lighting

bolt696

bolt696

Member
Just lookig for some tips on lighting for my new reef tank. I have a 55 gal tank and I am using the standard hood and light that came in the kit. I was told by the pet store that before I really get going with the reef tank I will need to upgrade the hood and light, which could cost just as much as the tank set up.
Anything you can add to help or links you can provide to get me the least expensive set up that will provide the correct lighting for my tank. I would like to start getting more exotic things.
I tried looking on e-bay, but not sure about the watts and specs of what is needed.
Thanks
 
dmc888

dmc888

Member
Depends on what are you planning to keep.
If you want anything then you would have to go MH.
But you are limited with pc because they don't penetrate as good as mh.
If you go pc,I would go with 260 watts, i love my coralife.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
Im going to do 440 watts of pc and im going to do it for $160 bucks that isnt a retro either.
 
arkey.d

arkey.d

Member
Well, I spent $290 on my Orbit fixture for my 55gal... 4x65 watt, and I am very happy with them...
 
bolt696

bolt696

Member
is this a good set up???
Light is made by coralife and contains 4 65 watt pc bulbs, 2 are white and 2 are actinic. 4 fans in light. 2 switches, one for white and one for actinic.
 
arkey.d

arkey.d

Member

Originally posted by bolt696
is this a good set up???
Light is made by coralife and contains 4 65 watt pc bulbs, 2 are white and 2 are actinic. 4 fans in light. 2 switches, one for white and one for actinic.
I'm surprized it doesn't have Lunar lights included with that set up. With those lights you can have Soft and some LPS Corals.
 
bolt696

bolt696

Member
i found this on e-bay. right now only $115. not sure how hi to bid or if it is good?
are those additional light you are talking about an add on feature?
 
dmc888

dmc888

Member
Hey snipe are you stripping jebos . Thats what i'm guessing with the 440w figure .
I'm thinking of stripping my jebo since its sitting in my closet.
Want to add 110w to each of my tanks.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
kinda im gonna run the same ballast and lights just switch to diffrent bulbs. The 10k will probly be alright but I dont like the antinics since they arent real antinics.
 
bolt696

bolt696

Member
Hi,
I took all this advise, and went to one of my local pet stores that I trust the most. One of the employees is actually 3 classes away from graduation as a marine biologist. I wrote down all the suggestions and he said I am 100% fine with 4x65 light for my 55 gallon. He has a 75 gallon, and uses this light. Has it for 3 years and keeps all kinds of stuff in the tank.
He had the higher lights in stock and said I don't need to spend the money.
What do you think?
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
If you plan on getting hard corals or clams or anemones, get metal hallides. Everything else should do ok with what you are buying.
 
bolt696

bolt696

Member
He said for a beginer like myself, MH lights can be trouble. They raise water temp, and it is just overall a more technical light to deal with?
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member

Originally posted by bolt696
He said for a beginer like myself, MH lights can be trouble. They raise water temp, and it is just overall a more technical light to deal with?
It can definately raise the temp, but it is not an issue unless you live in a very warm climate. (I live in TN and have no prob). As far as being more technical... I'm not sure what he meant. They are just like any other reef light: the have a power cord to a ballast, a cord from the ballast to the light.
They are more expensive then the other lights but they support just about anything you can possibly put in a tank. Get other people's advice though. I am known around here for pushing metal hallide. I spent like 3/4 of my tank budget just on the lights.
ps- I think MH lights look a lot better than the others because they illuminate everything without adding a shade of color from the bulb. They also create wavy "light lines" that make the tank look like a real ocean. This last part is just my opinion :)
 
bolt696

bolt696

Member
Just wondering why he would not push me to make a bigger sale? He is not my pal?
I even went in to ask prices on MH lights. He said no need. I pointed to a 300 gallon reef tank they have had in the store for years with all kinds off reef life and asked " with the light you want to sell me, can I put anything in that tank in mine" He said yes no problem?
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
Dunno. I do know that hard corals and clams are virtually impossible to keep without MH. Anemones generally shrink and die over a period of months without MH.
As long as you are keeping just fish and soft corals, crabs.... stuff like that, you will be fine with the light setup the salesman suggested.
 
bolt696

bolt696

Member
Thanks for the advise. I did not purchase it yet. Lets see if anyone else comments. Have a good night
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top