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[mess7777]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 4366232851

I found these lights on ebay and the price looks to be very good. Does this look like it would be adequate lighting, is it a good price truly, and has anyone dealt with this company before?

I hope I am not bombarding the forum with my questions, but I don't want to be one of those people who has to learn from costly mistakes.

Thanks

 

[ricky1414]

Depends on the depth if the tank. Compact florescent bulbs are not able to penetrate water as well as VHO, t5's or metal halides. It all depends on the type of livestock you want to keep. Whst are the dimensions of your tank?

 

[mess7777]

i don't have a tank as of yet. as i have found the lights are a very expensive part and i want to make sure i get a good lighting system for a good price. We are planning on getting a tank around 70g.

The same company has a T5 lighting ensemble listed:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 4334600596

maybe it is a better choice. I just am trying to get the best lighting I can for the lowest possible price. I would also like to know if the prices are in fact in line with what i can expect or could I find similar items less expensive elsewhere. Thanks!

 

[Jolieve]

Well messer, the first step to deciding on what sort of lighting you need, is figuring out what sort of critters you want to keep. If you want clams and small polyped stony corals, neither of these lights will be what you're looking for. If you want soft corals and lps, these lights should work just fine.

So.. which is it? Once you make that choice, we should be able to help you get the best deal on the best lights you can get for your animals.

Good luck!
J.

 

[SnowManSnow]

2 things when getting started you MUST remember.

#1 Don't skimp on your lighting or skimmer

#2 Buy the good stuff the first time, or you'll just end up frustrated and find yourself upgrading.

As far as lighting goes, I would recommend MH if AT ALL POSSIBLE. It isn't that much more expensive than other kinds when you consider replacing bulbs ...and that sort of thing. I know it stinks when ppl recommend somthing that is expensive... but it's worth it IMHO.

B.

 

[mess7777]

I can't say I have plans to keep any SPS corals or clams. In everything I have looked at and read the LPS and Soft corals are more appealing to me as a beginner. During my "learning" phase I don't plan on having much more than fish, live rock and sand. Maybe once that is established I would think about adding some corals and then if that is going real well a long time down the road it might be time to look at SPS.

By the time i get to that point it could be possible that a 50-70g tank isn't cutting it anymore either. I don't know for sure. From everything I have seen MH lighting is quite a bit more expensive but hey, I have only been sifting around for a few weeks.

I am absorbing all your information and opinions here for sure. The big aspect for me is the funds. I want to get the most I can and keep it near the $200 range US$. I am Canadian so I also have to account for exchange rate and big shipping charges, as any pricing i have found thus far in Canada is big time expensive(ie: $459.99 for a 4ballast VHO w/o bulbs). If it turns out that I have to spend that much, I will have to abandon my hopes of starting a salt water aquarium until a time when I have more disposable income.

I don't want to have to do that though!

Thanks for the input!

 

[Anonymous]

and also dont skimp on water quality ie a RO or RO/DI unit...

these three things are very important
Water quality
Lighting
skimming (which is similar to water quality)

and not in any particular order...
If you are going softies T5 or VHO...PC are good for smaller tanks IMO..a 70gal tank is a medium size tank and should at the bare minimum have T5 lighting when keeping soft corals..The more lighting the better IMO for corals..

but you may not have to abandon you hopes on reef keeping perhaps a smaller tank such as a 29-40gal range...

 

[Jolieve]

I think if funds is the issue, then a smaller tank might be more appropriate, and then equipment for it will be a little less expensive.

I think that you can do softies and low light LPS with pc's on a tank that size. One thing I can say is don't get the coralife aqualight if you're looking at pc's. The thing runs so hot that the hood actually gets too hot to touch toward the end of the light cycle.

J.

 

[elreydelospesces]

I'd stay away from those lights just because it's hard to trust an EBay seller with that much negative feedback. Plus he keeps his feedback private-a very suspect practice on ebay.

Buyer beware

 

[Jolieve]

Oh yeah.. when buying on ebay.. 98% positive feedback or better with PUBLIC comments from past customers! Otherwise, don't buy from that seller!

J.

 

[RobertoVespucci]

How long does your fixture need to be? I have slightly used Jalli 2x96w 36" I am selling. I got it for cheap, you get it for cheap.

 

[mess7777]

honestly, i haven't even bought the tank yet, so i don't know what i need. I am researching my options, used is certainly a market I am very open to, lol. I am supposed to be getting some info on a 90g used aquarium from a dealer here. I guess I will find out the demensions and start from there.

Thanks everyone for the info!

 

[Anonymous]

A lot of people I know, who have limited funds at the time, opt for a 40 or 55 gal. to start or smaller. You can always (if you have the room anyway) turn your smaller tank into a fuge when you can afford larger tanks.
This way, you already have established LR, good lighting for a fuge especially if you are getting just pc's, established sand or cc, some good softies and critters etc...
Then one day you can get a larger tank, and already have a good starting point.

 

[dodo99]

Messer: Have you tried www.jlaquatics.com & www.aquaria.ca , both good canadian companies I've ordered from w/o any problems. JL is in BC, Aquaria is in the Ottawa area.

DoDo