Lighting and circulation for a 60G

ionredline0260 · 08/03/2007, 11:09 AM

I'm looking for some lighting suggestions for a 60G tank and ideas for circulation. We'd like to keep softies and medium light LPS corals. I have a good idea how to set up smaller tanks but I've never done any thing this big. I was thinking to koralia 4's and maybe HO-T5's but again, I'm not sure. And as far as T5's go what are my options? I'd like to keep both lighting and circulation under $400 is possible.

sir_dudeguy · 08/03/2007, 12:09 PM

I think you're right on w/what to get

Koralias are the best for the money...although i might just get K3's instead of 4's...hard to say though, i've never had the big one..

And i would definitely get T5 HO's. I got the icecap retro (4x39w) off of reefgeek.com and love it. The color is crazy and i can grow whatever i want in my 40 breeder w/those lights. Some say it might be unnecessary in my tank, but either way, t5's are cheaper than pc's in the longrun so i see no point not to go t5's

If 400 is your budget though...you might have trouble getting all of it for under that. My 4x39w t5's cost 300 after shipping, and i think the next size bigger was a bit more, cant remember. And the koralias are gonna run you over 100 if you're buying more than one.

A good place to check is the selling forum.

TropTrea · 08/03/2007, 12:18 PM

Flow.... for a 60 gallon I would use at the minimium 1500 gph total. Idealy you would have two pump running on seperate timers each pump would be at least 750 GPH. With the seperate times you would have quiet times, times with one pump running and times with two pumps running. This would keep the flow changing which corals realy like.

Now lighting is another issue. T-5's are definatly the best wayt to go if your going with florescent lighting. However some people still claim they are not as good as some of the MH's out there. Either way to get good lighting your talking at least 300 on that alone.

Dennis

ionredline0260 · 08/03/2007, 12:28 PM

This is rather tempting
http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Metal-Halide-...QQcmdZViewItem
But I would rather not have my house burn down to a cheap ballast. What about a 4bulb TEK t-5 system?

ionredline0260 · 08/03/2007, 12:32 PM

What about 2 of these?
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1369

sir_dudeguy · 08/03/2007, 01:09 PM

I'd stay away from the ebay one for sure, and i've heard that the hellolights ones arent the greatest either. The tek lights are pretty decent though...it was either that one or the icecap one for me...i picked icecap because the reflectors fit better in my canopy, not to meantion a lot of people seem to think they're better reflectors.

ionredline0260 · 08/03/2007, 01:24 PM

can I get a link to the best place to buy those? having a hard time finding them.

sir_dudeguy · 08/03/2007, 01:36 PM

reefgeek.com seemed to be the cheapest place...actually the only place i could find haha.

kysard1 · 08/03/2007, 07:05 PM

what are the tanks dimensions ?

ionredline0260 · 08/03/2007, 09:08 PM

48" long 23" tall and like 12" wide...I think...

08/03/2007, 11:09 AM	#1
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	Lighting and circulation for a 60G I'm looking for some lighting suggestions for a 60G tank and ideas for circulation. We'd like to keep softies and medium light LPS corals. I have a good idea how to set up smaller tanks but I've never done any thing this big. I was thinking to koralia 4's and maybe HO-T5's but again, I'm not sure. And as far as T5's go what are my options? I'd like to keep both lighting and circulation under $400 is possible.

08/03/2007, 12:09 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I think you're right on w/what to get Koralias are the best for the money...although i might just get K3's instead of 4's...hard to say though, i've never had the big one.. And i would definitely get T5 HO's. I got the icecap retro (4x39w) off of reefgeek.com and love it. The color is crazy and i can grow whatever i want in my 40 breeder w/those lights. Some say it might be unnecessary in my tank, but either way, t5's are cheaper than pc's in the longrun so i see no point not to go t5's If 400 is your budget though...you might have trouble getting all of it for under that. My 4x39w t5's cost 300 after shipping, and i think the next size bigger was a bit more, cant remember. And the koralias are gonna run you over 100 if you're buying more than one. A good place to check is the selling forum. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

08/03/2007, 12:18 PM	#3
TropTrea Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: SE Suburbia Wisconsin Posts: 2,910	Flow.... for a 60 gallon I would use at the minimium 1500 gph total. Idealy you would have two pump running on seperate timers each pump would be at least 750 GPH. With the seperate times you would have quiet times, times with one pump running and times with two pumps running. This would keep the flow changing which corals realy like. Now lighting is another issue. T-5's are definatly the best wayt to go if your going with florescent lighting. However some people still claim they are not as good as some of the MH's out there. Either way to get good lighting your talking at least 300 on that alone. Dennis __________________ Dennis B. Current Tank Info: Main tank 120 Gallon, 432 Watts T-5's plus 30 Watts of LED's, Frag 40 Gallon tank 234 Watts T-5's, 3 Frag tanks all 40 Gallon with LED lighting between 60 and 84 Watts. All LEDs are DIY Oh and then there is fresh water tanks 270 gallons

08/03/2007, 01:09 PM	#6
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I'd stay away from the ebay one for sure, and i've heard that the hellolights ones arent the greatest either. The tek lights are pretty decent though...it was either that one or the icecap one for me...i picked icecap because the reflectors fit better in my canopy, not to meantion a lot of people seem to think they're better reflectors. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

08/03/2007, 01:36 PM	#8
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	reefgeek.com seemed to be the cheapest place...actually the only place i could find haha. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

08/03/2007, 12:28 PM	#4
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	This is rather tempting http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Metal-Halide-...QQcmdZViewItem But I would rather not have my house burn down to a cheap ballast. What about a 4bulb TEK t-5 system?

08/03/2007, 12:32 PM	#5
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	What about 2 of these? http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1369

08/03/2007, 01:24 PM	#7
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	can I get a link to the best place to buy those? having a hard time finding them.

08/03/2007, 07:05 PM	#9
kysard1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 827	what are the tanks dimensions ?

08/03/2007, 09:08 PM	#10
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	48" long 23" tall and like 12" wide...I think...