Lighting for a 185

[Reef Swimmer]

I've been looking at lighting options for a 185 and I like the ease of use of t5s but I also like the look of leds. While t5s have been in use for years and are a proven to grow coral like mad, leds are cost less in the long run and but cost more up front and the fact the you can torch corals has me second guessing leds. But finding a t5 light fixture that is 5ft is becoming a royal pain. Geisimann, ATI and Aquatic life are the top 3 that I think make the best t5 fixtures. I have also been looking at the geisimann Tezla light from BRS. They have it on sale for 250, but there is nothing about the light spread and how deep it will go. What are yalls opionins on lighting for a 185.

[Zack]

I thought you were going 33 long?

I'd personally use 4 t5 bulbs (dimmable) to suppliement ai hydras, that'd be dope

[Reef Swimmer]

i am going 33 long but im also buying a 185 starting in late jan

[reefreak]

If you're gonna spend that new on a light, I would go with some used ai sols or Vegas or even the new reefbreeder value LEDs.

[350gt]

4ft fixtures will work too.....

I went from the aquatic life 48" (mh/t5) fixture to 3 ai sols on my 60" tank. Now im running 3 vegas with 2 48" t5s supplementing....

[Zack]

i am going 33 long but im also buying a 185 starting in late jan

In that case, I'd buy equipment that'd be suitable for both

[Reef Swimmer]

I'm using my old t5s on my 33 and doing a slow build on the 185. I need to take it to forever pets after I pay it off to have it resealed. That's first priority.

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[ramsey]

4ft fixtures will work too.....

I went from the aquatic life 48" (mh/t5) fixture to 3 ai sols on my 60" tank. Now im running 3 vegas with 2 48" t5s supplementing....

3 AI SOLs would be very spotty unless you hung them really high. I had 4 over my 185 which worked nice but 3 left some shadowing. The great thing about them is you can start with 3 and always add another one later.

[350gt]

I had them 12" over the tank with no spotlighting.....

[Scutterborn]

I'm currently running three of them over the 185 right now. They are about 14 inches AWL with no spot lighting. I still feel I could use one more. I'm not using any T5 supplementation


-Ben-

[Reef Swimmer]

I like ai's but how are the geisimann tezla less.

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[350gt]

Doubt anyone has those here, could be wrong though.....

[ramsey]

I'm currently running three of them over the 185 right now. They are about 14 inches AWL with no spot lighting. I still feel I could use one more. I'm not using any T5 supplementation


-Ben-

Spotlighting may not be the right word, but like you said, it seemed like I needed another. I tested running three over my 185 and had four over a 6' tank. In both cases I felt like I was missing one (especially in pictures). To each his own though.

Giessmann makes top notch fixtures but the tesla seems overpriced. I also don't like the ratio of colors and lack of optics. I think you'd be better off with a few used SOL blue fixtures. They're going for around $200 used. If you want new, you might look at the hydra 52. You might also check out buildmyled. They're based in Austin and can build you a custom fixture.

[Reef Swimmer]

The tezla from brs is 250. I never though of having a custom light built. The hydra 52s are nice but too much dough. I'd go with the regular hydras or Vega colors.

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[ramsey]

The tezla from brs is 250. I never though of having a custom light built. The hydra 52s are nice but too much dough. I'd go with the regular hydras or Vega colors.

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Yeah, $250 for 20 LEDs and weak optics. Like I said, I think used SOL blues would be better. On a 5' tank, two of the 52's should be perfect. You'd need three hydras minimum (four would be better IMO) so you're looking at the same money for less light. The Vegas might be different though.

[Reef Swimmer]

What about a 5ft 6 bulb ati fixture with halides.

[Big_Pun]

What about a 5ft 6 bulb ati fixture with halides.

rule of thumb with t5 is 1 bulb every 3 in, for the width of tank. that 185 is 30 inches wide som10 bulb with be best, and if your not doing sps then a 8 bulb may work. (if you go t5 only) on my 150 i ran a 2x 250 with 4 t5's, beast of a light, that was a 60in tank and a 48in fixture.

[Reef Swimmer]

I want some sps like 3 to 4 frags

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[Big_Pun]

I want some sps like 3 to 4 frags

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lol its never 3-4 if you get into sps

[Reef Swimmer]

My favorite is German blue digi

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[Reef Swimmer]

I would let it grow to 2 ft wide and 8 inches tall before I frag it

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[Big_Pun]

I would let it grow to 2 ft wide and 8 inches tall before I frag it

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slow down there tiger, lol. thats a few years of growth without screwing up. growth is easy part of sps its holding color thats hard.

[Reef Swimmer]

Oh dam. Well if I can swing the price of leds I'm going Vega if not I'm going to try a light setup close to what ace had in his 250

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[Zack]

Mike has a vega for 300, buy that!!

[Reef Swimmer]

It's going to be awhile before I start buying what I need for this tank. I got other things that need attention first.

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[Reef Swimmer]

Would two Vegas cover 60 inches.

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[reefreak]

No I'd say 3 at minimum.