Lighting help?

[Mark_10]

I need some help on what to buy.

I am looking into two lighting fixture, and you tell me which one would be better to get, coralife aqualight elite (3-250 MH, 2- 96w actinc) or aqualight pro (3-150w MH, 4-96w actinic, 4 lunar lamps).

The size of my tank is 125 gallons (72" x 18" x 22"). :help:

ps Sorry, Yes reef.

[SHK_ATK]

is the tank fish only or coral??

[Reefscape]

I would go for the coralife aqualight elite...As you going to be spending good money on a fixture, you may aswell buy the better one of the two as with this one, you certainly are not going to be putting any restrictions of what corals you may want in the future...a sure fire purchase for me..

Just an opinion of course..

Niko

[Avi]

I'd say that in almost all cases you'd be better off with the 250-watt bulbs. But, in your case, since the tank is just 18" deep, you would be fine with almost any coral except perhaps the most light-demanding SPS's, you could probably get away with the 150-watt MHs. Also, the Coralife Elite doesn't include moon lights, which are very nice to have, and are included in the Aqualight Pro unit.

A friend of mine has a 72-inch Coralife Elite over a 30-inch deep freshwater planted tank and has been quite successful with it. It is a good quality fixture.

I would just add, to complicate the issue a bit, that I personally would go for the 250-watt bulbs and add discrete lunar lights. I just don't like to be limited in any way and 150-watters may pose some coral-related restrictions on you, even if only a few.

So...to try to unconfuse...for the most part, you'd be just fine with either.

[Germanman]

yup i agree the elite would be ur money best spent

[WeeNe858]

i would recommend the pro.. the led's with come in handy and the extra atinics will have your corals looking better

[Mark_10]

My tank is 72"L x 18w x 22h.

so It would be better to get the aqualight elite? I really dont care for lunar lights. I had a coralife light with lunar lights on my 55 gallon aquarium and barely used the lunar lights.

[WeeNe858]

was the 55 a freshwater tank?... the lunar lights actually help replicate the moon, and give the nocturnal and skitish fish light to see by... that way they dont freak out. the extra 2 atinics will give you a really nice bright glow on your corals..

[Mark_10]

no, my 55 was saltwater. one of the reason I barely truned on my lunar lights, is my aquarium was in the computer room and the computer stayed on all the time and at night it gave some really nice blueish light which i my opinion looked like the moon.

[musho3210]

well a computer moniter uses a lot more electricity than a moonlight does

[WeeNe858]

lol..whatever floats your boat.. but i really do recommend the pro.. thats is if you plan on being a real coral savy type

[Mark_10]

Thanks for the replies everybody. :)