Lighting, Advice And Reccomendations

[JJ56]

Hey,

Im just setting up my new marine tank, which will start with live rock and I will slowly add soft corals and build up a small reef.

The tanks dimensions are 36" x 15" x 12" , so the tank is only 15" tall, no need for metal halide here. 106L.

I'm looking for a light unit that is well priced and bright enough for most soft corals.

I've been told T5 is is way to go, but here seems to be so many options.

T5's, one single or two lower rated ones?
Power compacts, I have no experience with these, but the transformers are really cheap, how do they compare?
Alternativly, I have a T8 transformer spare, rated to 50 - something watts, could this be a free candidate?

Im not really in the marked for a over tank light, unless it's a bargain, as I have plans to build a hood and mount inside.

Please help me out!

JJ

 

[rabbut]

For softies you will want arround 3-4 T5 tubes, or you could run 1-2 PC's... Power Compacts are a T5 tube that has been "bent" so you get twice the output over the same lenght in theory. They are brighter than standort T5 in this respect, but IMO standord T5 is better for most applications where space length wise isn't too bad...

T8 would not realy be practicle IMO, but may be usuable. Is the T8 balast single or double tube rated?

It woud likely work out cheaper to buy a T5 unit and screw it into the hood via it's wire hanging brackets, than to buy the parts to rig your own seporately. I'm not allowed to post Ebay links on here realy, but there is a good seller on there that I have used a few times... PM me for details....

The type and number of tube realy depends on the exact type of coral you want. For general softies, I'd presonally opt for 4 T5 tubes.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[JJ56]

Thanks mate,

So I should be looking at a whole T5 unit, and actually now I look at them, I suppose they would look much neater in the room than in the hood I was planning.

Also, Is having a atinic bulb necesary? I'm not overly fussed on the appearance, but if it is beneficial to the tanks inhabitants its a must for me

I may stay clear of PC's, I have plenty of space to play with and I think the T5's are more universal and easier to replace.

So, any reccomendations for such a unit? 4 T5's, over tank suspended / clipped on / not too expensive.

I'll Pm you mate, cheers!

JJ

 

[JJ56]

Right, I really need you're reccomendations now guys, Im ready for the big fill tomorrow and undoubtedly live rock in the next few weeks, I need to know what lighting to buy!

I've decided to get a over tank unit so I can run the tank open top (apart from the coverglass for condensation)

So, could anyone tell me a name / PM me a link to such a unit, that will fit straight onto my 36" long tank, remembering the quualities I'm looking for?

T5 lighting
Well priced
fits my 36" long tank
can easily support soft corals
Reflectors

Things like arcadia I bar tempt me, but there is so many options for bulbs, what wattage should I be looking at?

EDIT: am I overlooking PC lighting? would a double PC unit (4 T5's) be ok for most soft corals? I could mount them into a DIY overtank unit I could make. Any views?

Cheers

JJ

 

[amstar15]

bar temp is soley up to you. 10k gives you a yellowish look but I have found that my corals do the best in that light. I just make the tank look whiter/bluer with actinics.

20 k bulbs are really blue. so a 14 k bulk gives you that middle ground. basically no-one can give a "true" choice on bulb temp because alot of times it is personal peference. If I am running actinic lights I go with 10 k bulbs. no actinics I go 14 k bulbs.

 

[SkiFletch]

Wattage is dictated by tank length . at 36" long you'll have 39watt bulbs. You don't NEED an actinic tube, but they do make the colors "pop" much nicer on the corals/fish. And Arcadia does make a really top-notch T5 fixture

 

[JJ56]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help!

After some very helpful PM's form a number of members, I have been directed to and reccomended this:

4 x 39w t5 luminaire overtank light from ebay, good quality, and I can expect the unit to reach a price of around £70 posted in auction, £110 posted buy it now (I won't post the link, forum rules)

Seems to meet my requirements perfectly. This should be more than enough for what I intend to keep.

Thanks

JJ

 

[JJ56]

Hmmm..... I'm now getting very confused and undecided, need you're guys help.

Right, heres the thing:

I feel a overtank unit isn't going to be cost effective. I Ideally want a hood, and I would like the ability to have free choice of the lights I put it in, so I can do some modding adding fans, moonlights, etc.

The more I see people running PC's in their hoods, the more I think they are the the way to go.

For softies you will want arround 3-4 T5 tubes, or you could run 1-2 PC's... Power Compacts are a T5 tube that has been "bent" so you get twice the output over the same lenght in theory. They are brighter than standort T5 in this respect

Power Compacts:

I can pick up twin 55w unit, without bulbs, for around £40
Bulbs are around £14 each, and are 21" long
Can be fitted with T8 reflectors

So on it's own, thats 110w for well under £100. I can then add another PC unit, and have plenty of light for all of my needs. I will cool the bulbs with PC fans, I'm talking 200mm ones too, in my own ventilated hood.

Other options, T5 overtank units, or an equivilant setup, seem to be very expensive for what they are. Will I be able to get good results with general soft corals under plenty of PC?

Thanks

JJ

Any views?

 

[rabbut]

That should be OK for most softies I think I would wait for another person to doubly confirm first though, I'm still fairly new to this myself

All the best
Rabbut

 

[JJ56]

Thats my thinking, cheers mate.

I am pretty sure the output is sufficient, the only thing with them is the tubes are 21" long, and I have a 36" tank. Anyone had success with a similar setup?

Im trying to imagine how I could fit the 2 PC's into the hood I'll build, so that the length of the tank is illuminated.

Thanks everyone for their input,

JJ

 

[rabbut]

I'd fit one one side, and the other the other side, slightly off centre, such that you had a section in the centre that both lit, and then one light over each side, where you cannot get all the light from both tubes to go...