what kind of lighting?

[gpkozmp]

I am going to be getting a 100 gallon tank here in a few weeks I am buying from a guy off of craigslist and well he had 50/50 lighting on there but I am wanting to have a tank with fish, anenomes, coral and just about a little of everything as far as that goes. Is the 50/50 lighting a good way to go or would I want to spruce things up and get some better lighting? The store I purchase my fish from said something about the T5's but I am not sure. I know they are expensive to start up but would that work better for that tank?

 

[todj2002]

im guessing that when u say 50/50 lighting, u r refering to power compact lights. imo they r no good. they def. wont be enough light for a 100 gallon if u want to keep corals and anemone's. trust me, that is what i started out with. what a waste of money. i have not used the t5 lights myself but i know they r better than the pc's and use alot less power than metal halide. i myself prefer the mh and that is what i use.

 

[dragonzim]

What are the dimensions of the tank? You can definitely use T5 lighting. Just make sure you get ones that have individual reflectors for each bulb like a TEK or Nova Extreme fixture.

 

[gpkozmp]

Originally Posted by TODJ2002
http:///forum/post/3159457
im guessing that when u say 50/50 lighting, u r refering to power compact lights. imo they r no good. they def. wont be enough light for a 100 gallon if u want to keep corals and anemone's. trust me, that is what i started out with. what a waste of money. i have not used the t5 lights myself but i know they r better than the pc's and use alot less power than metal halide. i myself prefer the mh and that is what i use.
I am not sure what kind of 50/50 lighting in on there that is all that was on the ad for the tank I did get picture of the tank but that doesn't really help me at all. I want to say florescent but not 100% sure.

 

[gpkozmp]

Originally Posted by DragonZim
http:///forum/post/3159474
What are the dimensions of the tank? You can definitely use T5 lighting. Just make sure you get ones that have individual reflectors for each bulb like a TEK or Nova Extreme fixture.
I want to say the dimensions of the tank are 5'L x 18"D x 24"H. Yeah the store that I buy from would definately help me to get the correct lighting for the tank. I mean I have been wanting something this large for a while and I want it to look like it is in a millionaire's home, just really nice and puts off beautiful light and a nice tank to look at as well.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by gpkozmp
http:///forum/post/3159528
I want to say the dimensions of the tank are 5'L x 18"D x 24"H. Yeah the store that I buy from would definately help me to get the correct lighting for the tank. I mean I have been wanting something this large for a while and I want it to look like it is in a millionaire's home, just really nice and puts off beautiful light and a nice tank to look at as well.
Are you getting a canopy so you can use a retrofit or do you need a fixture?
Aquactinics makes a 60" 250 watt halide/T5 fixture that would be nice. ATI makes a 60" T5 fixture, the Sunpower, with 6 lamps that would also work as would their Sunpower fixture which is a lot nicer built and look more "stylish".
If you can hang the fixture over the tank I would get a 48" unit, better lamp selection and lower cost and the only trade off is you can't put high light critters in the last 6" or so at each end of the tank.