light upgrade

ed102475 · 04/24/2009, 06:59 AM

Ok going from 260w pc to...? It is a 55 gal. 48" long. I want to be able to keep what ever I want. budget of $500.00 USD
I like MH for shimmer but heat is a problem in the room the tank is in is a old converted Florida room and stays a little warmer than the rest of the house.I could buy a fan & window unit A/C but thats another 100.00 + extra power.I think that T-5 would be a good choice but how many 4, 6, 8 ? what about VHO?

swhaley40 · 04/24/2009, 08:50 AM

6 bulbs would be better, 4 might be okay to keep SPS anywhere. I'd look at the ATI Sunpower from Greg at reefgeek.com. You have to call for the sunpower.

divewsharks · 04/24/2009, 10:28 AM

^^what Swhaley said. after you switch, make sure you slowly acclimate your existing corals to the new light, there will be a huge difference in output.

ed102475 · 04/24/2009, 10:53 AM

Would the 8 bulb tek be to much?

divewsharks · 04/24/2009, 11:09 AM

if your 55G is standard dimensions, then it would be too big. you would be lighting the floor around your tank. Even a 6 bulb fixture could be close it would depend on the mfg how big the actual fixture is. So just compare the mfg dimensions with your tank depth (front/back).

ed102475 · 04/24/2009, 12:01 PM

Ok I think I am going for the 6 bulb tek light it will be a little big but room for tank upgrade later

now what bulbs should I go with? I like it a little on the blue side.

divewsharks · 04/24/2009, 01:21 PM

Maybe something like this:
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+

if you want more blue, swap one of the AB's with another B+,

also for the tek, don't use the splash shield and get something like the azoo clip-on fans to provide some cooling for the tek.

ed102475 · 04/26/2009, 10:27 PM

Well I might go MH lol.Would a duel 250w MH fixture with 4, 54w
T-5 be over kill? It is 15" wide and my tank is 13" wide. Could I make it work? I might want to upgrade some day to a larger tank so I am thinking get the bigger fixture now.What do you think?

04/24/2009, 06:59 AM	#1
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	light upgrade Ok going from 260w pc to...? It is a 55 gal. 48" long. I want to be able to keep what ever I want. budget of $500.00 USD I like MH for shimmer but heat is a problem in the room the tank is in is a old converted Florida room and stays a little warmer than the rest of the house.I could buy a fan & window unit A/C but thats another 100.00 + extra power.I think that T-5 would be a good choice but how many 4, 6, 8 ? what about VHO? __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/24/2009, 10:53 AM	#4
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Would the 8 bulb tek be to much? __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/24/2009, 12:01 PM	#6
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Ok I think I am going for the 6 bulb tek light it will be a little big but room for tank upgrade later now what bulbs should I go with? I like it a little on the blue side. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/26/2009, 10:27 PM	#8
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Well I might go MH lol.Would a duel 250w MH fixture with 4, 54w T-5 be over kill? It is 15" wide and my tank is 13" wide. Could I make it work? I might want to upgrade some day to a larger tank so I am thinking get the bigger fixture now.What do you think? __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/24/2009, 08:50 AM	#2
swhaley40 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 287	6 bulbs would be better, 4 might be okay to keep SPS anywhere. I'd look at the ATI Sunpower from Greg at reefgeek.com. You have to call for the sunpower.

04/24/2009, 10:28 AM	#3
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	^^what Swhaley said. after you switch, make sure you slowly acclimate your existing corals to the new light, there will be a huge difference in output.

04/24/2009, 11:09 AM	#5
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	if your 55G is standard dimensions, then it would be too big. you would be lighting the floor around your tank. Even a 6 bulb fixture could be close it would depend on the mfg how big the actual fixture is. So just compare the mfg dimensions with your tank depth (front/back).

04/24/2009, 01:21 PM	#7
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	Maybe something like this: ATI Blue+ ATI Aquablue Special KZ Fiji Purple ATI Blue+ ATI Aquablue Special ATI Blue+ if you want more blue, swap one of the AB's with another B+, also for the tek, don't use the splash shield and get something like the azoo clip-on fans to provide some cooling for the tek.