right light setup?

[handysport64]

I have a 72" long 18" wide and 22" deep tank. what is the best and cheapest light setup I can get to start a reef tank?

 

[drnecropolis]

The key word there to try and avoid is "cheapest" in this hobby nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap.. If you have a canopy best route to save a few bucks is retro the lights.. Depends on what you are looking for.. Metal Halide? T-5's?

 

[thanh386]

I assume this is a 125G? This depends on what kinda things u want to keep. Fish only to zoa's u can probably do a power compact without much cost. U can do T5's for alot of sps and lps. Only issue is Fixtures are not cheap, and if u retrofit, I dont thik U can get more than 5-6 bulbs in. Best lighting of course would be metal halides, of course again fixtures are costly. Retrofiting them is teh best bang for ur buck. with a 6 ft tank I'd do a 3 bulb set up. 175-250 watt per bulb would be idea, 400watt may be overkill that's up to u. If u know an electricial , this will be ur ideal set up with maybe 2-4 t5 or pc for actinic. I have 3x 175 watt ballast for pretty cheap. But u'd need some wiring.

 

[thanh386]

The 5-6 bulb statement was assuming they are the longer bulbs, not teh 54w 48" ones

 

[handysport64]

I was told this is 250 gal. I would like to get new canopy with the right lighting for around 500.00 if possible

 

[drnecropolis]

LxWxH/231=gallons..
123.428..

 

[thanh386]

Whomever told u it was 250 gallon should be shot. But u can make most of teh stuff urself for 500 easy.

 

[handysport64]

I added the rocks a couple months ago and looking to add nice plants. I was told they need good lighting. already have several fish that made it through the tank change. It was a community tank that I am trying to convert to reef tank. My girlfriend has had this tank going for several years. I am tring to find new lights for her christmas present.

 

[william1]

Two 36" Tek lights 8 bulb. An 8 bulb tek light is 19"

 

[handysport64]

could be 24" deep???

 

[drnecropolis]

That would make it 134.649 gallons.. Still not a 250 by any stretch..by plants I imagine you mean corals..

 

[handysport64]

yes... what would you recomend

 

[william1]

Thats still a great size to start with if you can afford it.

 

[drnecropolis]

It really depends of taste.. Some love Metal Halide.. Some hate them.. There is a trade off with each type.. Best thing would be to see a few tanks that run metal halides and a few that run T5(in person would be ideal) and go from there.. If you do decide to go with MH's.. Don't skimp on cheap bulbs.. I speak from experience.. The few bucks you save on bulbs isn't worth the headache it will cause down the road..

 

[handysport64]

I found a new canopy that has:
4x80 watts t5 ho
2 10k (sunlight)
2 actinic
8-1 watt blue led's
72" long 9"wide 2.5" tall
$440.00 is this good deal? and wouuld it give me the light that I need?

 

[drnecropolis]

Who makes the fixture and bulbs? I would look for a fixture with more than just 4 bulbs for that size of a tank.. Something in the 8 to 10 bulb range.. But that might just be me..

 

[thanh386]

how nice is teh canopy because if ur buying it mainly for lights totally not worth it.

 

[drnecropolis]

Thanh386;428380 wrote: how nice is teh canopy because if ur buying it mainly for lights totally not worth it.

I'm thinking he has canopy and fixture confused as one in the same.. Can't think of a canopy I have ever seen that was 2.5" tall..

 

[handysport64]

I would have to look it up..it is on ebay item #280312498872

 

[thanh386]

Yea i agree. if its a fixture hell no it's not worth it.