budget lighting

[jojo22]

If you want decent growth run 10,000K. Lighting company's sell saltwater lighting units with 10,000K bulbs for a reason. BECAUSE they have spent more money on research than you will on your entire tank. They don't install 10,000K's for fun. They sell them like this because it is best for your coral. While I COULD live on Big Mac's three times a day every day it probably wouldn't be all that great for my health...any one guess where I'm going...While corals MAY live under 6500K lighting they will be of marginal health and appearance at best. There is also obviously a reason freshwater lights usually range from 5500K-6500K, the lighting companies don't spend all that money on research just for fun.

Would you feed the reptiles at your store cheap crickets with no supplements (I really hope the answer is no, otherwise please remind me not to shop there)??? So why feed your corals cheap light???

 

[excuzzzeme]

Places like Homer Despot and others often have online sites that can link to your home store. You will be able to search their inventory to find what you want. I do all my searching from home computer then follow up with a phone call to verify stock. For me, online is often the only way to go as many of the stores I need are beyond my driving limits and have to get someone to drive me to them.

Mark-up against a Big Box store is hard to compete with. They buy by the 1000's and the local guy buys by the 10's. That in itself creates a higher cost. Yes, I too can buy some things online cheaper (including shipping), but I get personal attention and information. I can also return defective equipment and not have my tanks/fish in danger. Which means I don't need to keep a spare around which lowers my cost as well. I am not above telling Mr. High Price that he is over-priced and I can get same thing down the road for a lower cost. Sometimes they price match and sometimes they tell me that they can't.