what's is a good light for 135?
- Thread starter jdm2326
- Start date
sweatervest13
Active Member
Hi and Welcome!!
Congrats on the upgrade. In order to help you out, please give us a little more information.
What kind of tank are you going for?? FOWLR or a reef tank? If corals, what kind do you plan on keeping? Do you have a sump tank?
I have a 125g Reef ready (already drilled with an internal overflow to the sump tank) and I use a mag 18 pump and I like the results. Some say that you can get away with a mag 12 pump but I like the extra flow.
Also, I have MH (metal Halide) lights with T5 supplement. I run 1 x 250w over the center with 2 x 150w on each side. MH can be expensive to run and to replace the bulbs (each year). A lot of folks are going to LED's but there is still some issues with only havging the blue white colors. The higher end LED's are very nice but come with a large price tag. Check out the Ecotech Radions, the Aqua Illumation Vega's, or the vertex illumina fixtures... Make sure you are sitting down. You would need at least 3 of the Radions or the Vega's if you have a 6' tank.
What kind of powerheads are you planning on running in the 135g?
Again Welcome to the site!!
Congrats on the upgrade. In order to help you out, please give us a little more information.
What kind of tank are you going for?? FOWLR or a reef tank? If corals, what kind do you plan on keeping? Do you have a sump tank?
I have a 125g Reef ready (already drilled with an internal overflow to the sump tank) and I use a mag 18 pump and I like the results. Some say that you can get away with a mag 12 pump but I like the extra flow.
Also, I have MH (metal Halide) lights with T5 supplement. I run 1 x 250w over the center with 2 x 150w on each side. MH can be expensive to run and to replace the bulbs (each year). A lot of folks are going to LED's but there is still some issues with only havging the blue white colors. The higher end LED's are very nice but come with a large price tag. Check out the Ecotech Radions, the Aqua Illumation Vega's, or the vertex illumina fixtures... Make sure you are sitting down. You would need at least 3 of the Radions or the Vega's if you have a 6' tank.
What kind of powerheads are you planning on running in the 135g?
Again Welcome to the site!!
jdm2326
New Member
Thanks for the info,the tank is 60inches with a build in overflow only on 1 side, I have a sump already but don't know what kind of powerhead to use,I also need a skimmer for it all the help will be great. IM will like to do my tank a reef tank and I was thinking going with the kessil light..any comment.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdm2326 http:///t/393309/whats-is-a-good-light-for-135#post_3498066
Just got a new tank from a 55 to 135 but need help on the light and pump, what kind of light should I use and what flow for the pump can I use, any help will be good. Thanks. Also if anyone selling this item please let me know. I need to sell 2 tanks. Anybody..
A mag 12 is plenty of water going through your sump. In fact, I believe it would be just fine with a Mag9.5 as well.
Lighting depends on what you want to keep. Most people are gearing towards LEDs these days - because of the long run times and lower electric bills. If you decide to go with LEDs, look into a couple of 27" Maxspect R420Rs.... A couple of AI Vega units would also do well on a tank that size.
It's really hard to light a 5 ft tank, to be honest. You might could retrofit your canopy with some 4ft T5 bulbs... six or eight of them with some really good icecap reflectors. You could stagger the bulbs some to get an equal amount of light. Staggering six inches on either side would be quite easy to do. Personally, I like T5's over LEDs for the time being - just because I know for a fact that T5s work, and do their job well.
For internal water flow - depending on your budget, you could go cheap, moderate, or expensive... Cheap is maxijets with hydor oscillators. Moderate is koralia powerheads on a wave maker and expensive would be an MP40. In any case, consider your flow rates and flow patterns in the tank very carefully, even for a fish only aquarium.
Good luck and share some pics when you get the chance! Welcome to the forums! I hope you enjoy your stay!
Originally Posted by jdm2326 http:///t/393309/whats-is-a-good-light-for-135#post_3498066
Just got a new tank from a 55 to 135 but need help on the light and pump, what kind of light should I use and what flow for the pump can I use, any help will be good. Thanks. Also if anyone selling this item please let me know. I need to sell 2 tanks. Anybody..
A mag 12 is plenty of water going through your sump. In fact, I believe it would be just fine with a Mag9.5 as well.
Lighting depends on what you want to keep. Most people are gearing towards LEDs these days - because of the long run times and lower electric bills. If you decide to go with LEDs, look into a couple of 27" Maxspect R420Rs.... A couple of AI Vega units would also do well on a tank that size.
It's really hard to light a 5 ft tank, to be honest. You might could retrofit your canopy with some 4ft T5 bulbs... six or eight of them with some really good icecap reflectors. You could stagger the bulbs some to get an equal amount of light. Staggering six inches on either side would be quite easy to do. Personally, I like T5's over LEDs for the time being - just because I know for a fact that T5s work, and do their job well.
For internal water flow - depending on your budget, you could go cheap, moderate, or expensive... Cheap is maxijets with hydor oscillators. Moderate is koralia powerheads on a wave maker and expensive would be an MP40. In any case, consider your flow rates and flow patterns in the tank very carefully, even for a fish only aquarium.
Good luck and share some pics when you get the chance! Welcome to the forums! I hope you enjoy your stay!