bulb 36" fixture is $430 and it would take 2 of these for a total of $860. There is several fixtures on

[hr]
the 2 that I would get one is listed as 72" Metal Halide VHO Aquarium Light 3X250 w/ Moon it has a buy it now of 799.99, the other is 72" 1134W Metal Halide Aquarium Reef Light w/ free ship it has a buy it now price of $589.00. With a tank that deep if you get metal halide get at least 250 watt halides. There are several other choices like my dream fixture the 72" Giesemann Moonlight Infiniti 3 X 250 Watt HQI + 4 X 80W T-5 fixture black it is only $3,650. It depends on your budget.

 

[cubsfan]

you could get 3 250watt metal halide retro fit kits for $387 plus bulbs, $60ish a piece. For a total of around $567.

 

[moprint]

cubsfan does have another option. Another decision do you want a fixture or do you wanna build a canopy? If you wanna do a canopy it can be done cheaper for the lights, but then you have to build a canopy.

 

[reefraff]

If you want to keep softies and some LPS Nova Extreme Pro
If you want to keep some SPS and Anemones Aquactinics Constellation or halides
If you want a lot of SPS either overdriven T5 retrofits, twin ATI 36x8 T5 fixtures or good 250 watt halides at a minimum.