need help with lighting pretty please

GuppyGuy · 01/21/2011, 11:34 PM

Hey all,

So I have a 55 gallon tank that I am trying to convert into a saltwater tank. I need to upgrade my lighting, and am hoping to one day be able to have coral (probably not high-light corals). Tank is 24" deep and 48" long.

Everywhere I look, someone else has a different opinion on what light fixture I should get. I have narrowed down my search to T5 light fixtures. I'm also hoping to spend at max 250ish (hopefully much less..).

Here is what I was looking at recently:

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month

http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralif...ture_s/719.htm

I would really appreciate the help cause I look at all your SW tanks and my jaw drops haha. I want to do it too! haha

Thanks in advance.

P.S. if anyone also has powerhead suggestions? thank you!

Frogmanx82 · 01/21/2011, 11:44 PM

Its pretty well agreed that this fixture http://www.marineandreef.com/Current...ting_s/294.htm is the best of the budget systems. Going into reefing with a budget isn't recommended though. The major advantages over the coralife is that this one has a cooling fan which increases the life of the bulbs and most importantly, it has a reflector that is molded around each bulb. Not as good as individual reflectors, but much better than the coralife simple reflector.

GuppyGuy · 01/22/2011, 01:18 AM

ok thanks for the suggestion! I think I will go ahead with that light system. I was nervous about the coralife not having at least semi-individual reflectors...and this current system looks more promising in that regard.
What kind of powerhead/water pump would you suggest? koralias are what I've been hearing are reliable (?)

GuppyGuy · 01/22/2011, 02:31 PM

and for reefing, how many water cycles do i need per hour? is fowlr less?

Frogmanx82 · 01/22/2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuppyGuy

and for reefing, how many water cycles do i need per hour? is fowlr less?

There are two issues, one is flow through a filter or sump where 3 to 5 x tank volume per hour should suffice. Then you have water movement with something like the koralias. For stoney corals I think 20x or more is typical. For a mixed reef with some stoney, some softy corals you could back off that a bit as many softies like a bit less flow.

In a FOWLR you don't have to worry about anything other than whats moving through your filter though increased flow can help with algae issues.

Opinions on this question probably vary. I'm not much into blowing everything around the tank. I have 1300 gph total in a 90 gallon tank.

GuppyGuy · 01/22/2011, 03:05 PM

ah ok. i'll shoot for around the same cycling (~15 cycles per hour).

i know i've been asking you a million questions already, but do you recommend any skimmers or amm.,nitrite kits/ph kits/ salinity kits?

Frogmanx82 · 01/23/2011, 12:25 AM

Since I don't have a sump, I can't comment on the skimmers. For testing I use API for calcium, Salifert for KH, Mag, Nitrate, Elos for phosphate, a milwaulkee pH probe, and a refractometer for salinity. I don't test for ammonia or nitrite anymore.

jmchzn123 · 01/25/2011, 02:54 AM

Poor guy. Your in for some pain! Reef is like crack! Everything you buy this year won't be good enough next year. Budget reef is an oxymoron. The hobby is a money pit like no other. You can take this hobby to so many places. Just when you sit back and start enjoying your tank you need a new this or that. Then there are the endless days of testing and moving stuff around and everything you want to do requires research and endless speculation and as far as asking the next guy for help.... Ha he thinks you're doing it all wrong but he will show you the right way. More money more bad opinions and another book quick fix magic formula to buy or DIY or trade. It's deep dark pit with dangerous curves and the beast must be fed. Then one day after the decisions are made and irreversible you fill the tank with water.....lol...... Good luck I love it! I just spent 2300 on AI Sol Blue w controller! Stay tuned be selling them next year.... Hahahhahahaha

For real.....read all you can about the biology of the reef and husbandry of the animals.

01/21/2011, 11:34 PM	#1
GuppyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 61	need help with lighting pretty please Hey all, So I have a 55 gallon tank that I am trying to convert into a saltwater tank. I need to upgrade my lighting, and am hoping to one day be able to have coral (probably not high-light corals). Tank is 24" deep and 48" long. Everywhere I look, someone else has a different opinion on what light fixture I should get. I have narrowed down my search to T5 light fixtures. I'm also hoping to spend at max 250ish (hopefully much less..). Here is what I was looking at recently: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralif...ture_s/719.htm I would really appreciate the help cause I look at all your SW tanks and my jaw drops haha. I want to do it too! haha Thanks in advance. P.S. if anyone also has powerhead suggestions? thank you! Last edited by GuppyGuy; 01/21/2011 at 11:37 PM. Reason: forgot something

01/21/2011, 11:44 PM	#2
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	Its pretty well agreed that this fixture http://www.marineandreef.com/Current...ting_s/294.htm is the best of the budget systems. Going into reefing with a budget isn't recommended though. The major advantages over the coralife is that this one has a cooling fan which increases the life of the bulbs and most importantly, it has a reflector that is molded around each bulb. Not as good as individual reflectors, but much better than the coralife simple reflector. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

01/23/2011, 12:25 AM	#7
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	Since I don't have a sump, I can't comment on the skimmers. For testing I use API for calcium, Salifert for KH, Mag, Nitrate, Elos for phosphate, a milwaulkee pH probe, and a refractometer for salinity. I don't test for ammonia or nitrite anymore. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

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01/22/2011, 01:18 AM	#3
GuppyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 61	ok thanks for the suggestion! I think I will go ahead with that light system. I was nervous about the coralife not having at least semi-individual reflectors...and this current system looks more promising in that regard. What kind of powerhead/water pump would you suggest? koralias are what I've been hearing are reliable (?)

01/22/2011, 02:31 PM	#4
GuppyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 61	and for reefing, how many water cycles do i need per hour? is fowlr less?

01/22/2011, 03:05 PM	#6
GuppyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 61	ah ok. i'll shoot for around the same cycling (~15 cycles per hour). i know i've been asking you a million questions already, but do you recommend any skimmers or amm.,nitrite kits/ph kits/ salinity kits?

01/25/2011, 02:54 AM	#8
jmchzn123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 240	Poor guy. Your in for some pain! Reef is like crack! Everything you buy this year won't be good enough next year. Budget reef is an oxymoron. The hobby is a money pit like no other. You can take this hobby to so many places. Just when you sit back and start enjoying your tank you need a new this or that. Then there are the endless days of testing and moving stuff around and everything you want to do requires research and endless speculation and as far as asking the next guy for help.... Ha he thinks you're doing it all wrong but he will show you the right way. More money more bad opinions and another book quick fix magic formula to buy or DIY or trade. It's deep dark pit with dangerous curves and the beast must be fed. Then one day after the decisions are made and irreversible you fill the tank with water.....lol...... Good luck I love it! I just spent 2300 on AI Sol Blue w controller! Stay tuned be selling them next year.... Hahahhahahaha For real.....read all you can about the biology of the reef and husbandry of the animals.