lighting question

J

jeff415finest

AC Members
May 12, 2008
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I'm in dire need to upgrade my lighting fixture to help support my future coral life. Right now i just have the basic one bulb blue fluorescent lighting for my 55 gallon and i believe the bulbs width is 36 from what i can remember. I was searching on craigslist and ebay for deals but yeah this is a new world for me and any input would be greatly appreciated because I dont want to be suckered by my LFS workers. Last time i was asking questions about lighting for my tank he goes and shows me the showroom tanks lighting costing the shop $800 or something like that. Right now i am just adding a lot of fiji cured live rocks with red spots developing. I dont think im going to be attempting any sps since im a beginner but would like a good wattage for room in the future as i learn more about corals.

thanks in advance
 
The better lighting that is needed to keep sps corals will also make any lps or even softies that you might want to keep look a lot better. However, you can guy the same light fixture that he offered you in the store online for probably a lot cheaper. I would personaly recomend MHs because you are likely to upgrade once again.
But if you dont want to spend the money, any 48" t5 fixture would also do really well. I would recomend the Tek 4 or 6 bulb unit. And if you really dont think you want to keep a lot a standard coralife 4X65 watt power compact unit would also do the trick
There are a lot of there brands that arent as high quality but still get the job done that would save you a good amount of money that i'm sure you've seen on ebay, such as odyssea.

But first off, what types of corals are you planning on keeping?
 
What length is your tank?? Do you plan to have a canopy because you could retro one cheaper I think. You could always get a good T-5 fixtur also and they would be a little cheaper also.
 
I recently bought the current nova extreme pro. 6x54. also in my dreams of soon being able to keep some coral of my own
 
jeff415finest said:
LPS.

but i was looking around and was considering this one
http://www.marineandreef.com/Outer_Orbit_T5_36_inch_150W_Current_USA_p/rcu01071.htm
i might as well invest in a great system since its a one time buy thing. Do you guys have any suggestions for online spots?
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do it. that;s a good light for the price if you like it.
but you might want to look at the 48" light, because that is how big a 55 gallon tank is. Unless your tank is a strange custom or you have the dimensions wrong, it is actually 48"s, not 36"s.
 
oh okay. i know the bulb is 36" and in that site they have a size chart stating my for a 55 gallon is a 36" but i will measure it i guess. Yeah just need to gather up some money but most importantly look around and get more info for other sites and brands
 
Miss my puffer said:
A 55 breeder is 36 inches (technically I think it is 50, but some stores sell them as a 55 breeder), most have a 55 long, which is 48 inches. I have a 55 breeder and a 55 long.
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Yeah... I've seen pleanty of 50 breeders, but never a 55. You are saying you've seen stores sell a 50 as a 55? I've never seen that either.

But I supose a ruler/tape measure will settle this.
 
Like I said it is technically a 50 (measurements say so) but when I bought it the store was selling it as a 55 breeder and that is what I thought it was until I measured. Seen it labeled as a 55 breeder at a couple of other lfs, but like you said it is a 50 tank.
 
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