I need lighting advice

[RSPirhana]

I am willing to spend the money, but i was wondering wich light is better for a 30 gallon reef tank Im planning?

The JEBO 24" COMPACT FLUORESCENT 110W with 55 watt Actinic bulb, and a 55 watt Daylight bulb 10,000K.

Or is a ODYSSEA 24" 130W DUAL-STRIP COMPACT with a 65 watt Daylight 12,000k bulb and a 65 watt True Actinic bulb.
I think the Odessea must be better though because it has a cooling fan, and the Jebo does not.
THanks

 

[Kabong]

Lighting is really realtive to what you want in the tank. With either of those wattage's your options are limited to the low end light critters. If you already have that figured out and are happy with your wattage choice. Prices whould be an important factor, You may be willing to spend cash but it whould be better to know the prices so they can be weighed in to the judgment. Looks like youve been to AquaTrader to me though

 

[oscar83]

coralife power compact

ive got a coralife pc on my 30 gal reef and i LOVE IT... it was a littel pricey from my lfs ($220) but its 192 watts and its great. both 96 watts actinic 03 and 10000 k

 

[RSPirhana]

What about this light, If im lookign to be able to grow a good amount of LR, and Other anenomes. for 30 gallon reef.


Corla Life Lunar Aqualight 130W
10,000K Daylight and True Actinic 03 Blue
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
3/4 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED Lamps
3 - On/Off Switches
3 - 8 foot power cords for separate timers
2 cooling fans
sleek black aluminum housing (7"W x 2.5"H)
Highly-polished reflector
Acrylic lens cover

 

[skippy2]

You need to tell us the names of the anemones you want in order to tell you if that light is right or not. I have a 250w mh on my 55. I am waiting for the lfs to add my other 250w mh. With these lights I can have anything I want.

 

[Kabong]

Truthfully i dont think 130w is enough light for any anemone. Bubble tips are the lowest light anemone and i doubt it whould be healthy under anything less then 192w (Duel 96w lamps). Ive reserched this myself recently for a 33g im starting. The problem your going to run in to is getting enough light over your tank. You may have to go with 2 of the smaller one's. Say you went with 2 of the first Jebo you were looking at, That whould give you 220w Which should be enough for BTA's and most the soft corals. You could go with a single Metal Halide, but the cost whould out of proprtion for what you want (MH ar usually for a deeper tank then a 30g). If you are in the US id recomend you go with Aqua Traders Hell even if in your in Canada they still have **** nice prices.

 

[RSPirhana]

I found a metal halide the ODYSSEA 24" 186W METAL HALIDE at
www.aquatraders.com

The caorals, and what not I am considering are
Favia Brain Coral
Bulb Anenome
Pink and White Feather duster
Candycane coral
Purple tentacle plate coral
pinapple brain coral

In a 30 gallon reef do I seem ok with 186w ? Or if you have other coral/ anenome etc.. suggestions it would be great.

 

[Kabong]

Metal Halide is usually for deeper tanks, Since you said your tank is 30g and ill presume its 24" long (since that's the size of light your looking at) your probably about 12" wide and 24" tall. 2' tall is borderline on weather to go MH lighting. Personally is i was you id go with 2 of the JEBO 24" COMPACT FLUORESCENT 110W. At the top of the list at aquatraders. With the 2 of them you'd be sitting at 220w which should be enough light for everything except the high light corals and Anenome's, Ither then the BT anenome which should do alright under that amount of light. 2 of the hoods whould only cost you $80 for 220w while the MH hood whould cost $199 for 186w. Since you don't really need the penetration of the MH lights. You might as well save a $100. The only thing id check is the demensions for the compact hood to see how much extra room youd have in the front and back (for equipment at the back and to feed at the front)

I really should warn you a 30g for a first tank is pretty optimistic. The smaller the tank the more biologicaly unstable they are. You might want to consider a sump just to get a larger water volume.