Lighting for my new tank

rampotato · Apr 10, 2014

I am new here. I had a 125 gallon about 8 years ago and had good luck with my fish and soft corals with just compact flouresent lights. However towards the end I had a lot of green hairy algae take over. It could have been nitrates. I recently bought a 100 gallon tank. It is only 16" H. I would like to get T5 HO lights. I saw some on eBay that were 4x80 watt. They also had the moon led lights. But they were a no name brand. I am kind of on a tight budget but I know lights are important. I am going to have soft corals and fish again. Has anyone ever used those? Or any suggestions on another fixture I should be looking at? There is so much to get. I want to start with the lights. Thanks

Reefing Madness · Apr 11, 2014

T5s I'd go with these, no need for 80w lamps. Also, go with 3 Blues, 2 Actinic and one 10k.
48" 324W T5 HO Aquarium Light Hood 6x54 Fluorescent Actinic Lamp LCD Timer Reef | eBay
Or a couple of these
OR-U120 LED Aquarium Light_Aquarium LED_OCEANREVIVE LED
Arctic-S026 LED Aquarium Light_Aquarium LED_OCEANREVIVE LED
Value LED Fixture | Reef Breeders LEDs
120W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum Reef Marine Coral LPS SPS Lamp | eBay
2pcs SPS LPS Coral Reef Grow Lamp 165W Dimmable LED Aquarium Light 55 3W LEDs | eBay

rampotato · Apr 11, 2014

But wouldn't I want a 72" inch light? I didn't see an option for 6x54 in that length

Reefing Madness · Apr 11, 2014

Sorry you didn't give a length. Or the one you were discussing. 100g come in 5' tanks, never saw one in 6', my bad.
Or a couple of these for 72"
LCD Timer 36" 234W 6x39 Fluorescent Actinic T5 HO Aquarium Light Fixture Marine | eBay
More lamps, more colors.