pc from a LFS

califishdude

califishdude

Member
the LFS has a pc with (2) 55watts for sale for 129 with the bulbs, i have a 55 tal that is 3ft long, 18 wide and 24 high, he said this would be plenty for anything in my tank, i was also going to add the 30 watt that is on there now, is that enough then or is he FOS.
 
hairtrigger

hairtrigger

Active Member
Good price. I paid just slightly more for the same lights I believe. GE or All glass I think. But, if possible, on your tank two of those setups would rock. I am pretty sure you can fit two, that way you have 220 watts. But, the one combined with your 30 watt may enough to keep some lower light things. I believe the LFS guy is FOS though by telling you that anything is ok under that lighting. Maybe short-term, but not for thriving for permanancy. . :cool:
 
hairtrigger

hairtrigger

Active Member
Well, either one is a good way to go I believe. Youre just talking dollars and cents now. I am pretty sure JBJ and some other companies make setups with 4 65 watt bulbs, fans included. But, I don't even use fans with my PC's. And I have varying ones on my tank. Each of them are all glass. But, some are 4 foot, some are 2 foot overlapping. The all glass ones are by far the least expensive. But, if you have to keep replacing too many PC bulbs each year... after some time and correlation of prices.... halides will be cheaper and more beneficial. I am about to switch back over. I had done halides a couple of years ago then sold em off when I did aggressives. Needed the challenge again so I turned back to reef with PCs. Now I want my halides back. :cool:
 
attml

attml

Active Member
Califishdude,
Do yourself a favor! Don't listen to the guy at the LFS! 1 of those lights is barely enough to keep anything in a 55!!!! LFS's are notorious for giving bad information! I went to one of my LFS's the other day and asked for some base rock. I had 2 "experts" swear to me that there was no such thing and that I meant lace rock! IMO 110watts over a 55 gallon would allow you to keep mushrooms and very few other corals! Like I said in my e-mail to you earlier I have tired various corals in my 55 with my 265w and several species just didn't make it due to lack of light! If it will put your mind at ease you may want to start another thread with a poll and ask people with 55 gallon tanks how much lighting they have.
 
hairtrigger

hairtrigger

Active Member
PS... I believe JBJ also makes a setup with 2 65 watt bulbs as well. Just thinking you may even be able to fit the four setup on no problem. Then you will have 260 watts. Thats over 4 watts per gallon which would really be a lot better. But then you get into the bulb cost each year. :cool:
 
attml

attml

Active Member
I have the JBJ 4 x 65w now. Look at the thread called "lighting upgrade" today on this board. there are others telling the girl that posted that it was a shame she wasted her $ on PC only to realize that to keep the corals that she wants she is really going to need metal halides!
 
hairtrigger

hairtrigger

Active Member
ATTML is sooo right about the LFS info. While some places are straight with you because they are in it for the hobbyists, that is rare. I went to an LFS the other day... and just to give you an example of how some workers can be nunces:
He took my new green finger leather and put it in a dry bag and let it sit on the counter. Then I told him it needs water and thgat I used to work in an LFS. This was while he was doing the same thing with a green star polyp rock. :eek:
I $hi* you not. :cool:
 
attml

attml

Active Member
You can definitely keep some corals with the lighting that you have indicated. I am not trying to seem harsh or judgemental with my advice so please don't take offense (to HairTrigger either). Don't get me wrong, I keep many types of coral just fine with 260 watts of PC on my 55. But if you want to be able to keep sps corals, clams, anenomes etc.. you will need a lot more lighting than 110w. I am not trying to discourage you I am just trying to give you all of the facts before you buy! Even the cheap lighting in this hobby is expensive so it is much better to save for what you really want rather than having to buy twice! Good luck!
 
fishkiller

fishkiller

Active Member
I was with hairtrigger when this dumba$$ was taking $100 worth of corals and was letting them sit there on the counter with no water, he hardly even new the name of the corals.:eek: We could have used that to our advantage seeing that the green leather was sitting next to a trumpet that was half the price, but we are better people than that, AREN'T we hairtrigger. ;) But seriously, this guy was just D U M B!! He is just some dude they hired to be there in the PATHETIC fish section when the other fish guys are busy out back firing it up.:eek: This is Athens Geoergia, the LFS here SUCKS...Obviously.:( I don't think anyone should listen to anything the LFS guys say. Especially when it is a FISH SECTION in a regular pet store. THEY WANT TO SELL YOU AS MUCH CRAP AS THEY CAN.. That is their main drive. The only people you should listen to, and I know this sounds stupid, but, are the older people in the EXPENSIVE nice fish stores. That is where I got all my best info. And hairtrigger can tell you who to listen to, and WHO NOT to listen to on this board. There has been one or two guys on here giving BAD info. Like there was this one dude who was telling newbies to use house light bulbs for their tank to save money......I mean COME ON!!! THAT is lame, ya know?:mad: Anywayz, don't listen to the fish guy unless he is working at the nicest fish store in your state. Even then, be cautious. Good luck!:D
 
hairtrigger

hairtrigger

Active Member
Yeah I guess we are better people. Cause I dang sure thought about using an LFS' lack of knowledge to ny ADVANTAGE for once. :cool:
 
rover3190

rover3190

Member
Good. I own the other one and wanted to make sure my guys were doing a good job. Most of my guys know their corals and fish. But if you have any problems let me know.
 
jmesmcm

jmesmcm

Member
I currently run the custom sealife 4*96 watt fixture on my 58 gallon oceanic tank and find that I can keep most corals as long as they are high enough in the tank.
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
Jmes how long have you had those acros under pc's????
cali....you need to sit down and figure out what types of corals you want to keep! if its the comon sofites, shrooms, polyps, lps stuff, a 4*96 wat fixture would be IDEAL...however if you wnat to keep clams and SPS stuff then you really need to look at halides!
good luck
jon
 
jmesmcm

jmesmcm

Member
I have had these acrose for between 10 months and 3 months. There was only one acro that did not seem to be getting enough light and ultimately bleached out and died but the rest of them all have good polyp extension and growth under the 96w. Shortly these will be under halides as I am getting a 120 very soon and am waiting for my retrofit kit to arrive and then they will be under dual 400W halides with 2*96 watt PC actinics.
 
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