Which lights for 55 gal?

fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Ive been in a prediciment for the past few days choosing lights for my 55 Long gallon. I have narrowed it down to two light fixtures and want to know which one will be best. I dont have a very tight budget so money isnt a big problem. I want to keep a simple anemone such as a long tentacle or a rose bubble tip and as far as corals goes I was planning on getting a few SPS and LPS, and mostly softies. The two fixtures are the 4ft Hamilton Technology Retro Metal Halide with 110W VHO and 2x MH 175w and a Aquatinics TX5. If I do the retrofit then I will make my own canopy for it and if I go with the Aquatinics then I will just hang it from the ceiling or something. Any advice would be very helpful. Thanks.
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
If i get the tx5 what kind of bulbs should I get?
C'mon! Theres like over 1,000,000 people on these message boards and not one person has posted a reply.
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2570196
I want to keep a simple anemone such as a long tentacle or a rose bubble tip and ........
I was planning on getting a few SPS and LPS, and mostly softies.
I will make my own canopy for it .
Go MH......... or go T5 and play the "keep it near the top" or "will this be ok?" game
Just me of course.
RFB
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
http:///forum/post/2571692
Go MH......... or go T5 and play the "keep it near the top" or "will this be ok?" game
Just me of course.
RFB
I dont really want to skimp on lights. Which fixture would be best and somewhat too much lighting (if that makes any sense at all)?
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
I like to poke the T5 guys with a pointy stick every once in a while but the lighting debate is long and detailed.
I wont try sum everything up in a single post about lighting differences.
lumens, kelvins, shapes, brands, reflectors, ALL play huge roles in making up a good lighting system. This might sound curt, but poke around and try to best educate yourself on what fits your NEEDS.
Some people NEED a cost effective solution
Some NEED extreme output
The list goes on till dawn with the WHY to have a good lighting set up for your tank but how to get there is almost pure oppinion and experience. Scientific facts and preadsheet data for some reason almost contridicts itself when viewing experienced reefkeepers tanks.
No one I know that runs a serious reef has hack set ups. It goes with the territory of pride in your tank and truley wanting to give your livestock the best you can. BUT just spending more on a given fixture of bulb combination doesnt guarantee ANYTHING
I personally will always stick with MH. They are getting more efficient nowdays so the energy hog argument doesnt hold as much weight as why to pick an alternative. It is the end all/be all for unlimited housing in the photo requiring livestock arena.
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Thanks for all the help ReefForBrains. I think that i'm going to get the hamilton retrofit fixture instead of the T-5.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
I've got acros growing at the bottom of my 55 under the TX5.
I don't want to get into the debate either RFB (really I don't think there is anything to debate). As long as your T5 setup isn't a complete piece of crap there should be no problem keeping whatever you want.
I'm running:
UVL 75/25
ATI blue plus
UVL aquasun
ATI actinic 03
ATI aquablue special
-Justin
 
ci11337

ci11337

Active Member
i would go with a good T5 fixture. Make sure it has individual reflectors. I have PC's on my 55 and regret it. I hope to upgrade to a T5 fixture soon.
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Man, this is one hard dicision. Does anyone kno if they make Aquatinics retrofit fixtures? I really want to make my own canopy and if they make retrofit aquatinics then that would really help my decision out a lot.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2572340
Man, this is one hard dicision. Does anyone kno if they make Aquatinics retrofit fixtures? I really want to make my own canopy and if they make retrofit aquatinics then that would really help my decision out a lot.
They make reflectors but not a whole ballast, endcap, reflector kit.
-Justin
 
ci11337

ci11337

Active Member
Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2572340
Man, this is one hard dicision. Does anyone kno if they make Aquatinics retrofit fixtures? I really want to make my own canopy and if they make retrofit aquatinics then that would really help my decision out a lot.
I think Tek-light makes a retro kit
 
fats71

fats71

Active Member
Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2572342
They make reflectors but not a whole ballast, endcap, reflector kit.
-Justin
You can simply make your own with their refls etc. they use icecap ballast fans etc on some of their lights such as the solar flare (Which most people have stated are better than MH and also would be my Noob Opinion)
They are overdriven etc but aqua makes nice lights read reviews I have not found any negative about them anywhere where as you find tons of people bashing every kind of MH atleast all the sties I have seen but at the same time their are plenty of uses for MH. Think of cost for replacement and time of replacement for bulbs and the life of the fixture as well. I am spending 1k on a 48 inch light because I have researched the solar flare and many other lights ( I think the tek is great as well but I would ADD fans to it ) Anyway it is all in what you like and want honestly goto some lfs and check them out touch it see it feel it and it will help you make a decision.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2572353
What about an Icecap 4x54W SLR T-5 Very High Output Retrofit?
IMO I don't think you would need to overdrive the bulbs on a 55gal. Normally driven on say a Sylvania ballast would probably be fine.
-Justin
 
fats71

fats71

Active Member
Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2572369
IMO I don't think you would need to overdrive the bulbs on a 55gal. Normally driven on say a Sylvania ballast would probably be fine.
-Justin
Your right he does not need to overdrive them was just stating like the solar flares they are Overdriven and smoke MH.
And like Justin says the Sylvania ballast would be fine it is all going to come down to personal preference.
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
Its coming.....we all know it......THE debate.....yeah you know which one........
But I am not starting it! I will hopefully sidestep the argument with focus on reflectors.

[hr]
You can only polish a turd SO much. Bulb choice and delivery method is high on the list for features to compare when shopping for a new lighting system. Thats a given.
Reflectors on ANY source is often overlooked because no one is happy to pay extra for something they are not even positive of in the first place. This is more heavily present on newbies to lighting. No offence to those newbies, just reflectors are not exciting. No one ever shows off thier reflectors as the true key element of thier great system to help dispell the myth that a cut/inside out soda works just as good as the high dollar ones. soda cans WILL NOT WORK.
Little shiny unsung heroes.
 
fishfreak1242

fishfreak1242

Active Member
Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
http:///forum/post/2572997
Its coming.....we all know it......THE debate.....yeah you know which one........
But I am not starting it! I will hopefully sidestep the argument with focus on reflectors.

[hr]
You can only polish a turd SO much. Bulb choice and delivery method is high on the list for features to compare when shopping for a new lighting system. Thats a given.
Reflectors on ANY source is often overlooked because no one is happy to pay extra for something they are not even positive of in the first place. This is more heavily present on newbies to lighting. No offence to those newbies, just reflectors are not exciting. No one ever shows off thier reflectors as the true key element of thier great system to help dispell the myth that a cut/inside out soda works just as good as the high dollar ones. soda cans WILL NOT WORK.
Little shiny unsung heroes.
What would be a good 175W metal halide relflector then? What about a T-5?
 
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