what lights to get

[scubagirl12]

ok i feel like this is a totally noob question but i guess i am new to lighting. i just have the stock day and actinic pcs in my aquapod. i just got a 28g bowfront :yay: thats 24in long and am hoping to get some lights for it for my birthday next month. ive reasearched some online as well as looked as previous threads. but i cant find out about what lights to keep what corals. its all just jargon that im slowly understanding.
so as everyone knows from my "whats the big deal with sps post" i love softies. but i would like to be able to have a nice anemone. im thinking T5s? what kind do yall recommend that is on the cheaper end? what light is required to keep a clam? what about some of the hardy sps? do they have to have metal halides?
according to the aquarium guys site, i read that i need 250-350 watts at the most and around 10,000k. but the lights im seeing for sale dont have that kind of wattage. is there some sort of translation? like those energy saver bulbs that are 14watts but equaivalent to 60watts.
i just need someone to point me in the right direction. its overwhelming :sad:

 

[jeep9783]

You could go with 24in t5 ho with an ice cap 660 ballast....The watts per gallon rule is out the door especially with t5s....The ice cap ballast overdrives the bulbs causing alot more power but with much less heat than metal halides...Yes you can have a clam with t5s you can have anything with the right setup in all....You should be able to get an awsome setup up for under 250 and that is with individual reflectors and all....

 

[ralph atl]

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01061~idCategory~FILTFIMHMMMDMLM3~category~24in~vendor~.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01061~idCategory~FILTFIMHMMMDMLM3~category~24in~vendor~.html</a>


[IMG]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01120~idCategory~FILTFIT54U~category~24in_Units~vendor~.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01120~idCategory~FILTFIT54U~category~24in_Units~vendor~.html</a>


something like the above?

 

[nukieuk]

I advise you to do what I did,

I am looking at upgrading the lights on both of my tanks. Your options if you want to keep a clam are really a T-5 setup or a Halide-T5/CFS combo. At the end of the day it comes down to which type of setup you like. I swung by Brandon's and looked at both a Halide tank and a pure T-5. I planned my upgrade around what I found to be most visually pleasing to me.

Hope this helps.

Mark

 

[jeep9783]

well those would work much better if you are just getting into this as i am more of a diy person Meaning i break and tear up alot of stuff...but those would be perfect....benefit of halide (my opinion) high par at sand bed and a nice shimmering effect, down fall heat issue and less efficent, benefit of t5s less heat more efficent, down fall less light available at sand bed than mh no shimmering effect unless you break the waters surface with a powerhead...just my opinion flame away halide lovers

chris

 

[stickx911]

What's the length of your tank? If the tank is shorter than 24" t-5's may be a problem...

 

[ericmcj31]

I'd go with a 250 MH. But get a 14K, not 10; that's just a personal preference, but stuff will 'pop' more with the 14K-and seem more white with the 10K. the MH bulb will generate more heat. You could get by even with a 150 watt MH- and still keep most anything. You could either get a pendant or a fixture that mounts over the tank. Be sure to put a fan on it and it will help with the heat issue, but you're gonna lose more to evaporation like that, but is better than running a chiller. hope this helps-PM me if you need some help with it since I'm practically right down the street.

 

[nukieuk]

just to put it in context i just ordered this for my 29 gallon biocube but again its personal choice ....
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13975&pcatid=13975">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13975&pcatid=13975</a>

That way I can ditch my hood and later on if i wanna try sps i can . Cant do a t5 setup on a cube unless i want stuff hanging over the edges :)

This way I can add a decent skimmer and a fuge as well.

Mark

 

[bobz]

I was using a 150W Sunpod MH on the tank and it had pretty good light. If I were doing it again, I would probably bumb it up to the 250W. The tank is pretty deep and the PAR at the bottom was not great. I was able to keep a clam and some SPS happy but I had them towards the middle to top of the tank.
Bob

 

[scubagirl12]

thanks for all the advice.
try not to fall out of your chair laughing but i was trying to stay around or under 150 :blush:
ive seen some great deals on used lighting but not the right size.
it is 24in and fairly deep (forgot the exact measurement) as bob said, who so generous gave it to me! i wouldn't fill it up with intense light needing stuff, so I could put all of those towards the top.
clams dont have to be in the sand bed, right? ive seen just a couple up in the rocks.
im leaning towards the T5s just cause of price, which is a bigger deal to me than a cool shimmer effect. plus in a smaller tank (28) I am worried about heat. however i just found this on sale
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7Ecategory%7EIceCap_250___400_HQI_All_Aluminum_Pendant_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Lighting_Light_Fixtures_Metal_Halide_Pendants_Double_Ended_Halide%7Evendor%7EIceCap%7ESearchStr%7E%7Eaction%7Eview%7EidProduct%7EIC3711%7EidCategory%7EFILTFIMHPDDE.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~IceCap_250___400_HQI_All_Aluminum_Pendant_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Lighting_Light_Fixtures_Metal_Halide_Pendants_Double_Ended_Halide~vendor~IceCap~SearchStr~~action~view~idProduct~IC3711~idCategory~FILTFIMHPDDE.html</a>
or either the T5s that Ralph linked (thanks!)
[IMG]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7Eaction%7Eview%7EidProduct%7ECU01120%7EidCategory%7EFILTFIT54U%7Ecategory%7E24in_Units%7Evendor%7E%7Etab%7E1.html">http://www.marinedepot.com</a>[IMG]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7Eaction%7Eview%7EidProduct%7ECU01120%7EidCategory%7EFILTFIT54U%7Ecategory%7E24in_Units%7Evendor%7E%7Etab%7E1.html">/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01120~idCategory~FILTFIT54U~category~24in_Units~vendor~~tab~1.html</a>
I know a guy who does wood work and could work with him to build a canopy for a retrofit.
any other suggestions welcomed. im started to understand lighting but just want to make sure i get what i need.

 

[ericmcj31]

I'm pretty sure with the MH you put up you have to buy a ballast with that(I'm sure others know for sure)

I like the T5 setup as well-just prefer MH, but that's just a personal preference--

 

[scubagirl12]

k i think its going to be T5. now anyone know of some used ones for sale? i probably wont be looking into the market seriously for another month though.
eric, you got MH on your 135?

 

[ericmcj31]

yes-I've got 2x250 and 1x400 mh and 4x96 pc-it lights it up nicely!

 

[bobz]

Scubagirl12;257839 wrote: thanks for all the advice.
try not to fall out of your chair laughing but i was trying to stay around or under 150 :blush:
ive seen some great deals on used lighting but not the right size.
it is 24in and fairly deep (forgot the exact measurement) as bob said, who so generous gave it to me!

You are welcome! I'm sure it will be put to good use. I have a 175W MH with a crappy reflector that came off my 210 that you can have until you find better lighting if it will help. You would need to put it in a makeshift canopy but that would be easy. LMK!
Bob

 

[scubagirl12]

you know ill tank anything and everything off your hands! :yes: i dont have ANYTHING just lying around like some of you guys do.
what about these? seems like a good deal. but is it bad that its discontinued? will i still be able to find bulbs? i would assume those are pretty standard.
now im going to research retrofits and building a canopy. that sounds like something fun to do on my break

 

[scubagirl12]

:doh: thanks Barbara!
so do yall think a clam placed higher up would be ok under these T5s? (thats the same link as above)
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7Eaction%7Eview%7EidProduct%7ECU01120%7EidCategory%7EFILTFIT54U%7Ecategory%7E24in_Units%7Evendor%7E%7Etab%7E1.html">http://www.marinedepot.com</a>[IMG]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7Eaction%7Eview%7EidProduct%7ECU01120%7EidCategory%7EFILTFIT54U%7Ecategory%7E24in_Units%7Evendor%7E%7Etab%7E1.html">/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01120~idCatego ry~FILTFIT54U~category~24in_Units~vendor~~tab~1.ht ml</a>
i know MH would be the BEST though. Ive read that some are more forgiving a slightly less light needy than others.
are we allowed to post from other forums? this was a good read
[IMG]http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=114475">http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=114475</a>

so from what ive found, retrofits are as much if not more than that fixture. plus the cost of building a canopy. am i missing something?

 

[weaglereefer]

so from what ive found, retrofits are as much if not more than that fixture. plus the cost of building a canopy. am i missing something?

No, but when using retrofit kits, you get to pick the parts you want. You can get an Icecap ballast, individual reflectors, and 4 different bulbs. With most fixtures, you will get their standard ballast, one main reflector, and 2 daylight with 2 actinic bulbs. Basically, aside from a few light fixtures (Tek comes to mind) you get better quality parts by going retrofit.

 

[nukieuk]

if you want the best system, retrofitting is the way to go totally agree with that. That said being on a small budget I would advise you just look around for a used t5 setup that will give you the most bang for your buck right now.

With the MH pendants they will run you more in the long run due to needing ballast and bulbs normally. I totally can relate as I have been in the same pickle for the last month.

A T5 guru can probably explain this better than I but to get the PAR level up with T5 you really do need to go with the best bulbs and individual reflectors. From doing my research very few of the cheaper T-5's have this. . Also a lot of people will reference icecap ballast units for T-5's as these can be tweaked to boost the output (overdriven).

I am sure we have enough light experts here though that would be willing to help you reach your goal with whatever you decide upon.

Yes you can totally put a clam higher in the tank to ensure its getting light Just be wary of things knocking the poor thing down.

 

[gwhiz]

Scubagirl12;257947 wrote: :doh: thanks Barbara!
so do yall think a clam placed higher up would be ok under these T5s? (thats the same link as above)

I've got T5's and two clams -- a Derasa on the sand bed and a Crocea higher up in the rocks. They're both doing great as are my SPS's.

I did go with a retrofit kit with IceCap 660 ballasts and individual reflectors. Individual reflectors maximize the light that gets into tank. As said before, the IceCap ballasts will overdrive the lights (i.e. get 100 watts of light out of an 80 watt bulb), but at the expense of shortened bulb life. You'd be fine with standard ballasts but I'd recommend individual reflectors. I'd be happy to help you build a canopy, but you're a long way from me...

 

[scubagirl12]

Scubagirl12;257867 wrote:
what about these? seems like a good deal. but is it bad that its discontinued? will i still be able to find bulbs? i would assume those are pretty standard.

i just realized the link didnt work... or i forgot it...