lighting on ten gallon

[TRe]

im looking into get better lighting on my 10 gallon and i was wondering what u guys suggest i get...would a better bulb do or will i need a nex fixture..and will i need a new hood as well....

 

[1979camaro]

what do you want to grow with the lights?

 

[TRe]

what do you want to grow with the lights?

what ever i can grow in a ten gallon *twirlysmi

 

[1979camaro]

well, if you want to grow SPS then i guess you want a PC fixture which will get you about 120w...you will probably want to get one with legs and just run an open top

 

[lordroad]

I run a 96 watt lamp. it's 50/50.

Definitely go with the open top and mounting legs. Keeps the tank cooler and totally eliminates the annoying salt creep on the hood or canopy.

 

[TRe]

i may just hold off on the better lighting or now since im getting a 65 gallon soon wich i plan on turning into a reef tank and ill just save my money for th lighting on that tank but what lighting should i go with on that tank?? i want some corals and anenomes

 

[wayne]

Halides, PC, VHO or T5 can all work for you but you'll need quite a lot of clout for those orgs. In all honesty while halides look like a lot of money initially they are pretty simple to set up, you don't need to watch as many bulbs, and you know you've got some power.
Personally I have T5's, and now wish I had bought a halide, though I would be suffering a lot more evap.

A basic question is how much money do you have? Would you rather spend 500 dollars now or 50 dollars every couple of months?

 

[TRe]

well actually i wasnt planning on spending $500 on lighting alone

 

[1979camaro]

then it will not be possible for you to grow SPS in a 65...if you wants to spend like $250 you can probably grow softies

 

[TRe]

yeah ill probally go that direction then.... and what exactly am i spending $250 on??

 

[1979camaro]

lights i think?

 

[aresgod]

agreed, but you might have a problem keeping some anemones unless you get the right lights

 

[TRe]

lights i think?

no s**t i mean what type of lights,brands ect..

 

[1979camaro]

oh...power compacts

 

[wayne]

Oh sorry this is for the ten, I got lost and started thinking about your planned larger tank. Yes , power compacts all the way, until you think you're wasting your money. But you need to decide what you want to keep and build round that.

But frankly as you think you're going to be going bigger soon you might want to start saving for that as then you will be seeing some large bills.