lighting on a budget?

[alcohologist]

hardy sps species would do okay around the top of the rockscape, i think. not too experienced with coral myself - yet. [looking to upgrade my lighting soon]
LPS and softies would thrive under your lights though i'm sure.

 

[serafino]

The absolute cheapest way possible here goes.................................................................its called............................................wait for it ...............................................................almost.........................
wait for it............................THE SUN!
Just put the tank in a very well lit room with direct sunlight. Or if you prefer I believe what many places do its build a greenhouse.
In my future house I will build a green house for growing corals muahaha.

 

[slowef]

Pics! Pics! Cant wait to see you MH setup. How much did the MH setup run?

 

[BIGgourami]

The absolute cheapest way possible here goes.................................................................its called............................................wait for it ...............................................................almost.........................
wait for it............................THE SUN!
Just put the tank in a very well lit room with direct sunlight. Or if you prefer I believe what many places do its build a greenhouse.
In my future house I will build a green house for growing corals muahaha.

unless you live in the tropic you aren't going to get a long enough photoperiod nor enough intensity of light.. much less so in a green house

also, and correct me if im wrong i think it's cheaper and easier to buy or even DIY a light than to build and get permit for a green house...

 

[Yoji_嬰孩]

unless you live in the tropic you aren't going to get a long enough photoperiod nor enough intensity of light.. much less so in a green house

also, and correct me if im wrong i think it's cheaper and easier to buy or even DIY a light than to build and get permit for a green house...

You are correct there, I'll post up a DIY for T5fixture later.

 

[kittyhazelton]

Ok, just a few quick pics before I go to bed.
I was only able to get these before my camera died. But the lights make my lionfish look SOOOO much nicer.
The very very first picture of the tank is the "before" shot for reference. I'll try to get some more tomorrow once the lights have been on a while and the corals are all opened up. (and when my battery is better charged so it can actually auto focus.)

 

[Yoji_嬰孩]

Did you make your own rocks?! Those look like the quickcrete/oystershell mix of rock.... Oh and nice only thing I really would recommend you change is open up the rock work a little more as its piled up pretty thick and you really dont want too many dead zones in your tank.