more lighting inquiries!!!

[bwaller76]

ok so I have two selections that I am looking at but I dont know the foggiest about lighting so

1.
48" AQUARIUM LIGHT T5 HO POWER COMPACT T-5 REEF 4FT U71 - eBay (item 270491219134 end time Dec-27-09 06:00:37 PST)

2.
48'' Aquarium Light T5 HO 8X 54 + bulbs Reef NEW+ bulbs - eBay (item 300326781133 end time Dec-27-09 11:58:35 PST)
:bowdown::bounce:

 

[dcantucson]

There is no comparison between the two. One has 4 bulbs and one has 8.
What size is your tank. Is this light for the display tank or the sump you just got?
Sorry need more information.

 

[bwaller76]

sorry I have a 150 gallon 48 x 24 x 30 deep and the light I am going for is for the main display...mainly reef tank. I just know so little about lighting that I dont even know which to select. The 8 bulb or ok with the 4.

 

[XxKnuckleheadxX]

be careful on the no name brand lights. i would go with something well known in the undustry.

 

[bwaller76]

problem is im a poor bastage lol

 

[dcantucson]

Okay, with 150 gallon tank you'll need a minimum of 600 watts to grow corals and more if you want to have SPS or anemones. Have you considered a combo MH/T5 lighting system such as:

Odyssea Metal Halide System

 

[bwaller76]

that is exactly the type of information and suggestions that I am after. I like that light and I would say that price is pretty darn reasonable too

 

[XxKnuckleheadxX]

it is reasonable. its out of stock though.

 

[dcantucson]

knucklehead can order you some lighting.

 

[bwaller76]

well its going to be a while but I might take you up on that offer...money is short after an 8 kid christmas lol

 

[dcantucson]

8 kids! :shock:

 

[bwaller76]

haha yeah 14, 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4, and 1.5 lol...plus two dogs four cats four snakes and say...30 fish. Were a full house. So if anyone wants to surprise me with some gifted lighting haha :D

 

[yote]

GOOD GOD Whats in that water up there :shock: :D

 

[bwaller76]

Lol that's why I'm getting a ro/di lol

 

[dcantucson]

Lol that's why I'm getting a ro/di lol

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

 

[Chris_150G]

I have two 250W MH in my 150G (20K).

I started adding coral about six weeks ago. I have LPS, zoanthids and mushrooms. Everything is doing very well. My torch has gotten noticeably bigger in the last six weeks. I've been told by friends that I could do SPS if I put it up high and centered under the light, but most on this site would probably say no.

 

[dcantucson]

I agree Chris, if you placed them below the MH lights toward the top I think you would be fine.

 

[yote]

You'd still have to acclimate them to the light before you placed them in the blast zone though.

 

[bwaller76]

ok so riddle me this...I keep hearing references to 15k, 20k etc when talking about the lights...what is this reference?

 

[Bifferwine]

That's the Kelvin Rating -- basically the color of the bulb.

The lower the number, the more yellow the color. The higher the number, the more blue the bulb. so 10K bulbs are white -- anything less than that is yellow. 12K and 14K are just right, IMO -- a good balance of blue and white. 20K is very blue.

The whiter the bulb, the faster corals tend to grow, but their colors look washed out an kind of ugly. If you go bluer (higher K ratings), their colors really stand out and pop, but they tend to grow slower.

So it's a trick to find a nice balance between good growth and good appearance when picking out bulbs.