ready to upgrade lighting - have some questions...

salty420

salty420

this fish was coming on to me
Mar 8, 2007
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Sugar Grove, IL
I'm finally ready to upgrade the lighting on my 37 but need some help please!
I am looking for lighting that will support soft corals and an anemone. I really need something for my clowns to host and would like a bta or something for them. I don't know exactly how many wpg I will need, I think 3-4? I have an exclipse lid that I'd like to try to modify to keep the 2 bulbs (2x20w) and add 2 more. If I can't do that I'd just ditch the lid and go open topped. I'd LOVE some help deciding what to buy and maybe where you got yours (cheapest possible!). I was thinking T5's but they are just HO not VHO, right? If so would it be better to go with PC's or MH? I'd like to avoid MH tho... I'd really like to get something that will use less energy and put of the least amnt of heat. Any advice and help would be GREATLY appreciated!
 
From what I've read the watts per gallon rule is a bit misleading at times just like the fish per gallon rule can be. A MH is going to use lots of watts to power it where an energy efficient T5 is going to use less.

A soft coral won't need much lighting but an anenome needs a lot so you'll have to light the tank for it. If you have a long tank versus a high I think you can get away with the T5s but I'd suggest you get ones with individual refelctors. IceCaps have a good rep and you can find them at several marine dealers. I'd start with www.reefgeek.com
 
PC's run cooler and will be fine on your 37,I have a friend with the coralife 4-65w system on his 55,and his corals are growing good.He keeps his light lovers in the top half.
I also agree with Grins ,the watts per gallon is just a general rule.
 
T-5's are HO so they should have stronger output than compacts,but I am no expert on either one.I'm sure Niko can tell you all about that.Europe had T-5's way before available in US.They were developed in Germany.I have two 90w-5500k PC's on my refugium its a 29g and they work great.
 
I've heard of success with them but I'd defintely start with trying to place the nem towards the top 1/2 of the tank. Remember that the watts are misleading on the T5s because they are energy efficient.

By the way, are you open to MHs if you find a good deal? You only need one per 2 feet of surface. They often can be found at good prices used, that is how I got mine.
 
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