Newbie in need.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
nonstophoops;4850450; said:
Decent, maybe. It would be adequate for low light corals. Pretty much limited to softies and really low light hard corals.

For example, I have 116 watts of T5's and 130 watts of Power Compacts on my 75 gallon and I consider my lighting to be barely moderate. Metal Halides would be better.
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HOLY COW...... The prices.... :O
 
Raetak;4850451; said:
For light bulbs, would this be decent? Again I want this to be able to support corals and plants. I will deal with the algae so don't worry about that.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+22130&pcatid=22130
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The actinic bulbs are meant to be supplemental lighting for looks, they are not recommended really as the main lighting. For example, a 4 bulb unit for a 75 gallon would have 2 10k bulbs and 2 actinic bulbs at most.

On another note, the algae thing is helped along by having more intense lighting but not necessary the reason the algae grows. Algae needs nutrients in order to grow no matter how intense the light. Limit the nutrients and limit the algae. Realistically, if you have healthy water for a reef tank then you will not have algae problems. Watch your stocking levels for fish and how much you feed them. These things greatly contribute to the ability to algae to grow.
 
Raetak;4850472; said:
HOLY COW...... The prices.... :O
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Yes, lighting is expensive. Compared to how much you will spend on utilities and bulb replacement, the fixture price is actually cheap. A 250 watt metal halide bulb will cost about 5 dollars a month to run if you run it for 6 hours a day. So you would need 2 halide bulbs meaning 10 dollars. Then most likely 2 T5 bulbs at approx. 30 watts a piece. Thats another 60 watts at 10 hours a day so another 2 bucks a month. So we are at 12 dollars a month to run lighting. Then factor in bulb replacement. Metal Halides need to be replaced at least once a year if not more, they cost anywhere from 50-100 bucks times 2 bulbs. T5 bulbs cost about 20 bucks on the low side and need to be replaced every 6 months. So 80 bucks a year there.

In total, we are looking at 12 a month in electric times 12 months = 144 dollars. Bulbs are 80 for T5's and 150(75 each) for Metal Halides a year = 230 dollars. That is 374 dollars a year to run a 510 watt unit for the year. (I made some assumptions here on cost for energy and bulbs and stuff, so really it is an estimate, but close to what you would pay.)
 
If you aren't going to get SPS corals and really worried about amazing color you could look at Aquatraders.com for lighting fixtures. From what I have heard they are decent fixtures with rather poor bulbs. They would definitely allow you to keep whatever you want as far as corals go though. The prices can't be beat either. They just got their extendable series Metal Halides in today.
 
SPS??? Just when I think I know something I am baffled.
 
Raetak;4850650; said:
SPS??? Just when I think I know something I am baffled.
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Ha sorry. Small Polyp Stony. They are hard corals and are generally the hardest to keep. Definitely not something you would start with, but something to consider long term when buying a light fixture.
 
Well I actually like the "soft" coral better than the hard.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=597+1492

I may not buy from them, but could I get the Soft Coral, Polyps & Mushrooms, if I had the lighting system I mentioned? Also if I got the Coralife Aqualight HO T-5 Dual Lamp Aquarium Light Fixture would I get one of each bulbs kind of like what you were talking about?
 
Your link just takes us to the aquacultured corals section.

If you are looking for softies, I might be able to hook you up before I get rid of all of my softies...you can PM me if interested.
 
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