Need some lighting help for a 75.

[brodykirby]

Hello everyone, I'm looking to replace the light on my 75. Right now i just have the old 36'' glo t5Ho from my previous tank. I'm not trying to be cheap, I know you get what you pay for, but I'm on a budget and not looking to spend a fourtune. I would like to eventually keep mushrooms, zoas and maybe keyna trees nothing to crazy.
As of right now i have a drilled 75 gal with overflow box. 36'' t5 light aswell as a coralife 125 skimmer and run a 20 long sump with a rio 2100 return pump.
I have about 90 pounds of rock and about 60 pounds of sand. As for livestock i have 2 blue damsels a turbo snail and 2 crabs. i know its not much but I want to establish the tank before i add a lot of livestock. The tanks been set up for about 3 months but 40 pounds of live rock and 40 pounds of sand came out of my 40 gallon tank i had set up for 3 years. Any suggestions

[jc]

Try to find a used t5 retro fit kit. The four foot bulbs will give your 54w each. I think two bulbs with good reflectors will be fine for what you want to keep.

[brodykirby]

What are the benefits to something like this? http://www.aquacave.com/48-current-usa-outerbrorbit-2x150w-10kbrhqi-mh-w-2x130w-dualbractinic--6-lunar-lights-1218.html

C (http://www.aquacave.com/48-current-usa-outerbrorbit-2x150w-10kbrhqi-mh-w-2x130w-dualbractinic--6-lunar-lights-1218.html)ompared to something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/48-4ft-4-Tube-T5-Grow-Light-6500K-Bulbs-Sun-Hydro-/250855655691?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6829890b#ht_1725wt_1398 ?

[FireWater]

Quality and fans for cooling the bulbs. Also, the current fixture is running metal halide. Totally different set ups.

If you decide to run all t-5 look for one that has active cooling as it will help with the output and life of the bulb.

[alton]

Check on the replacement cost for the lamps on that light? A little over $200 on line if you can find the 130 watt CFLs in a couple of years, with $700 for the fixture and two years of replacement lamps SOL LEDS would be paid for?

Your second choice sounds okay until you would have to buy four new lamps before you put the thing on your aquarium, so add $100 to that price and you are pretty close to what you could buy a T5HO light fixture with lamps and a warranty here locally.

One last thing, welcome to MAAST

At the end of the day it will be your choice on what you spend and what type of lighting you decide to go with. Maybe in the next few weeks someone will post a great deal on a light fixture here on MAAST, it happens all the time.

[brodykirby]

What do you guys think of this?


http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/grd/2504733001.html

[hobogato]

that is a plant grow light and will be very yellow (probably about 6500k). would work, but would make your corals look pretty washed out or brown.

[alton]

Looks just like the light you posted off ebay?
I agree with Ace.
I can't remeber but can web members post in the want to buy section?

[hobogato]

yes, they can alton

[ErikH]

I had 3 250watters above my 75, and six T5s.

[brodykirby]

Is something like this any good?

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-inch-324-W-T5-Aquarium-light-Reef-and-Coral-/300567944569?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fb3edd79#ht_2610wt_1165


Thanks for everyones help!

[FireWater]

After looking at the light on the link it looked ok. One thing I always look for in lighting and electrical product is an UL listing or other approved testing procedure for safety. This one carries a European approved mark which makes me believe it is intended for sale somewhere other than here. You might want to check shipping charges on that light before buying it.

As for style of light - if you want T5's then you are heading in the right direction.

Look for internal fans and individual reflectors.

[brodykirby]

What do you guys this of this Odyssea light (http://cgi.ebay.com/Odyssea-48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Saltwater-216W-/300580665588?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc00f8f4#ht_1744wt_1165)
(http://cgi.ebay.com/Odyssea-48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Saltwater-216W-/300580665588?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc00f8f4#ht_1744wt_1165)

And this TEK light? (http://http://www.aquacave.com/tek-light-t-5-48-lightbr-fixture-4-x-54w-lamps-brby-sunlight-supply-691.htmlhttp://www.aquacave.com/tek-light-t-5-48-lightbr-fixture-4-x-54w-lamps-brby-sunlight-supply-691.html)

[Gseclipse02]

What do you guys this of this Odyssea light (http://cgi.ebay.com/Odyssea-48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Saltwater-216W-/300580665588?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc00f8f4#ht_1744wt_1165)
(http://cgi.ebay.com/Odyssea-48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Saltwater-216W-/300580665588?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc00f8f4#ht_1744wt_1165)




i went to a customers house that has this fixture and wasn't really impressed with the stock bulbs


but at a $100.....

[brodykirby]

So if i replace the bulbs with quality ones im looking at what $25 a piece so im at $200 would i be better off with the TEK does it come with good bulbs?

[ErikH]

I would go with a Tek light over an Odyssea light any day. Just make sure you use a fan to cool the bulbs.

[cbianco]

That price you see for the TEK light is the BASE price, you still need a hanging kit or brackets, bulbs and the shield.

I have mixed feeling about TEK light fixtures. They don't actively cool many of their fixtures. Most fluorescent bulbs should have some kind of active cooling (in other words they should have fans).

Christopher :)

PS: I'm a T5 user. I love my T5 lamps.

[FireWater]

As for style of light - if you want T5's then you are heading in the right direction.

Look for internal fans and individual reflectors.

[brodykirby]

Alright, Thank you everybody! Any warning before i place a bid on this 4x54 216 Watt T5 light (http://cgi.ebay.com/48-216W-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Marine-Reef-Fish-Tank-LED-/270788021479?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0c394ce7#shId) ?

[justahobby]

One thing to be cautious about with off brand t5 lights are the bulbs may be a custom size. Normal t5ho 48" bulbs are 54w. Those claim to use 65w. You might get stuck with a fixture you can't replace bulbs on.

[brodykirby]

So this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-216-watt-Reef-Fixture-Reef-/260789304894?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb840fe3e#ht_839wt_1398)would be better?

[justahobby]

Better in terms of bulb availability, but I can't speak for quality. That would be at your own risk. If it was me, I would grit my teeth, keep using the 36" glo and wait for a great deal here on maast. It happens quite often if you are a little patient. Alternatively, You could go retro and buy it piece by piece. After stretching out through a few paychecks you wouldn't be out much and have a very nice light to show for.

[brodykirby]

I think thats what I'll do. I need to look for a 48'' fixture correct or will a 36'' 6 bulb TEK light be ok?

[justahobby]

36" would give you a gap of 6" on each side, possibly leaving dark edges. You could raise the fixture (if you don't have a canopy) to compensate. As someone mentioned earlier: bulb replacement might be a little pricey though. Especially if you stick to only soft coral. Expect to pay around $20 per replacement bulb. Nicer bulbs will cost more and you can find cheaper ones....

[justahobby]

Aquacave is a sponsor and sells retro kits pretty reasonably. They also run specials frequently. You would spent as much on one of those off brand fixture as a name brand retro kit:

http://www.aquacave.com/ready-fit-48-two-lamp-t5br-retro-kit-by-sunlight-supply-1263.html
http://www.aquacave.com/48-two-lamp-t5-retro-kitbr-by-coralvue-1146.html
http://www.aquacave.com/48-tek-2-t5-retro-kit-br--2-x-54w-lampsbr-by-sunlight-supply-695.html

[brodykirby]

Would I need to get 2 of those kits or is one enough? they would only put out 108 Watts correct? Is that enough for softies?

[justahobby]

Correct, they are 2 bulb kits. Two would let you view the tank, keep shrooms (but doubt they would multiply very quickly). Then in a month you could get a second one and be rockin and rollin. Decide to go SPS, add a third down the road. By that time you would probably find a used retro on here though

[brodykirby]

Thank you all for your help! I'm meeting with a member to pick up a 48'' nova extreme 8x54W.