Lighting

[Jsusisaliv]

I am starting to purchase some frags of corals and starting a nice reef Aquarium soon. I already have a nice LARGE Maxima clam and I know they LOVE light! I currently have a T5 light figure with 2 bulbs only. One blue and one white bulb. I know there are names for the different types of light and they do different things. Some people like to leave some on for certain periods of time etc etc. I know I will need to upgrade but I need to know whats out there and what is good and what is not. I was looking at this light in particular http://www.ebay.com/itm/111318726343?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT Biggest issue I have with this light in particular is it has no timers on it so I would have to buy timers for every type of light "maybe" I have a 75 gallon Aquarium.
Thoughts??

 

[nervousmonkey]

That might work, but no way of knowing since I don't use it. Are you interested in MH/T5 combos or just good lights in general? Price range? What types of corals? Other tank parameters would be good as well. Sump? Filtration? All of it will play a part in successful coral and reef keeping. I would personally go with a known entity in lighting, whether that's LED, MH or T5, and research the kinds of light and spectrum that each put out. PAR and LUX are important to know as well. @saltyfilmfolks can help with lighting and making sure you get what you need to be successful. Very knowledgeable, as well as others who I don't know personally, but let's start with some basics and then we can help you better in your search for a better light.
I personally like the MH/T5 combo, but realize the cost isn't the one time cost: bulb maintenance, replacement, good reflectors (which saltyfilm knows well), heat, power consumption. With MH and T5, you know what you are getting and can buy what will work for your system. Let's get some other experts in here, but please start with some background on your set up so we can all be on the same page in making recommendations as well as giving info, and be prepared for a lot of differing opinions.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hi LLoyyd. Yea that fixture may even be overkill. at the price, youll likely wind up with substandard bulbs.
Depending on the depth of the tank a 2 or used 4 bulb fixture t5 fixture with good tubes can be had.

Me, Im looking at sbreeflights @SB Reef Lights for led. close to that price point. little higher for the full ramping.

But get to know the relationship of animals lighting needs in Par if you can. high med low 350 par is a good place for many higher SPS and clams and will take less.

 

[Jsusisaliv]

Awesome guys. Appreciate the help. This is great to get some help. I have a 75 gallon tank with 12 gallon refugium for chaeto and safe haven for zooplanktons. I have roughly 100 lbs of rock in my tank and two clowns, one mandarin and 1 cleaner shrimp. Bunch snails and cleaner blue leg crabs. Also have sump and skimmer. Just need really good lighting ideas. No over kill but I want to be certain to give them enough. Thoughts, ideas?

 

[Jsusisaliv]

Awesome guys. Appreciate the help. This is great to get some help. I have a 75 gallon tank with 12 gallon refugium for chaeto and safe haven for zooplanktons. I have roughly 100 lbs of rock in my tank and two clowns, one mandarin and 1 cleaner shrimp. Bunch snails and cleaner blue leg crabs. Also have sump and skimmer. Just need really good lighting ideas. No over kill but I want to be certain to give them enough. Thoughts, ideas?

Awesome guys. Appreciate the help. This is great to get some help. I have a 75 gallon tank with 12 gallon refugium for chaeto and safe haven for zooplanktons. I have roughly 100 lbs of rock in my tank and two clowns, one mandarin and 1 cleaner shrimp. Bunch snails and cleaner blue leg crabs. Also have sump and skimmer. Just need really good lighting ideas. No over kill but I want to be certain to give them enough. Thoughts, ideas?

 

[Jsusisaliv]

I am going to get any and every coral I think we like within reason. Hard and soft corals, already have some soft corals. So I need my tank and lighting to be able to sustain all types of coral. I want to SLOWLY grown my tank into a gorgeous blooming healthy reef!

 

[nervousmonkey]

Personally, I like LED's and T5's, but it's tough to find a combo that works in that price range, but, my advice is to find the light you want when you can afford it, so save if you need, because the corals will grow under the right lighting and won't, or they'll die, under inadequate, as I'm sure you know. Do you need help with some brands for lights? That we can definitely do, then help you narrow down what to do with the light and the corals you get. Looks a great set up for a mixed reef, though that comes with it's own set of other things to consider, but let's get to lighting first. Brands?

 

[Jsusisaliv]

Thanks!
Yes brands and types. I prefer a combo with automatic timer "if possible" but price within reason is not a factor, so steer me right.

 

[nervousmonkey]

48" ATI T5 Dimmable Sunpower 6 bulb combo. If you want LED's for color, reefbrite strip LED's. How deep is your tank?
Or ReefBreeder 48" Photon V2 LED.

Both timer and Dimmable. If you want to spend less, get the regular ATI Sunpower, it has timer capabilities too, just no dimming, sunrise sunset etc.

There are great lighting options for less but for T5's ATI are the best. ReefBreeders are amazing. You can spend more, or less, on LED's but those will give you enough power to light up anything.

Everyone will have an opinion on light brands but just look around and ask about what you like. It'll be worth it to have good lighting.

 

[Jsusisaliv]

Tank size is 48x21x18

 

[Jsusisaliv]

21 deep

 

[Jsusisaliv]

Something to this note? I don't want to purchase anything without further knowledge as to what's best out there.
http://www.tbaquatics.com/t5-aquari...kfQSoNtZAnaStHOUcKWRhUOG0IW_b38YuIRoCOdDw_wcB

 

[nervousmonkey]

Yeah, that's the one, but I'd recommend the 6 bulb.

Or this one:
https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/

There are a lot more brands out there as well.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Look at all the lighting; go to bulkreefsupply or marinedepot

 

[Jsusisaliv]

This sure looks nice and is LED. So another question. From my experience LED bulbs outlast other bulbs 100 times and has much less power consumption. So to me, going LED is a no brainier. If all these apply and LED is adequate lighting. Opinions?

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-long/

 

[nervousmonkey]

I like LED. You're right, no changing bulbs. ReefBreeders are the best IMO. They provide just as much PAR as top of the line with great spectrum. I can grow anything under them. I use T5 as well though. Go with the RB for sure. You can look around a lot but that's what I went with after looking. Logan is a great guy to deal with too. He's on here as @Reef Breeders

 

[sticky polyps]

first off, I think the original fixture looked pretty sweet for the price. there are pros and cons to all types of lighting options. go to your LFS and check out all the lights they use so you can see the different types in person. find out what type you like and what's in your budget. very nice looking tank btw

 

[nervousmonkey]

Yeah, great points. Everyone will have a different opinion on lighting. Do some research before you buy. You'll find something you like, just make sure the color and spectrum along with intensity is what you want. A LFS is a good place to see them.

 

[Jsusisaliv]

Or what do you guys think about two Kessil A360s vs the reef keeper or similar elongated LED programmable lights? Just getting ideas. Downs, ups of either or.

Everyone saying LFS. Is that the fish store? Lol sorry. Don't know the acronyms yet very well. Cause I did look at all their lighting. I really liked the Kessil lights and how they looked on the tanks but they did not carry any high intensity strip lights such as the reefbreeder. I found another possibility. The maxscect RAZOR. What do you guys think vs the reefbreader V-2?

http://www.tbaquatics.com/maxspect/...UVJFxjHEgjXMShxAFmewEhzWFwHojjYkjzBoCJU3w_wcB

 

[nervousmonkey]

They are all great lights. I have Kessil as well and love em. It's more up to you what you like. LFS is local fish store. You'll be fine with any of those lights. I know Kessil and RB personally, not Maxspect so I can't say. The RB puts out a lot of PAR and LUX. Kessil has true UV. There are tradeoffs for each.