Opinions on this lighting system? I'd love to hear them!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

justonemoretank

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 30, 2009
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Hi all--

So, we upgraded from a 75 to a 180 reef a few months ago. Gradually, we have gotten everything where we wanted it to be -- a good amount of new live rock, a new sump, an extra pump, and a new protein skimmer. The corals are all softies -- mushrooms, kenya tree, various polyps. We're also in the process of switching to RO/DI -- our 55 gallon water changes are now done with RO/DI, and our auto-top off is now being filled with RO/DI. So, we're on our way to hopefully getting this tank where we want it to be!

Now on to the real question -- lighting. Currently, we still have the old four-foot light (Coralife Lunar Aqualight) hanging above the tank, which means our rock and corals can only extend four feet! It's time to upgrade -- I'd like to know anyone's opinion on the light linked below. It has a pretty high wattage due to the combination of metal halides/T5s.

So, these are my questions:

-- Is it too much light? (By this, I mean is it going to be too bright for what we're growing?) We might do something other than softies some day, but I'm not sure.

-- Does anyone have any experience with Marineland White Glove Protection/Warranty?

-- Can anyone recommend a comparable product for around the same amount of money or less? I'd like to take a look at it!

-- And, lastly, what has your experience been with these MH/T5 combo systems?

Please keep in mind that this is the 72" one when you're giving your thoughts, so you'll need to scroll down in the "details" to get those specs. Thanks for any comments or thoughts! :)

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=20394
 
softies dont need as much light but when i had my saltwater reef i was told more light and more light but i also need to know good placement of coral some near the bottom that dont need as much light and some at the top that like alot of light, but it all really depends on your coral and the light on the link below is the light your using now?
 
No, it's the light I'm asking opinions on that I'm about to buy. The light I have now is the 4-foot Coralife Lunar Aqualight.

As I said earlier, the corals are mushrooms, a kenya tree, and some polyp-y things.
 
if so and your tlking about getting the 72inch model i would get it but ask around about it on how it performs and stuff like that and having a 180g tank with that light on it will let you keep a good amount of any kind of coral
 
Okay.
 
just go with powercompacts if your not going sps

t5 would not be great for your softies at all it could acctuly melt them


and since its just pc you could go cheap and order a light from aquatraders.com

go and research to find out what types of corals you want if all you want is what you have now just stick with pc
 
The T5 bulbs are in the power compacts, so I'm not sure how the power compacts are good, but T5s will melt my corals, especially when that's what I've been using for 2 years.

Also, I'm not interested in "going cheap." We haven't gone cheap on anything else, so why would we do it on lighting? I like this company, and they stand behind their products, so I'm willing to pay a little bit more for something that's a good product by a good company. It's a little late to worry about the money thing -- this upgrade to the 180 has cost us about fifteen hundred bucks. It's a money pit now LOL.

I'm just trying to find out these things:

justonemoretank;3691881; said:
-- Is it too much light? (By this, I mean is it going to be too bright for what we're growing?) We might do something other than softies some day, but I'm not sure.

-- Does anyone have any experience with Marineland White Glove Protection/Warranty?

-- Can anyone recommend a comparable product for around the same amount of money or less? I'd like to take a look at it!

-- And, lastly, what has your experience been with these MH/T5 combo systems?
Click to expand...

Also, I can adjust the height of the light to whatever I want, since I'm hanging the light from the ceiling.

Basically, I'm trying not to spend six hundred dollars on a light now, and then in two years, want to grow something else, and have to buy this one anyway!
 
1.) yes your corals would not like it at all

2.) no

3.) http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_...xtures-Current_USA-CU01083-FILTFIT5T5-vi.html

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01035-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

or 2 of these would give you the most light for your money ( buy 2 36" fixtures )
http://www.marinedepot.com/Sunlight...Sunlight_Supply_Inc-SL2111-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

4.) i have a mh combo system and its ok but i also have sps in my tank and my thing about combo fixture is that its putting out quite a bit of light and that might hurt your softies
and mh bulbs are pricey
 
ryeguy28;3691923; said:
just go with powercompacts if your not going sps

t5 would not be great for your softies at all it could acctuly melt them
Click to expand...

What I'm asking you is this:

How is statement one true, when statement two conflicts with it? T5s are in the power compact lights, right? That's the bulb in the fixture. I don't understand.

Thanks for the other info. What do you grow in the tank with the combo system? How long has it been set up? Obviously, I have no idea what corals we'll want in two years, but I'm just trying to find something that will last, no matter what we want to do.

When you're saying this is going to melt my corals, are you looking at the specs -- the wattage and then thinking about the size of the system? I just want to be sure.
 
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