Im an new to Reefing, My tank has been set up for almost a year now with just Live rock and fish. Im wanting to take the next step and move into live coral. Though I don't know what type of lighting I need. When going to the local stores there lighting systems they have are really expensive. Ive found alot of stuff on ebay that looks like it would work I just don't know really what I need. I know what want my tank to look like, just not sure how to get it there. 55g Clown, Golby, Pistil Shrimp, Crabs, Snails.
Btw there are Pictures of my tank on my Facebook page look me up Thomas w Baldwin or by my email Twsly76@aol.com http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6 ... 16af6978e8 Thanks all.
Well. I would probably start with some T5s or if you are feeling adventurous LEDs. I have a bunch of hardy soft coral frags (zoas, xenia, mushrooms, star polyps, toadstool) when you want to give them a try.
Not all T5 fixtures are the same. For optimal lighting you will want a fixture that has a single ballast for each individual bulb. For a 55gallon tank I'm thinking at least a 4bulb fixture. Then you have several bulb options, probably two 10K with two actinics would be nice color specturm to get you started and provide good coral growth and coloration. Fixtures are very expensive but keep the end result in mind. You will be better off saving your money for the one that will allow you to house clams and sps should you ever want to mix up your reef a bit. And I can almost guarantee that very shortly you will.....
Hands down go with a wavepoint 4 bulb system I had one with my 55g. Absolutely loved it. Only reason I got rid of it is when i went to 100g i went MH. If possible talk with the guys at THe Fish Tank. Pretty good prices there.
A lot depends on the ballast that you use to drive your T5's. Get a good brand that you can count on. I am not a great fan of T5's but many are, a lot has to do with the fact I tried to save money on cheaper fixtures, didn't work for me. Be very careful about eBay cheepies, somethings are Ok cheep but I am afraid that light are not one of them when it comes to growing corals.
+1. Save your money for the better quality fixture. You will end up replacing if not done correct the first time.
another thing as well myself and a few others have done. If you want to get say an ebay cheapie, such as odyssea. You can get one that has a nice case and upgrade components as you go. I purposelly did this with my MH set up and would def do it again. You dont have the best there is lighting wise to begin but as you go it gets better. everything can be changed in these units. I would suggest a new ballast first tho as it prolly the "hardest" thing to change. I went this route so I could pick and choose exactly what I wanted in it and not start out with a $2K MH which for me is a hard purchase.
Just go to the fish tank and get a workforce ballast, endcaps, and reflectors or got to WWW.aquatraders.com and pick up a new version of the oddysea four bulb t5 fixtures they are new. And improved. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
So I ordered some lights and yes they are cheap but for what I am using them for I think they will work. That being said the brackets they came with don't really work. I was going to see if anybody on here could help me build a hood for them. Something simple. Couple boards screwed together to make a platform for them to sit on. thanks.
Where are you located? We're in Austin right outside Cabot. Our garage is always open for projects of that sort.
Oh you're not that far at all then. Like I said, garage is always open for projects and we'd be happy to help out.
I am very happy with my 48" TEK 8 bulb set up on my 40B. I originally had it on a 75 but it leaked on me and had to buy a 40B in a pinch (on the last day of the $1 per gallon sale). The growth and color has been better than a when I was using Dimmable (250W, 275W, 400W, 440W) LUMATEK Ballasts & VHOs on my 150 Having quality equipment helps you have a quality tank. I would not go cheap on lighting or skimmer. Not saying to go broke on getting new equipment, but getting used equipment can save you a decent amount as well.
