hi all

czinn · 09/19/2010, 09:33 AM

I have just ordered a 125 tank and have been debating over the lighting.
I was looking at 3 175MH and 4 96 watt PC , 2 250MH with the 4 96 watt PC, all T5, or taking the plunge in to LED lighting. What woudl work out best in the long run. Thanks in advance
zinn

rtparty · 09/19/2010, 10:13 AM

6x80w T5. It isn't on your list. 8 bulbs will be too much over an 18" wide tank.

czinn · 09/19/2010, 10:33 AM

I would have put the 6x80w T5's on but I did not think it would be enough light for an anemone.

rtparty · 09/19/2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czinn

I would have put the 6x80w T5's on but I did not think it would be enough light for an anemone.

LOL. Using 6 T5's over that tank will let you keep anything you want. YOu will actually have to be careful where you place lower light stuff.

Really good T5 setups keep up with 400 watt halides.

czinn · 09/19/2010, 10:11 PM

Seems like most people are saying a T5 set up does not one like the LED set ups or is that technology still to new

shifty51008 · 09/19/2010, 11:19 PM

i think the LED set up is still to new to tell about how they do in the long run.

i also noticed even with 250 watt MH's you will still need 3 you only have 2. a MH will only cover a 2' x2' area no matter what wattage bulb.

Chihuahua6 · 09/20/2010, 05:12 AM

Depends on what your trying to grow and the dimensions of the tank so I can't answer.

czinn · 09/20/2010, 06:40 AM

My current live stock is one 13inch RBTA, one 6 inch RBTA, 5 inch brain coral, one 6 inch hammer coral, one 3 inch maxima 2 clam, several mushrooms, several zoa, a fire goby, 2 clown fish and 2 cleaner shrimp. Plus the cleaning crew. The tank is 72 x 18 x 22 with 2 3inch wide plastic cross supports.

czinn · 09/20/2010, 08:14 PM

Since it looks like t5's are getting the thumbs up. I was looking at the Nova Extreme Pro T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 12X39 Watt, 72 inch would that work well for my application.

thank you in advance
zinn

JALREEFER · 09/20/2010, 08:17 PM

I run a 8 bulb tek over my 18" wide 75 gal and i think it is perfect

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

pardalis · 09/20/2010, 08:23 PM

I have 8 x 54w T5 over my 120H 60x18x25 and it is plenty!

Chihuahua6 · 09/21/2010, 08:17 AM

I voted 3 175 watt halides with vho. Three halides give a nice even coverage. I would likely use 14000k bulbs for the majority of your inhabitants. I like the shimmer of halides which is why I chose them over all T5. I would use the T5 for actinic supplementation and dusk/dawn effect.

czinn · 09/22/2010, 06:37 PM

What mix of bulbs would be good for a T5 set up and I think I will go with 8 80watt T5. With 24 Cool White Cree Q5 XR-E LEDs for shimmer and 12 Royal Blue Cree XR-E LEDs for moonlights. Does that sound about right.

rtparty · 09/22/2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czinn

What mix of bulbs would be good for a T5 set up and I think I will go with 8 80watt T5. With 24 Cool White Cree Q5 XR-E LEDs for shimmer and 12 Royal Blue Cree XR-E LEDs for moonlights. Does that sound about right.

That is going to be total overkill. Stay with 6 T5 bulbs.

If you use CREE LED's for moonlights your fish and coral won't like it unless you run them lower than 1 watt each.

czinn · 09/22/2010, 07:57 PM

So would the normal 1/2 watt led be good for the moon lighting. What would be a good starting point for color mix with T5 with 6 bulbs. I like the 454 for the actinic but how many should I have 4 Actinic and 2 10k or half and half. the retro kit I am looking at is the 60" 6x80W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit. I will more than likely mount 4 240mm fans in the top of the hood ,2 120mm fans in the back and 4 120mm fans on the sides of the hood to keep every thing cool. The fans will not be running near max probably around half where they will stay quiet.

dustinc · 09/22/2010, 10:21 PM

T5s all the way. You will be much happier in the long run and 6 bulbs will be more than enough!

rtparty · 09/23/2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czinn

So would the normal 1/2 watt led be good for the moon lighting. What would be a good starting point for color mix with T5 with 6 bulbs. I like the 454 for the actinic but how many should I have 4 Actinic and 2 10k or half and half. the retro kit I am looking at is the 60" 6x80W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit. I will more than likely mount 4 240mm fans in the top of the hood ,2 120mm fans in the back and 4 120mm fans on the sides of the hood to keep every thing cool. The fans will not be running near max probably around half where they will stay quiet.

Don't go with the Tek retro kit.

Go to Reefgeek and get the LET retro kit instead.

Tek reflectors are about middle of the road and are really wide, almost 3" a piece. If you tried 8 of those over your tank, some of the bulbs won't even fit. With 6 you will be close to having over hang. Assuming the tank is 18" wide.

The LET reflectors are about 2.5". When you are talking about 6 bulbs, that saves you 3" of space. More light in the tank and less on the floor.

For 6 bulbs I would 4 ATI blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 ATI Aquablue.

Make sure you don't overcool the bulbs or you will hurt output. All of your fans sound good but I wouldn't have 4 on the back, I would just have 2. One on each side blowing on the endcaps. Make sure to put the label end of the bulbs all on the same side and cool that end the most.

View Poll Results: What lights
3 175MH with 4 96watt Pc	0	0%
2 250MH with 4 96watt PC	1	3.70%
3 175MH with 4 39watt T5	4	14.81%
2 250MH with 4 39watt T5	6	22.22%
3 175MH with 2 160watt VHO	1	3.70%
2 250MH with 2 160watt VHO	5	18.52%
8x80W T5	8	29.63%
DYI LED	2	7.41%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

09/19/2010, 09:33 AM	#1
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	hi all I have just ordered a 125 tank and have been debating over the lighting. I was looking at 3 175MH and 4 96 watt PC , 2 250MH with the 4 96 watt PC, all T5, or taking the plunge in to LED lighting. What woudl work out best in the long run. Thanks in advance zinn Last edited by czinn; 09/19/2010 at 09:49 AM.

09/19/2010, 10:13 AM	#2
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	6x80w T5. It isn't on your list. 8 bulbs will be too much over an 18" wide tank. __________________ 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+

09/19/2010, 10:33 AM	#3
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	I would have put the 6x80w T5's on but I did not think it would be enough light for an anemone. Last edited by czinn; 09/19/2010 at 10:51 AM.

09/19/2010, 10:11 PM	#5
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	Seems like most people are saying a T5 set up does not one like the LED set ups or is that technology still to new Last edited by czinn; 09/19/2010 at 10:21 PM.

09/19/2010, 11:19 PM	#6
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	i think the LED set up is still to new to tell about how they do in the long run. i also noticed even with 250 watt MH's you will still need 3 you only have 2. a MH will only cover a 2' x2' area no matter what wattage bulb.

09/20/2010, 05:12 AM	#7
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Depends on what your trying to grow and the dimensions of the tank so I can't answer. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

09/20/2010, 06:40 AM	#8
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	My current live stock is one 13inch RBTA, one 6 inch RBTA, 5 inch brain coral, one 6 inch hammer coral, one 3 inch maxima 2 clam, several mushrooms, several zoa, a fire goby, 2 clown fish and 2 cleaner shrimp. Plus the cleaning crew. The tank is 72 x 18 x 22 with 2 3inch wide plastic cross supports.

09/20/2010, 08:14 PM	#9
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	Since it looks like t5's are getting the thumbs up. I was looking at the Nova Extreme Pro T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 12X39 Watt, 72 inch would that work well for my application. thank you in advance zinn

09/20/2010, 08:17 PM	#10
JALREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 49	I run a 8 bulb tek over my 18" wide 75 gal and i think it is perfect Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

09/20/2010, 08:23 PM	#11
pardalis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pacing the cage Posts: 123	I have 8 x 54w T5 over my 120H 60x18x25 and it is plenty! __________________ Custom Deep Sea 56g "neo nano", "attached" 18g rimless tube anemone / mantis tank, Custom modern stand, AI SOL blue x 2, Apex controller, 2 x Vortech mp10es, Trigger Systems ruby 36s, Eheim 1262 and 1260 pumps, SWC 160 Cone skimmer w/ modded impellar and XL cup, 3 x Drews dosing pumps, phosban reactor, bio pellet reactor..... Various tarantulas, 3 pairs of panther chameleons, 2 pair of veiled chameleons, 1 pair of carpet chameleons..... -Greg Power-

09/21/2010, 08:17 AM	#12
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	I voted 3 175 watt halides with vho. Three halides give a nice even coverage. I would likely use 14000k bulbs for the majority of your inhabitants. I like the shimmer of halides which is why I chose them over all T5. I would use the T5 for actinic supplementation and dusk/dawn effect. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

09/22/2010, 06:37 PM	#13
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	What mix of bulbs would be good for a T5 set up and I think I will go with 8 80watt T5. With 24 Cool White Cree Q5 XR-E LEDs for shimmer and 12 Royal Blue Cree XR-E LEDs for moonlights. Does that sound about right.

09/22/2010, 07:57 PM	#15
czinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: houston Posts: 55	So would the normal 1/2 watt led be good for the moon lighting. What would be a good starting point for color mix with T5 with 6 bulbs. I like the 454 for the actinic but how many should I have 4 Actinic and 2 10k or half and half. the retro kit I am looking at is the 60" 6x80W Tek 2 T5 Very High-Output Retrofit Kit. I will more than likely mount 4 240mm fans in the top of the hood ,2 120mm fans in the back and 4 120mm fans on the sides of the hood to keep every thing cool. The fans will not be running near max probably around half where they will stay quiet.

09/22/2010, 10:21 PM	#16
dustinc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Waxahachie, TX Posts: 1,096	T5s all the way. You will be much happier in the long run and 6 bulbs will be more than enough! __________________ You might be too strong to surrender boy, but you're far too frail to fight! Current Tank Info: 120 Planet