Opinions on Light Choice

[recoiljpr]

I have a 65 gallon tank I am purchasing lights for. I have narrowed down my choices to two options. Option 1 is a NovaExtreme Pro 6x39 T5 fixture. The other is a Outer Orbit 2X150W HQI with 4X36W actinic T5 bulbs.

If I added the Outer Orbit fixture with the MH do you think I would have heat issues? I don't have the system setup yet, but I keep the house @ 74 degrees. This system will have a sump which I will be pointing a fan at as well to help with the temp.

I'm interesting in seeing which choice yall would make?

[JimD]

Lot has to do with what you intend to house, the dimentions of the tank and if you have may have future plans to upgrade to a bigger tank. I have a 65 22" tall and its lit by a single 10k halide and actinics, works really well and offers the opportunity to keep light loving as well as lower light critters at the same time... Most anytime you use metal halides, youre gonna encounter some heat issues, mine stays below 80 with the A/C at 74 without the need for a chiller, in fact, I woulodnt mind raising the temp just a bit...

[recoiljpr]

Lot has to do with what you intend to house, the dimentions of the tank and if you have may have future plans to upgrade to a bigger tank. I have a 65 22" tall and its lit by a single 10k halide and actinics, works really well and offers the opportunity to keep light loving as well as lower light critters at the same time... Most anytime you use metal halides, youre gonna encounter some heat issues, mine stays below 80 with the A/C at 74 without the need for a chiller, in fact, I woulodnt mind raising the temp just a bit...

I'm not planning on keeping too may SPS (but I will have some), but I do want some clams. I do like some of the not so light loving corals though, would the dual 150's be too much? My 65 is a standard one 36X18X24.

I will probably upgrade to a bigger tank sometime in the future, but I don't understand how that would be a deciding factor in the lights? The Mrs. does NOT want pendants, she made the very clear. :bigsmile: So I have to keep the lights under the canopy.

[ballardjr2000]

I would go with the hqi's you can always mount it higher to for heat issues and it will give you all the light you will need. but the t-5's aren't bad either. but i vote hqi's.

[JimD]

I'm not planning on keeping too may SPS (but I will have some), but I do want some clams. I do like some of the not so light loving corals though, would the dual 150's be too much? My 65 is a standard one 36X18X24.

I will probably upgrade to a bigger tank sometime in the future, but I don't understand how that would be a deciding factor in the lights? The Mrs. does NOT want pendants, she made the very clear. :bigsmile: So I have to keep the lights under the canopy.

The possibility of an upgrade should have some impact on your lighting choice because, say you buy the 150's now, (which jfyi, arent recommended for a tank that deep if you want light loving animals on the bottom such as some clams), and you decide to move to a larger tank and decide you want more sps, youre going to find yourself buying lights all over again... There are many sponsors on this site who sell retro kits and individual components, which sounds more like what you need if you plan on putting the lights in a canopy. Maybe some will chime in and shine a little "light" on the subject. Basic rule... 250 watts up to 24" deep, 400 watts uo to 30".. I use a 150 watt Pheonix 14k de on a twenty tall and it works just ok...

[ballardjr2000]

The hqi's will be a lot of light. But if your gonna upgrade to a deeper tank that would be the route i go that way i don't have to worry about getting another fixture down the road. for cooling AZOO as well as others make some nice fans that can mount on the side of the fixture or were you want to keep heat down. but at the same time you don't want to over do it either with the lights on that tank. now i am wondering if the hqi's would be a good thing or not lol.

[Squiers007]

Since you want to do some clams and SPS I would vote for 2x250W MH's. This way you will be able to keep whatever you want and if you get a retro kit you will be able to use it if you upgrade to a larger tank. I have a couple friends that have 2x250's on a 40 breeders and dont ahve any heat issues and can keep lower light corals also. A lot of the heat issues are going to be dependent on how close you mount the lights to the surface of the water.

[corkyGramma]

Do you like to tinker? Some of the T5 buffs around here swear that a custom T5 arrangement of different bulbs, give corals more colors and help them grow faster. I've had hqi for a while so im curious to know if that is true. I also agree with the practically of hqi.

[ballardjr2000]

couldn't tell you i run T-5's 12000k with blue actinic's i have 4 12000k and 4 blues colors pop really good and with just the blues on wow the corals glow if you look under my nikon d40 thread in the general area you will see some pics of it. the first is just with the blues on the others with all the lights on.

[recoiljpr]

I went with 2 175W MH retros with ballasts and reflectors. I chose reeflux 10k bulbs. Thanks for all of your help and suggestions guys! And thanks Frederick (Coral Reef Bazaar)!!!

[Squiers007]

Are you going to run any actinic supplementation?

[recoiljpr]

Are you going to run any actinic supplementation?

Not at first, no. I've seen pics of that 10K bulb, and it already looks blue enough without supplementation. If after running it, I will add them later if I feel from a personal view I want more blue.

Here is one example of a reefer with the reeflux 10K with and without Actinics.

With No Actinics
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/MrsDoni/XM10kVSReeflux10k/Reeflux10kNOactinics3.jpg

With Actinics
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/MrsDoni/XM10kVSReeflux10k/Reeflux10kwithactinics.jpg

[ismvel]

Hey there,
I have those bulbs, and trust me when I say they are not blue in any way shape or form. It's just that those pictures have a blue background. I'll snap some photos for you if you'd like when my lights turn on later this afternoon. You really should look into getting some actinics supplementation when you get a chance.. :)

[Squiers007]

Hey there,
I have those bulbs, and trust me when I say they are not blue in any way shape or form. It's just that those pictures have a blue background. I'll snap some photos for you if you'd like when my lights turn on later this afternoon. You really should look into getting some actinics supplementation when you get a chance.. :)

Thats what I was thinking. Maybe if you go with a 12 or 20K then you could get away with no supplementation, but once again its all personal preference. If it were me I would try the 20K's or add some actinics.