lighting

[gen]

I need to purchase lighting for my newly started reef tank. I have been online in different sites looking at lighting, the more I look the more confused I am. I have an 85 gal with 80 lbs of lr, the tank is acrylic (sp) My LFS told me 36 inches with MH and a fan will run 599.00. There has to be a place online to purchase the lighting cheaper. I need something already done, just plug in. any suggestions. my LR is already turning funky colors and I don't want any problems with it. I read about a Coralife energy savers unlimited 50/50 MH - atonic combo.
Thanks Gen

 

[jonthefb]

what types of things are you wantign to keep in there? i would get two 250 watt mh's with 2 100 watt vho's and this would give you about enough light to keep anythign that you wanted.
p.s. what are your tank dimensions?
good luck
jon

 

[gen]

I would like to be able to keep anything, inverts and corals. My tank is a flat back hex 85 gallons. The lighting that you mentioned , where can I purchase it, I just went onto google and found a dawn to dusk with cooling fan with 2 96 watts 6700k ultra daylight and 2 96 watt ultra actinic blue for 499.00. is 4 96 watt bulbs enough. I would hate to buy something and it not be enough light.!!!!!
Thanks

 

[jonthefb]

that would work if you wanted to keep softies, and shrooms, and some LPS corals, such as brain, moon, etc, however if you ever wanted to keep liek SPS, such as acroporas, or montiporas, or clams, you would need something much stronger.
any ideas on the dimesnions of your tank?
good luck
jon

 

[gen]

my dem. are 19" front to back, 28" height, 50" wide in the back then 32" in the front, it is a flat back hex. 85 gallons. does 599.00 seem like a lot of money for the lighting. the fixture is 36" with 4 bulbs 2 mh and i'm not sure what the other two watts are with a cooling fan. I'm getting fustrated about the lighting, from what I read mh is the way to go, but can anyone give me any suggestions on what mfg. carries one like I described, my tank is acrylic.
thanks gen

 

[gen]

Does anyone know of any sites that I can purchase the lighting for my tank, I really don't want to go to my LFS because I know he is overcharging me, but I am getting desperate. I'm not sure what to get, and where to get it. Please help.
Thanks Gen

 

[gen]

Thank you, I found some great lighting, but nothing that will work with my tank. from the top of my tank to the top of the lid is only 4". I found one that was 13" and another that was 6". I might have to go to the LFS and have him order me something, thank you for your input. They were sites I have not been on. Newfishliny where do you shop. I am also from LI , suffolk county. I go to a place in West Islip. The owner is very helpful, I just thought I could save some money by ordering the lighting online. I guess paying the extra money, I get advice and one on one service.
Thanks Gen

 

[coral boy]

www.hellolights.com

 

[gen]

Thank you coral boy, after checking out that site there is no compact hood only 4" high. This is getting depressing. I wonder if I can even have a reef tank at this point. I spent 500.00 on LR and I'm not sure what to do. Don't I need better lighting to keep my LR growing, even if I don't put inverts and corals into it?
Thanks

 

[u235a4]

Gen do you have some sort of canopy that is limiting you
and if so what for make and what make of tank i did a DIY with VHO's on my 125 tank which is a 72"x18x22 allgass tank with dual overflows built in and the oak top and stand and made my own setup for the bulbs which was easy.
just a FYI oh and the 125 is running 12 36" 95w vho's
2 36" 20k
2 36" 10k
8 36" actinics

 

[gen]

The dem. of my tank are 19" front to back, 28" height, 50" back to 32" front it is a flat back hex. do I need to use metal halide? I think I am stuck on that, I thought it was the mercedes of lighting. Maybe there is another lighting that is not so tall in the canopy. my tank sits on a cabinet with the lid on top of the tank, it only allows me 4" of room from the top of the tank to the lid. The pictures of the corals and inverts are beautiful.. That takes a dedicated person. This tank is my project, my husband works crazy hours and can not offer me any help with it, except to tell me "it needs to be cleaned". So I am on my own, that is why I need to purchase something that is already setup and ready to be plugged in. I am not handy ,especially in the electrical field. Thank you again for everyones advice.