New lighting options

[Joe Fish]

I'm starting to look into some new lighting options. I looking at T5, PC, and Metal Halides fixtures. I realize I should go with MH if I can, but I have a few questions about them. You can get either the MH fixtures or the MH w/PC lighting fixtures. Is this what I should get? I have also been looking at the PC fixtures that are about about 384 watts. I would like to go with both daylight lamps and actinic lights. Moon lights built in would be a plus, but my DIY fixture would still work just fine. I think that they come built in for almost all fixtures anymore. Let me know what I should start saving for.

 

[zoalover34]

i would just save up for the MH so you don't have to upgrade again.. go with ones a little bigger than you should so when you get a bigger tank you can still use the same lights! just my opinion

 

[Lorna]

Here is a great site to compare lighting needs and costs.....these guys are great as I bought my Current USA Outer Orbit fixture from them and I ran into a few issues which they stood behind and now I see they have the mh/t5/lunar light out and in my opinion it is the best combination fixture out there....

marineandreef.com/ Aquarium Reef Lighting Chart--Find the best aquarium hood lighting for all sizes of reek tanks

they also offer free shipping....which is an added bonus...

 

[Joe Fish]

Thanks all. I really like the current usa with the T5s. Now I need to start saving. Would the t5s be better than the PC lights?

 

[Lorna]

a hundred times....yes. I have the pc's and I only wish I had waited and gotten the t5's.

 

[TheFool]

The MH provides most of the 'clout', so if you're on a budget I always recommend a quality 'barebone' fixture. The PC are just there for actinic supplementation for aesthetics, and the moonlights even less valuable.

 

[Joe Fish]

So you suggest to just get a regular MH fixture without the other stuff?

 

[Lotus]

If you don't have moonlights, you miss out on all those wonderful phosphoresent colors you get on corals. I'd get separate moonlights, even if I didn't get a fixture that came with them.

 

[Lorna]

Even a bare bones m/h fixture is expensive. Unless you are a diy then you can build what you want. I just like the neat compact look of the current fixture also the ease of built in fans/timer/and wiring makes it a nice choice though an expensive one.

 

[Igor The Cat]

one thing that needs to be mentioned, T-5s are pretty much a waste of money UNLESS each bulb has its own reflector.

cheers

-Java

 

[Joe Fish]

I did build my own moonlight fixture. It provides all the moon light I need. So I still not sure what I want to get. I do agree that having the fixture with everything built in is quite convenient. I still have a while to go before I can afford anything.

 

[Joe Fish]

Here is one I'm looking at:
48" Aqualight Pro (ESU)

It says it has 2 on/off switches do anyone which lights they control? I'm assuming one is for the MH, but is the other for the PC and/or moonlights?

 

[saltwater4life]

(2) on/off switches and (2) 12'power cords (one for the actinic compact lamps and one for the LED lamps);

thats what i says but i dont know if thats for the switches or the power cords... i'm guessing both but that lighting is AWESOME for a 55g

 

[Dadstank]

(2) on/off switches and (2) 12'power cords (one for the actinic compact lamps and one for the LED lamps);

I can tell you from experience(helped friend on his headache/project) that buying a fixture and making your own isn't much difference in price. Look into the price of ballasts... higher end ones IE: ICECAP, can be pretty spendy... then you add on the time and headache of building everything....

If you plan on going the route of stony corals then go with something with halides, otherwise they really aren't needed for softies.... softies rely more on the "K" rating... along with your nuisance algeas

 

[saltwater4life]

you copyed me
ya i was looking at those lights and found some nice ones like that on ebay so you might wanna check ebay

 

[Joe Fish]

Most of the ones on ebay are made really cheap which equals fire hazards. I'll pay the extra to get a good one.

 

[Lorna]

Stay away from some of those on ebay as they tend to be fire hazards....jebo odessey etc. If I was spending $669 I would go the extra $30 and get the outer orbit with the t5's for more wattage and convenience...also the free shipping.

 

[Fishckabibble]

the only thing i have noticed about mh lights is that they dont make the water look the same, all the pics i have seen with mh lights dont seem to show off the full colors or corals and fish and whatnot, it looks so bland compared to some of the pc lights i have seen on tanks. just my opinion.

 

[Joe Fish]

That is why I like the MH PC/T5 combos. This way you get all the nice colors with the actinics.

Lorna - I completely agree. I'll spend the extra to get a well built one. Does your have internal or external ballasts?

 

[aresgod]

I dunno, I have both setups, MH/PC and solely MH, and I think I really prefer the MH, plus cheaper when replacing bulbs.