Reef Lighting

vequalsir

vequalsir

AC Members
Jul 7, 2008
230
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Cleveland, OH
www.sayresaves.com
Real Name
Tom Trautman
I'm planning on setting up a reef. I have a 75 gallon tank, and have been researching sump, refugium, and skimmer plans.

I think I have the basics on those items under control. I'm now looking at possible lighting options. I keep reading that halides are the brightest, but the initial investment on these aquarium lights seem very high.

Is there anyone out there making their own halide fixtures? Has anyone used a commercial style light? I'm looking at fixtures from Cooper and Lithonia that carry 400watt halides with ballast and 120vac taps.

Could I use a light like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lithonia-400-Wa...aultDomain_0?hash=item41498df9f5#ht_500wt_876
 
I have 1 175 watt coralife 20k Mogul MH, 2 36" 30watt tubes on my 100g.. 400watts over a 75 would burn your corals. I grow hard and softy's in my tank.

Also that fixture will only direct the light within a small area, you might want 2 fixtures with less watts.
 
I use T5's only and my corals grow like crazy. You could consider a Tek Light with 6 or 8 T5 54W bulbs. The colors that come out under the right combo of lights is amazing. I use 2 ATI Blues, 2 Fiji purples and 2 Duo whites. on a 100 gallon tank.

Here's a pic of my 46 Gal Bow front with 4 39W T5's. 2 blue, one fiji purple and one Duo white. (It just won November's TOTM, btw!):clap:

tank10_09.jpg
 
Wow.. definitely worthy of TOTM! Congrats!

As for the OP, I would highly recommend not using those lights. Too many things wrong with them... reflectors, bulb position (Vertical), fact it is a Pulse Start ballast, and sheer size and weight of them. Your much better off doing it the right way.. buying used is ok as long as it is quality equipment.
 
Thanks Ace,

Are those 2 Blue Star Leopard Wrasses yours? They're beautiful! I have a female Leopard Wrasse and want to get a Blue Star male.
 
The lower one is a "Blue Star", aka African/Splendid Leopard and the top one is a Hawaiian Potter's Leopard wrasse. Both are female and yes, I am looking at both of them right now in my tank.
 
Wow, I am totally unfamiliar with the common names. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I need to brush up on that badly.

Beautiful tank, btw.
 
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