Lighting research

[eric b 125]

i know, i know.... this is an old topic. on top of that i posted a thread in the DIY forum regarding an odysea fixture i found. i was told to stay away from these fixtures. i've been planning to drill my tank and it's just been a matter of waiting for the weather to get nicer around pittsburgh so that i can paint the back while i have it apart. i work this weekend, so next weekend i'm going shopping. its a 125g, and i'd like to go MH so that i can keep a clam at some point. i dont have a canopy, but i may build one so retrofit isn't out of the question. what would you suggest i check out as far as lighting goes? i really appreciate your guys' help. i'll for sure do a build thread as soon as i get all the equip which shouldnt be more than a few weeks. again, thanks for your time and help!

 

[detane]

ICECAP PENDANTS with ICAE CAP ELECTRONIC BALLASTS. Whats cool about the pendants is that you can use 250 Watt HQI bulbs or 400 Watt HQI Bulbs. I would go with 250 watts and use a 15k bulb (GOOD GROWTH AND NICERS COLOR). I have what you need if your trying to do a DIY Canopy// Follow my link.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=355562

 

[culp]

for my tank i am retrofitting 7 80 watt T5 bulbs over the tank with 2 Icecap 660 ballast and one Icecap 430 ballast.

 

[salt210]

I am using 2x250w retros with 12k reeflux bulbs. Ill post some pics tomorrow

 

[culp]

i have been told that you can easily get a par reading of 350 at the sand bed of a 125 gallon tank that is 22" tall using 6 80 T5 bulbs. and I'm going with 7 bulbs.
but i guess I'm just not a metal halide guy.

 

[detane]

Im using 2 - 250 Watt IceCap Pendants with 15K HQI bulbs, 2 - 48" actinics, and Am waiting on my 48" lunar lights to arrive. I would take pictures of my tank right now but for some reason my camera doesnt like the MH lighting and takes pictures tha looked bleached..

 

[culp]

i wanted to put some lunar lights into the canopy i'm building but there is no room left after deciding to go with 7 bulbs instead of 6 bulbs.

 

[detane]

I PICKED UP SOME LED'S FROM IKEA TONIGHT FOR $50. they were easy to install and look super fresh in the tank. I have a 180 gallon tank (72x25x24) and it lights up the entire tank.
you can also change the color of the lights by pressing a button on the led ballast.

 

[detane]

This is the tank during the day. As you can see only one of my MH lights is on because My LFS ordered the wrong ballast, and Im stuck waiting for it to arrive.

But when every thing is on it looks breath taking. I just cant seem to take a good picture, the MH lights seem to bleach out the camera colors.