Another Lighting Question...

C

chucke

AC Members
Oct 19, 2007
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16
York, Pa
OK So i have a 120 gal tank 48" 24x24 so its short. I have had it set up for about 8 months now. and my livestock is doing Perfect!. Took my water to thatpetplace and they said my water was Awesome.

Two questions. 1. I need to update my lighting but don't want the cost of MH and I want to keep Some different Corals since my tank is not as colorful as i would like. Right now all i have is a Perfecto hood with two bulbs. in it. the bulbs are new but the fixture is from 95.

2. should i try a anemone? Like i said water quality I don't think is a problem .


I hate asking questions that i know have already been asked but. We all know its the easiest way to find the answers
 
chucke said:
OK So i have a 120 gal tank 48" 24x24 so its short. I have had it set up for about 8 months now. and my livestock is doing Perfect!. Took my water to thatpetplace and they said my water was Awesome.
Click to expand...

Why aren't you testing your own water?


chucke said:
1. I need to update my lighting but don't want the cost of MH and I want to keep Some different Corals since my tank is not as colorful as i would like. Right now all i have is a Perfecto hood with two bulbs. in it. the bulbs are new but the fixture is from 95.
Click to expand...

What kind of corals are you wanting to keep? When you mention the cost of MHs are you talking about up front costs or long term?

chucke said:
2. should i try a anemone? Like i said water quality I don't think is a problem .
Click to expand...

Not unless you upgrade the lights to MH or T5s with individual reflectors. Also would want to know what your stock is before advising as well.
 
Well Grins,

I test my water. But when some one tells you "man your water is aweseom" it boost your esteem alittle.

The cost factor is both but moreless long term. Electric is alot right now. and since i am having a baby in june I am alittle skiddish ABOUT THE bILLS.

Stock: Yellow Tang, Bi color Chromis, Two Perc clowns, Yellow tail damsel, Blue devil damsel, Yellow watchman goby, 10 or so Hermits, two turbo snails and a cat eye snail, Also there is a colony of feather dusters that came on someof my rock. And the Chocolate starfish. I know he will have to go. I can deal with that.

I guess the Cheapest Bang for the buck Kindof coral.
 
I'd probably avoid the anemone and work on getting a good deal on a T5 system, possibly used and a retrofit if you can fashion your own DIY canopy. Even better if you get ones with individual reflectors as they will give you more stocking options should you choose you really want that anemone or some of the more light needing stonies.

For now I'd probalby start with zoas and mushrooms, if you get a few contrasting colors they will make the colors on the other seem more vivid.
 
Six to eight T5 HO bulbs with individual reflectors will provide you with a good bit of flexibility. If you want higher light corals (Acropora sp. for example) or an anemone, definitely favor the 8 bulb side of that range. But, an 8 x 54w T5 HO set-up with individual reflectors isn't going to be that much of a cost savings over a 2 x 250w MH set-up. Eight T5s would consume a slightly less amount of electricity (assuming no overdriving, 432w vs. 500w) and depending on bulb choice, the price difference for bulb replacement would not neccessarily be all that different (average T5 bulb price is roughly $20, so 8 = $160; 2 MH bulbs can be bought for $150 - $200 total). The T5 HO bulbs do, however, last slightly longer than MHs (actinic T5s last 12 - 18 months / daylight T5s 18 - 24 months; MHs last 10 - 12 months), so there can be some long term savings in choosing T5s unless you're a savy shopper and routinely buy MHs on sale.
 
Thank you very much fsn thats ver informative. Its all about taking the plunge.
But since i dont have a sump or fuge. Now the other question is to get one of them first. I would like to build my own.
 
I agree with the above chucke, and yes, it is about taking the plunge. I really looked for cheaper lighting to upgrade my own but in the long run, I realized that I would rather wait and save to upgrade to a MH so that I would not be limited to what types of livestock that I could keep. I knew that if I went for a cheaper option I would again find myself wanting something better. This is where I have learned to have much patience with this hobby and think of the long run.

But, still it is all down to personal preference. Like Grins stated, you could get a retrofit kit to save money and fashion your own hood. Also, you can build your own fuge/sump as well to save on some money.

Now if you really wanted to save money in the LONG RUN (and I sress LONG), you could upgrade to some PFO Solaris LED lights:

https://www.pfolighting.com/solaris-buy-now.aspx
 
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