Whats the cheapest lighting i can get away with

katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
I'd like to start a 10g nano reef, but the most expensive thing is the lighting. I was wondering what the cheapest and best light I can get away with for my 10g tank. I want to have corals in the tank also but theres so many restrictions due to lighting. The tanks not a nano cub or ne thing like thatr just a regular 10g glass tank. The light has to be around 20.5" long.
Thanks!
 
tatoush

tatoush

Member
I think you should specify what kind of corals you plan on keeping, since different types of coral require different types of lighting.
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
Originally Posted by tatoush
http:///forum/post/3024098
I think you should specify what kind of corals you plan on keeping, since different types of coral require different types of lighting.


Sorry new to this.. first set up, and i have no idea what corals i want yet. Probably polyp's, zoo's, Ive also seen a type of coral that had tenticle like arms with green bubble looking things attached to the tips (not sure what those are called) i was looking at pc lights. what would i be able to accomodate with that?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Might as well just buy the best light now...If you get one that has restrictions on what you can keep...you'll be unhappy and end up upgrading...which in the long run will cost more.....
I know this from experience
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3024125
Might as well just buy the best light now...If you get one that has restrictions on what you can keep...you'll be unhappy and end up upgrading...which in the long run will cost more.....
I know this from experience

And that would be a 500 - 600$ HQI??
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Katsafados
http:///forum/post/3024127
And that would be a 500 - 600$ HQI??
FOR A 20" light, you should be able to find something cheaper than that?
Metal halide are the highest, but I think you can get a good T5 light that could handle ALMOST anything...
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3024131
FOR A 20" light, you should be able to find something cheaper than that?
Metal halide are the highest, but I think you can get a good T5 light that could handle ALMOST anything...
I was looking at the : Current-USA:
20" Orbit 2*40W SunPaq PC Fixture w/Lunar Light and Fan
on this website:
http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart....89b+1240342352
would this light be okay? because this is the cheapest thing ive seen ov er the span of like 100 websites.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Look these up:
Current USA 20" Nova Extreme Pro T5-6x18 Watt
Current USA 24"Sundial T5 High Output Lighting 4X24 WATT
20" 150w Sunpod HQI 1060 by Current USA
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
or this:
http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart....89b+1240343817
24" T5 Saltwater Aqualight [1-14W 10K, 1-14W Actinic]
Aqualight T-5 Series - Double Linear Strip
Includes 14 watt 10,000K daylight and
14 watt true actinic 03 blue T-5 fluorescent lamps
On/off switch and built-in ballasts
Sleek, designer-black aluminum housing
Highly-polished reflector
Acrylic lens cover
Adjustable width tank mounts
Ideal for Saltwater and Reef Aquariums
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
Bah, im a student and i cant be dropping 300$ for a light alone! The ones you posted are all around that price range again. So out of the two lights i posted what would be the better one and what types of corals can i keep in that light?
Thanks for being patient with me this is all so new to me
i have only kept freshwater fish like cichlids.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
The first one you posted is $185....This on that I posted (Current USA 24"Sundial T5 High Output Lighting 4X24 WATT ) is $198
The 2nd one you posted is $54.......???? how much CAN you spend
with compact fluorescents you can keep some mushrooms...and I really don't know what else...I am sure there are a few things...but not much...
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
my prices would be in canadian dollers, yours is in american pretty sure. plus the light you showed me i cant find anywhere that will ship to canada! I was looking to spend 200CAD at the most.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Katsafados
http:///forum/post/3024184
my prices would be in canadian dollers, yours is in american pretty sure. plus the light you showed me i cant find anywhere that will ship to canada! I was looking to spend 200CAD at the most.
So what is that in U.S. money
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
since this is your first tank, and its only a 10 gal, I think pcs will do. You can keep zoos, leathers, mushrooms, xenia, star polyps, clove polyps, Ect.
You may even be able to keep some sps, but this is a small tank and wont have room to fit much.
Take a look at the 96 watt quad tube aqualight. it runs about 122.00
its a 20 inch light
or
80 watt dual satellite compact fixture. its a 20 inch fixture and runs about 132.00
or even look for the Viper Clamp on fixture. its a MH and comes in a 70 watt and 150 watt It runs about 160.00 to 200.00
TeresaQ
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
haha no idea? whats the current exchange rate lol

now do you see why this is so hard for me!
I dont think there is much of a market for fish stuff in canada. Big Als only has the 48" one
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by TeresaQ
http:///forum/post/3024193
since this is your first tank, and its only a 10 gal, I think pcs will do. You can keep zoos, leathers, mushrooms, xenia, star polyps, clove polyps, Ect.
You may even be able to keep some sps, but this is a small tank and wont have room to fit much.
Take a look at the 96 watt quad tube aqualight. it runs about 122.00
its a 20 inch light
or
80 watt dual satellite compact fixture. its a 20 inch fixture and runs about 132.00
or even look for the Viper Clamp on fixture. its a MH and comes in a 70 watt and 150 watt It runs about 160.00 to 200.00
TeresaQ

LOL....But he wants one of these
a type of coral that had tenticle like arms with green bubble looking things attached to the tips
Sounds to me like something that needed more than pc lighting
 
katsafados

katsafados

Active Member
Originally Posted by TeresaQ
http:///forum/post/3024193
since this is your first tank, and its only a 10 gal, I think pcs will do. You can keep zoos, leathers, mushrooms, xenia, star polyps, clove polyps, Ect.
You may even be able to keep some sps, but this is a small tank and wont have room to fit much.
Take a look at the 96 watt quad tube aqualight. it runs about 122.00
its a 20 inch light
or
80 watt dual satellite compact fixture. its a 20 inch fixture and runs about 132.00
or even look for the Viper Clamp on fixture. its a MH and comes in a 70 watt and 150 watt It runs about 160.00 to 200.00
TeresaQ

The aqualight I found on big als for 189
The dual satellite i could only find a 40watt one and it was 109
and the viper no one sells it in canada
which would be the better choice? im guessing the aqualight?
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
if thats an anemone, it wont go into a 10 gallon tank anyway
Tank too small
if its a duncan, I think pcs are enough for it


Just trying to help.
I would go for the viper 70 watt clip on anyway.
T
 
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