Quality Of Lights

[TylerFerretLord]

Well, I finally have enough money to start with everything I need!

I'm just curious about the light fixture I should get. I'm planning on keeping my tank a FOWLR until I get comfortable with saltwater, then upgrading to a reef when I amass another half a thousand dollars.

Here are the two lights I'm interested:

http/www.petmountain.com/product/light-f...ing-system.html
http/cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-LIGHT-30-JEBO...1QQcmdZViewItem

Do these look like a good light system? And would I be able to keep any corals under them? If not, I'm just going to go with the cheaper one.

If you know of an equally priced model for a 30" tank that is better, please tell me.

Thank you!

 

[tropicalwaters]

I think either of them would support FOWLR systems, but if you are going to get a reef setup you wont be able to get away with those unless you have some low ligth mushrooms or something.

 

[jeasko]

how sure are you that you want to stay with a FOWLR setup as if your unsure you need to think about going down a t5 lighting setup as a minimum, having said that the JEBO doesnt seem a bad unit and being that its compact flourescent it should be close to t5 anyway, if I had to choose thats what i would go with.

 

[SkiFletch]

Ack, those Jebo lights "work" but they're exceptionally low quality and I almost never reccomend them. Used to have one myself, ditched it early on in my reefkeeping. I'd go with the Current model over the Jebo anyday. As mentioned though, these dual PC fixtures don't really put out that much light and you'll struggle with anything over easier softies and a few LPS

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I guess I'll go with the Current model then.

I wish I could set up the tank with better lighting, but it's either set up with 'meh' lighting, or don't set up at all for another few months. I can't wait anymore, and all I really wanted was a few simple corals anyway.

Thank you!

EDIT: Do you think the Jebo lights are enough for a freshwater tank with 'easy' plants? My lights are enough to keep my plants alive, but not to let them thrive.

 

[SkiFletch]

Alive, yes, thrive, maybe not. Problem with the Jebo lights is that their lamps use really cheapo phosphors that don't really output the correct wavelengths of light for photosynthesis. Ballasts and reflectors are fine, but by the time you replace the bulbs with a decent quality, you've spent way too much

 

[TylerFerretLord]

Would I have to replace all of the hardware or just the bulbs? About how much would that cost?

Thanks for answering all of my questions and dealing with my ignorance! I just can't wrap my head around lighting for some reason.

 

[SkiFletch]

Do you already have the fixture in your posession?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I have a dinky little one I'm using for my freshwater, but that's it.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well if you have one than yes, replacing the bulb with one of identical length/wattage will work. Make sure you buy one with the same pin arrangement (square or straight)

 

[TylerFerretLord]

Thank you once again!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Current recently came out with a 30" long T5 with individual reflectors. I'm upgrading to that whenever I get more money. It's only about $320, I think.

 

[SkiFletch]

Current recently came out with a 30" long T5 with individual reflectors. I'm upgrading to that whenever I get more money. It's only about $320, I think.

Really? With 30" long tubes?

 

[n3ont3tra]

No, but you don't have to do anything to it and it will fit on a 29 gallon.

edit: maybe it's just me, but I haven't really found any other T5's fixtures that will fit on a 30" tank.....

And I was way off with the price, it's more like $230

 

[SkiFletch]

Yup, because nobody makes 30" T5 bulbs (only 24" or 36") few people make a 30" T5 fixture