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| View Poll Results: What's the best fixture for sps out of these choices? | |||
| IceCap Reef Illuminations (2 250 watt DE metal halide with 2 T5's) |
   
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3 | 27.27% |
| Hamilton Belize Sun (2 250 watt DE metal halide with 2 T5's) |
  
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1 | 9.09% |
| SunLight Supply MariStar (2 250 watt DE metal halide with 2 T5's) |
  
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1 | 9.09% |
| Other (please post below) |
  
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6 | 54.55% |
| Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll | |||
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07/24/2010, 10:47 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,612
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75 Gallon Tank Lighting Pole
I'm getting a 75 (48'' by 18'' by 20'' tall) gallon tank soon and am in the long process of debating over which equiptment to get. In this thread I'd like to know what lighting I should get. Really I feel like there's only three good options. I would like to keep sps everywhere in the tank if possible. Also I like the fixtures that have supplemental T5's to give me the dawn/dusk effect.
Which one do you reefers suggest for me that's the highest quality? All advice is appreciated! Thanks everyone! Last edited by Felixc395; 07/24/2010 at 10:53 PM. |
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07/24/2010, 11:49 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Shepherd, Mi
Posts: 2,348
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voted for the icecap have always had good experiences with them.
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07/25/2010, 12:38 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Louisville Kentucky
Posts: 676
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+1 on the ice cap. I dont have one but have heard many great things about them!
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07/25/2010, 01:05 AM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 4,140
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As I mentioned before, the IceCap fixture doesn't have a great reputation. I voted "other" because I would personally prefer T5's, but if I had to pick from the list I would choose the SLS Maristar. Note that the HQI ballasts for that fixture are usually sold seperately. Just my honest opinion!
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"...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau |
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07/25/2010, 01:21 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 682
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hey, im actually preping for a 75gal upgrade as well. do you have a build thread? i'd love to get ideas on different plumbing and equipment. thanks.
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07/25/2010, 08:49 AM
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#6 |
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Raise The Reef!
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 7,404
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I voted the Maristar as well out of those fixtures. I personally prefer T5's too like Johnny.
My thoughts are that you are going to be using over 600 watts of electricity with any of those setups. I think that is a lot of electricity just for the "shimmer". A 6x54 ATI Sunpower will use 324 watts of electricity. That is nearly half the power usage. Not to mention that with 2 250w MH over a 75 you will be looking at using a chiller to control temps. Potentially it will cost you like 3 times as much to run the MH lighting. Any of the three fixtures you have listed should let you keep whatever you want. I owned one fixture by Hamilton and sold it after 3 months. The quality was extremely poor and their bulbs suck IMO.
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Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+ |
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07/25/2010, 09:47 AM
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#7 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,612
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Quote:
And I've heard on many other threads that I wouldn't need a chiller with just 2 250 watts plus T5 as long as I have good cooling over the fixture. |
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07/25/2010, 10:54 AM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Oley, Pa 19547
Posts: 1,513
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ATI Sunpower 6x54w fixture....
I love mine! |
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07/25/2010, 11:33 AM
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#9 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 682
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im def goin all T5 to save money on power, but im still looken for something to push me towards the sunpower.
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07/25/2010, 03:05 PM
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#10 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,612
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Well I do like the ATI fixtures, but would six really be enough or would an eight bulb fixture be better?
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07/25/2010, 03:24 PM
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#11 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Oley, Pa 19547
Posts: 1,513
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With the Sunpower, 6 is plenty, 8 would be not needed and way overkill on a 75g tank.
JMO, Brad |
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07/25/2010, 06:16 PM
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#12 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Springfield, MA
Posts: 2,100
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I run a two 250's & four t5 fixture over my 75 with no real heat issues. I do run a couple of computer fans but no chiller so it may be just fine.
That said, I just bought myself a 6 bulb t5 to try out. Half the wattage is my motivation. |
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07/25/2010, 06:19 PM
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#13 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 568
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Quote:
6 is more than enough to stock it with whatever you want. Clams, SPS, etc...
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75g RR AGA Tank ~ ATI SunPower 6x54w T5 ~ Custom 20g Sump ~ Bubble Magus NAC6 Skimmer ~ Vortech EcoSmart MP10w x2 |
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07/25/2010, 09:54 PM
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#14 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,612
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Seems like the T5's are favored, but I would still prefer metal halides.
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