Lighting Suggestions

[jcolon2]

Hello. Thanks for the help thus far everyone. This site has proved a tremendous help.

I have a question regarding lighting. I'm looking to upgrade to a 50 or 55 gallon tank. I'd like a lighting system that gives the most bang for the buck. I also want something that really captures the intensity of colors in the tank. What are some suggestions for lighting?

I intend to host crocea clams in my tank.

As far as corals I already have a tyree full spectrum chalice, agent orange acan, ORA green birdsnest, red acans, 2 frags of xenia, spider vein palthoa, lunar eclipse zoos, pink cap, and green polyp toadstool.

I was thinking power compacts because metal halide seems quite expensive and poses numerous obstacles such as overheating and evaporation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Justin

 

[DCG1286]

Hello. Thanks for the help thus far everyone. This site has proved a tremendous help.

I have a question regarding lighting. I'm looking to upgrade to a 50 or 55 gallon tank. What lighting does everyone suggest. I am looking for the most cost effective system, one that gives the most bang for the buck.

I would like to host crocea clams in my tank.

As far as corals I already have a tyree full spectrum chalice, agent orange acan, ORA green birdsnest, red acans, 2 frags of xenia, spider vein palthoa, lunar eclipse zoos, pink cap, and green polyp toadstool.

I was thinking power compacts because metal halide seems quite expensive and poses numerous obstacles such as overheating and evaporation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Justin

With all those corals you have ... what lighting are you using now?

I recommend a nice T-5 fixture ... if you don't want to do halides ...

 

[jcolon2]

Thanks for the suggestion. Right now I am using actinic lighting which, if I am correct is T-5 lighting?

 

[KathyC]

That is true.
Do you have a fixture or light strips?
The animals you want to keep (and many you currently have) will thrive under either MH's or T5's. PC's won't give you good color or necessarily provide the best environment for those corals.

It is a good ides to watch our 'For Sale Forum; as it is an excellent place to get good deals on used fixtures.

One other thing..you mention upgrading to a 50 or a 55. A 50 breeder is a nice tank, but a 55 poses a lot of challenges in aquascaping since it is so narrow you often end up with a 'wall' of rock toward the back. The stands are also difficult to get a sump under.
If you have time, you might want to consider a 75 if you have the 4' of space to place a tank as it lends itself to a more natural looking reef build

 

[georgelc86]

ATI sunpower 4x54w T5 about $419 most bang for your buck but this price is without the bulbs, tack on additional $80 bulbs for the bulbs.

Aquatinics TX5 T5 5x54w about $465 built in USA also without the bulbs if i remember correctly

Tek 4x54w T5 about $260 or the 6 bulb for $353 no fans to cool the bulbs, not thrilled about that, quite a few people here have this fixture and there corals look amazing i think the bulbs are not including with this either

Current-USA 6 bulb T5, you will probably want to change out the bulbs so you it may run you an additional $100 bucks possibly pushing the fixture right at the cost of the previous three fixtures.

There are also Aqualife and WavePoint but I havnt really been looking these fixtures.

These are the fixtures I have been looking at, personally i am shooting for the ATI 4 bulb Sunpower for my 72 as opposed to its slighter more pricier PowerModuale, but I plan on keeping mostly a softie, LPS tank with a little sps here or there. From what i have been seeing, cooling, reflectors, ballast and the bulbs themselves are big factors in T5 lighting.

I also agree with Kathy, I would either stick with the 50 or just go straight to 75, its amazing how an additional 6 inches of tank depth makes things look totally different in a good way.

 

[jcolon2]

Thanks Kathy and George. Great suggestions, deffinitely going to take them into account : )

As for the tank size suggestion. I can barely find any 50's, I am searching craigslist. Not to mention, I found someone who will sell me a 55 gallon tank for 60 dollars with the filter, and heater, just no stand (which I will manage to find) for immediate pick. Still trying for the 50 since you guys say it makes a great difference, it just isn't working out.

 

[reefs4life]

I really suggest that when you're looking for a saltwater tank you should see if the tank has a built in overflow, I personally think it makes things a whole lot easier to be able to have all your equipment beneath the tank and not have to worry about overflow boxes