Crashjack
Well-Known Member
I'm getting back into the hobby after a 15 year hiatus, starting a 72"x24"x19" mixed reef that will gravitate more toward SPS over time. I have an adult form of Muscular Dystrophy, which results in progressive muscle weakness over time. Though I was diagnosed when I had tanks in the past, it wasn't much of an issue. Now, I really have to plan everything out and will have to rely on a lot more automation.
In regards to lighting, I'm looking for good quality but just as important, I have to address contingency planning. My "best" tank in the past was a 75 gal, built-in a wall tank that had MH and PC lighting. What I didn't realize at the time was that this methodology also worked well with contingencies. In other words, if a bulb went out, I still had enough lighting to where I could have gone for some time without replacing. Even if a ballast went out, speedy replacement wasn't critical. Furthermore, it was a suspended Hamilton retro kit so replacement ballasts or parts weren't hard to come by and neither were bulbs. One of the guys installing my tank wants to sell me Chinese black boxes he brands and also uses over his tanks. These would be economical and probably do all I need (though I question the shimmer effect they will provide, which is important to me), but they offer me little in case of a problem. If one goes out, I have to rely on a service guy with no store front and if he is unavailable, moves on, or no longer sells, I'm probably stuck dealing with someone in China. Furthermore, these black boxes could be discontinued or the specs could change the day after mine are installed and if one goes out, its replacement might not match my existing mounting. With no other lighting to supplement, getting a new box installed is going to be more critical. Since I wouldn't likely be able to re-mount myself, I would either have to rely on a very unwilling participant (my wife) or spin my wheels trying to find someone to come figure it out and do so rather quickly.
The options I've thought of is to have (3) Kessil A360W-Es and (4) T5s... maybe using pendants for the Kessils and some sort of racks for retro T5s, or just go with a Hamilton MH/T5 fixture. Both of these options should provide very good quality lighting and also work well if something goes out. Neither option is inexpensive when you factor in the costs over the long haul (MH/T5s), and excess heat is always an issue when MHs are involved. I'm open to other ideas and would love some mounting options. I'll mostly be using a power chair with an elevating seat to access the tank. Though a canopy would look nice, I'm shying away from a canopy because I don't want to deal with lifting a heavy door, and I want access to all 3 sides of the tank. The second guy doing the install is mechanically inclined, does a lot of woodworking, and I believe has the ability to do some fabrication so there shouldn't be any issues with the initial lighting mounting/setup once I have a plan.
In regards to lighting, I'm looking for good quality but just as important, I have to address contingency planning. My "best" tank in the past was a 75 gal, built-in a wall tank that had MH and PC lighting. What I didn't realize at the time was that this methodology also worked well with contingencies. In other words, if a bulb went out, I still had enough lighting to where I could have gone for some time without replacing. Even if a ballast went out, speedy replacement wasn't critical. Furthermore, it was a suspended Hamilton retro kit so replacement ballasts or parts weren't hard to come by and neither were bulbs. One of the guys installing my tank wants to sell me Chinese black boxes he brands and also uses over his tanks. These would be economical and probably do all I need (though I question the shimmer effect they will provide, which is important to me), but they offer me little in case of a problem. If one goes out, I have to rely on a service guy with no store front and if he is unavailable, moves on, or no longer sells, I'm probably stuck dealing with someone in China. Furthermore, these black boxes could be discontinued or the specs could change the day after mine are installed and if one goes out, its replacement might not match my existing mounting. With no other lighting to supplement, getting a new box installed is going to be more critical. Since I wouldn't likely be able to re-mount myself, I would either have to rely on a very unwilling participant (my wife) or spin my wheels trying to find someone to come figure it out and do so rather quickly.
The options I've thought of is to have (3) Kessil A360W-Es and (4) T5s... maybe using pendants for the Kessils and some sort of racks for retro T5s, or just go with a Hamilton MH/T5 fixture. Both of these options should provide very good quality lighting and also work well if something goes out. Neither option is inexpensive when you factor in the costs over the long haul (MH/T5s), and excess heat is always an issue when MHs are involved. I'm open to other ideas and would love some mounting options. I'll mostly be using a power chair with an elevating seat to access the tank. Though a canopy would look nice, I'm shying away from a canopy because I don't want to deal with lifting a heavy door, and I want access to all 3 sides of the tank. The second guy doing the install is mechanically inclined, does a lot of woodworking, and I believe has the ability to do some fabrication so there shouldn't be any issues with the initial lighting mounting/setup once I have a plan.
