New 120 gal tank advice?

[EB847]

I'm assuming this lighting would be appropriate for a 120 gal AGA FOWLR. What other creatures could i get away with in there? What bulb combo would you recommend? Is this a good price here?

http://www.hellolights.com./4lamvhoretki2.html

Thanks for any help!

 

[Len]

You'll do fine with FOWLR and even some soft corals and LPS corals with that light. I've always like half actinics and half "daylight" bulbs.

 

[EB847]

Would that light compare to MH minus the shimmer? Do you mean a 50/50 bulb or two actinics, two 10k's? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

It will not have the same punch as MH, but you could keep what Len said plus some of the more hardy SPS like caps if you keep them in the upper half of your tank. I liked 2 ea actinic and 2 ea 50/50 when I was running VHO only.

 

[Len]

I run mine with 2 actinics and 2 10ks. VHO will give you even distribution but it lacks the intensity of MH. Corals further down the tank will not be getting as much as light halides.

 

[EB847]

would you say vho is closer to what pc's look like or mh? I guess what I want to know, without having seen them in person is: are they just a brighter pc or do they have more of a sunlight look like mh?

 

[clydescove]

Seems to me that MH's have a crisper, brighter output..with more ripply effect and such, and look more like sunlight the vho's.

 

[Len]

PC, VHO, and T5s are all essentially the same technology and look similiar. None of these will replicate the MH look or it's ability to penetrate deep into the water column.

 

[EB847]

IN YOUR OPINION, RATE THE THREE STYLES IN ORDER, BEST TO WORST.

 

[Len]

you went into caps mode again

I like all three. I can't really rate them in a particular order. I like VHO actinics the best. I like MH for my main lights for their pentrating power and the diversity of bulb choices. PCs and T5s are good for their longer life and slightly better efficiency. T5s are very small so you can cram in a lot of light in a small space.

 

[EB847]

8O sorry about the caps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8)

thanks for all the advice. i have to be honest, i'm about to take my new tank budget and buy a lifetime pass to the steinhart aquarium in sf where someone else can set up and maintain! :evil:

very frustrating. someone should should produce a tank with all the bells and whistles in one package (sump, pumps, plumbing, skimmer, sea squirt, quality lighting, stand, hood, etc. without all the rediculous mark up you would pay buying piece by piece. it would be so much easier and less time consuming.

i could spend 6 months and 30 hours of overtime just on lighting alone!

 

[Len]

I think you're over-complicating the situation. There's a lot of avenues to success. IMO, it's the discipline of learning all these things that make you a successful hobbyist. Buying an all-in-one complete system is certainly nice, but I fear it will encourage more undisciplined, uncommitted people to start something they can't finish.

 

[EB847]

you could make a potential buyer take a test as is required to purchase a firearm here in ca. :lol: how bout i paypal you $10 and you tell me what to get and how to set it up. :wink:

 

[Len]

It's more rewarding for you to learn along the way

It really isn't that hard. The basics is: get good lights, good skimmer, good circulation, and good water (salt mix and freshwater). There are many good lights, many good skimmers, many good pumps, many successful salts, and many good RO units. As bewildering as the selection is, feel better knowing that many of today's gear will work just fine. Take lighting, for example: any of the technologies you're asking about will. Some will work better or worse for certain animals, but none of them are terrible choices.

Take it one step at a time and it'll come together 8)

 

[EB847]

oh, yeah. my budget is $300. can i borrow some money? 8)

 

[Len]

$300 for lights will work fine. You can get most 4 bulb PCs, T4s, or VHOs with $300, even MH: http://hellolights.com/arocu25re.html

 

[EB847]

ok, lets say i got two of those 250w halides in the link you provided (thanks) and installed them in a custom made hood within a aga hood... what kind of fans would you recommend? any links with instructions how to wire? (must need some kind of voltage reduction?) i would like to wire with the lighting so they come on simultaneously. further, how much better are the $100 bulbs vs the $20 ones?

 

[Len]

I personally don't use fans, but I have a chiller and a huge canopy, so heat is not as big an issue for me.

There are two criterias when I choose fans: cfm and noise. Personally, noise is more important to me. I prefer to use lower cfm fans that are quieter, but your needs may differ. I buy AC fans so I don't need stepdown transformers. These plug straight into the wall with a two prong plugs. But you can go with DC fans (which are cheaper) and get the proper power supply. These are the same things you see on a lot of electronics where there's a small "box" at the plug where it plugs into the wall receptacle; You just need the proper rated one for your particular AC fan. If you want to go the easiest route, just get one at an aquarium online vendor; they will come with everything you need. But it does usually cost more then if you DIYed.

I don't know of any good $20 bulbs. Good bulbs usually start about $50. There are many fine bulbs to pick from and there are a lot of opinions out there on each one. Check out the following link for a list of great lighting articles that Sanjay wrote for www.advancedaquarist.com . http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/articles.htm