Lighting my Tank without Burning my Wallet!

A

AAHoudiniAA

AC Members
Mar 11, 2010
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Pittsburgh
Does anyone know of the best lighting for the money for the following tank.

Reef
72 X 18 X 27
(150gal)

I will be raising all sorts of fish and corals...

I can't believe the prices on some of these fixtures :(

I don't know what's adequate and what's overkill...

Thanks,

Rich
 
for SPS & LPS, MH or T5HO is the way to go. LEDs are possible but the initial investment is larger.

One thing I learnd is: what ever you do, DO NOT CUT CORNERS ON LIGHTING. it's well worth it, and when you start itching to get that really cool sps, lps or clam you'll be pissed cause your light is no good and will have to buy a new one and just junk your crappy one that you wasted money on.

if you want to save some money go with mostly dead rock and put in a few pieces of seeder live rock.

hope that helps :)

and post up what your looking at so we can give ya some feedback.
 
cheapest to buy, build or maintain?

T5's are probably the more expensive way to go, but most efficient to operate.
While MH, and Power compacts are cheaper to buy, but cost more to operate than T5's

I'm not a SW/Reef expert, but there are a few things to consider besides initial cost.
 
The Zigman said:
cheapest to buy, build or maintain?

T5's are probably the more expensive way to go, but most efficient to operate.
While MH, and Power compacts are cheaper to buy, but cost more to operate than T5's

I'm not a SW/Reef expert, but there are a few things to consider besides initial cost.
Click to expand...

IME, MH lighting costs more to purchase and to run than T5. For a reef, I wouldn't even consider power compacts other than as actinic supplements or something if you go with MH.

If you have a local aquarium club, check there before buying anything new. Hooked and I were able to score a 6x 39W T5 HO fixture plus a 20 gallon sump for $250, and we are still using this equipment a year later on our 50 gallon tank. The fixture (Nova Extreme Pro) retails for about $350 new so we saved a bunch of money.
 
MH are usually more expensive than T5HO fixtures. Regular T5 and PC are only good for FO or FOWLR and maybe a few zoas and shrooms.

in terms of operating cost LEDs are the cheapest, and the diodes last much longer than MH or T5HO bulbs. LEDs now are starting to compare to MH and T5HO in PAR ratings and you are now able to keep high light corals under LED arrays. the drawback here is you would probably need to DIY due to the lack of commercially produced fixtures.(there are plenty of good write-ups on DIY LED arrays, all you need are some basic soldering skill)

T5HO would impact the electric bill less than MH but more than LEDs, these fixtures have more bulbs to replace but bulbs are cheaper than MH, and you can set up your own custom configuration.

MH use the most power but the also produce the most PAR, these are the best lights for keeping light hungry coral and clams you may need a few MH bulbs to cover a 150g tank, but you'll only need 150 - 250 watt fixtures, 400ws are overkill IMO unless you have a really deep tank.
 
I have 207lbs of really sweet fiji live and 80#'s of live sand on it's way :) Sump with refugium and mud... on it's way... would it make any sense to mix the salt today and let it sit unfiltered in the tank? I guess I could move it around with a canister or some powerheads I have laying around... just wondering...
 
AAHoudiniAA said:
I have 207lbs of really sweet fiji live and 80#'s of live sand on it's way :) Sump with refugium and mud... on it's way... would it make any sense to mix the salt today and let it sit unfiltered in the tank? I guess I could move it around with a canister or some powerheads I have laying around... just wondering...
Click to expand...

That'd be a really good idea if you want to keep the rock alive. i would have done that before the rocks and stuff was ordered.
 
I don't know that I'd fill your tank all the way up with salt water. That rock is going to displace a good amount of water. I'd maybe fill it up half way to start with.
 
unless your stuffing the tank with live rock i'd fill the whole thing, plus he's getting a sump too so the water displaced would go to the sump.
 
Markushka said:
That'd be a really good idea if you want to keep the rock alive. i would have done that before the rocks and stuff was ordered.
Click to expand...

I am a little confused... The live rock and live sand is not here... It is supposed to ship Monday... but I can delay that a few days.

That being the case... mixing and filling the tank will be a good idea... with 207#'s of rock and 80# of live sand.... the sump... I will fill it about 2/3rds the way if it's a good idea at all...

This way I will have had the salt mixing in the filtration for about 3-4 days before the rock and sand arrive.

?

Thanks,

Rich
 
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