I have had my tank up for 6 weeks. I'm wanting to add coral soon. It's a 75 gallon tank and I'm curious about lighting. What would you recommend? I've priced some at a local salt water store they start at $159 to $600 each. I'm thinking about checking online to save money. I have over $1200 in the tank now. My understanding is I need 2 to cover the size of the tank. What brand and how many watts do I need for sufficient lighting requirements?
Lighting
- Thread starter shannonwread
- Start date
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Ferozkaamil
Active Member
It's too soon to add corals yet...
What kind of corals r u planning to keep ?
Lps or sps ?
Lps and sps needs different lighting too..
In my opinion radion 30x pro.
What kind of corals r u planning to keep ?
Lps or sps ?
Lps and sps needs different lighting too..
In my opinion radion 30x pro.
Thanks... probably lps??? They are easier right? I wanna get the lighting in place. How long should I wait?
I've had the water tested several times, done water change and cleaned filters. I'm ocd with this thing... lol and like to prepare..
I've had the water tested several times, done water change and cleaned filters. I'm ocd with this thing... lol and like to prepare..
Ferozkaamil
Active Member
At least 2 to 3 months you should wait for better results..
Lps are easy and good coral for beginners..
Just remember there is no short cuts in this hobby and got to wait for better results and nothing come cheap almost everything is pretty expensive like corals fish lighting and list goes on and on hahah.
Anyway good luck
Lps are easy and good coral for beginners..
Just remember there is no short cuts in this hobby and got to wait for better results and nothing come cheap almost everything is pretty expensive like corals fish lighting and list goes on and on hahah.
Anyway good luck
booth2010
Newb but eager to learn!
If youre tank is showing stable parameters and has finished its cycle I dont see a reason you would need to wait an additional month or 2. As for the lighting what kind do you want? There is LED, Metal Halide, and T5. LEDs run cooler and save you money on the elctric bill but some believe they have not yet proven themselves for growing all types of corals. Metal Halides have been around forever and will grow anything I believe but they run the hottest and are worst on the electric bill. T5s are kind of the middle ground, they will grow anything and arent too terrible on the electric bill. There are tons of threads out there with the pros and cons of each type of lighting. It all boils down to prefference and price tag.
Ferozkaamil
Active Member
I said two months just to play safe.
In the end of the day it's his choice now mine or yours lol
booth2010
Newb but eager to learn!
I understand, I wasnt in any way trying to talk bad about your suggestion. In this hobby it is better to take things slow. I was simply saying that after a month and a half if everything is stable and parameters looks good there isnt any reason for her to wait longer to get corals if she wants to. I would, however, recommend only getting 1 or 2 for the time being to make sure the system can handle it.
there are a few options of lighting. LED, Metal Halid, T5HO, or a Hybrid of each. I never did like the Radion lights and now am switching to an eventual hybrid system T5HO/ LED or T5HO/ MH haven't decided yet. I am currently using a Reef Radiance Lumentek PRO 180. Don't like the Whites on this fixture.
With any light you need to keep the demensions of the tank in mind and what type of coral you will be keeping. Keeping more soft coral then you won't extreme intensity of lighting.
LED 's life span is the longest of all
MH you change every 8 months to a year depending on usage.
T5HO same as MH life span.
"Z"
With any light you need to keep the demensions of the tank in mind and what type of coral you will be keeping. Keeping more soft coral then you won't extreme intensity of lighting.
LED 's life span is the longest of all
MH you change every 8 months to a year depending on usage.
T5HO same as MH life span.
"Z"
Jordan berry
Active Member
I'm new to this hobby but from hours of research I would recommend Reef Radiance 165 series, Onyx fixture from rapid led, maxspect razor and the ecotech lights. I went with reef radiance because it will work for any corals I would want to do later and it was the cheapest. That being said I saw a friends maxspect razor and wish I had the extra $400 it would have cost me to go with that. Lighting is similar but looks great on your tank if your going rimless.
Daytonareefing
Active Member
My 2 cents I would use two AI Hydra 26's but everyone likes something different. I have seen good growth out of mine.
booth2010
Newb but eager to learn!
Well LEDs are usually more expensive upfront but cheaper in the long run. T5s the fixtures are generally cheaper but you need to buy bulbs upfront and every year after. Just for 6 ATI bulbs for a 48" fixture, which you would need, your looking at 132$ for bulbs. For the 48" ATI Sunpower 6 bulb which is T5 I believe it was $520 so your looking at ~$650 for it from BRS
Jordan berry
Active Member
If you want the least expensive lights that will work its probably t5's but after replacing some bulbs and with the coat to run them it will save you money to go led in the long run. Check out reef radiance. The 165p+ is around 269.99 if yours is 48" long tank you would need 2. Thas the cheapest I have found to work well for all types of coral without going t5 and dealing with heat, the cost of electricity and replacing bulbs.
Daytonareefing
Active Member
One thing I can say is ecotech marine which also owns Aqua Illumination has the best warranty I have ever seen no questions asked parts replacement. ecotech sells the radions xr30w pro's and and AI sells the Hydra's 26's and 52's.
I do know I would like options on changing color in my lighting. I don't want to buy anything I'm not happy with. I'll need 2 with my tank?
