Lighting
- Thread starter mike22cha
- Start date
lion_crazz
Active Member
Telling us the tank size, more importantly, the depth, would matter much more than the watts. Intensity of light is much more important than how many watts you have as well.
jfingers088
Member
I have a 90 gallon that is 48" and i have the TEK fixture that is 8x54w with individual reflectors and i love it.
mike22cha
Active Member
"48" Aquarium Metal Halide Light 760 watts
Approx Fixture Size: 48"L x 15 1/4"W x 2 3/4"H
Output:
MH 250W x2.
65W straight pins (....) power compact x4.
Lunar LED x6.
Feature:
non-corrosive coated housing
German made HQ light reflector
built-in heavy duty cooling fan
external ballast modules
tempered glass splash guard
4 Individual power cords and 4 power switches for timer setup.
Mounting legs
Free Bulbs:
2x 250W 15000K double ended MH bulbs
4x 65W straight pins Actinic 460nm bulbs
6x Lunar LED bulbs."
IDK I think I'd rather play it cheap than play it safe when we're talking about a 1000$ difference.
Approx Fixture Size: 48"L x 15 1/4"W x 2 3/4"H
Output:
MH 250W x2.
65W straight pins (....) power compact x4.
Lunar LED x6.
Feature:
non-corrosive coated housing
German made HQ light reflector
built-in heavy duty cooling fan
external ballast modules
tempered glass splash guard
4 Individual power cords and 4 power switches for timer setup.
Mounting legs
Free Bulbs:
2x 250W 15000K double ended MH bulbs
4x 65W straight pins Actinic 460nm bulbs
6x Lunar LED bulbs."
IDK I think I'd rather play it cheap than play it safe when we're talking about a 1000$ difference.
wangotango
Active Member
For reference; the 48" Tek T5 fixture with 6 bulbs runs about $430, and the 8 bulb runs about $470. If you go T5 you'll have more flexibility with bulb combinations, and it'll cost less to run.
You didn't post the brand of that MH fixture you were looking at. There are good brands and there are ones to avoid. Lighting is not something you want to go cheap on, especially on a reef. A quality fully assembled MH fixture is going to cost at least $600-800. Retrofits are a cheaper alternative if you have a canopy.
-Justin
You didn't post the brand of that MH fixture you were looking at. There are good brands and there are ones to avoid. Lighting is not something you want to go cheap on, especially on a reef. A quality fully assembled MH fixture is going to cost at least $600-800. Retrofits are a cheaper alternative if you have a canopy.
-Justin
zeroc
Member
yeah, playing it cheap is usually not a good thing because you're just going to be paying more down the road because it'll crap out on your and you'll just have to buy a good one anyways. Might as well get something good to begin with, and with good name brand fixtures you'll have a warranty.
mike22cha
Active Member
I don't think my dad planed on helping me pay for such a bill. I don't know what we're doing now. I think we're more focused on setting me up another tank, at least planning on one. He was more into a reef, but he realized my lack of interest and cost of one, so he decided it'd be ok to get me a small dream tank of mine. I'm going to be paying for it and it won't be up for a while though.
I don't know if we're going to upgrade lighting on my 125g and get some corals in there or what. I'll keep everyone posted as soon as I know what we're going to be doing.
I don't know if we're going to upgrade lighting on my 125g and get some corals in there or what. I'll keep everyone posted as soon as I know what we're going to be doing.
nycbob
Active Member
there is nothing wrong w t5 w individual reflectors. they gv off the same if not better par than mh fixture. i have kept everything under t5 for a long time. mh, u will hv to replace the bulbs every 6-8 months costing $60-80 per bulb. t5 on the other hand, bulbs last for 12-16 months.