What can I have in my tank with this light?

e46mpower · 06/21/2006, 05:18 AM

I have a 30gal tank 36x13x16 and will be using a Current-usa Orbit Power Compact lighting system. I believe it is 192 watts, 96 watt actinic, 96 watt daylight. What can I grow in my tank with this light? Thanks guys.

This light will cost me roughly $300 shipped. Is there anything else I should be looking at with this price range? I am looking for something that is all in one and is ready to go. This system has a built in fan, parabolic reflector, lunar lights, seperate switches and stands.

jeffb3t · 06/21/2006, 05:55 AM

There are a lot of soft coral that will be fine with this light. Mushrooms, zoas, GSP will do great.

Shooter7 · 06/21/2006, 06:02 AM

With those PC's you could do pretty much most leathers, shrooms, rics, zoanthids, GSP's, xenia, etc....pretty much any softies. You could also possibly do some montipora capricornis or digitata, although my experience with those under PC's was that they survived and grew very slowly, but they weren't very spectacular in that respect.

For about the same money you could get a Tek light T-5 fixture, four bulb setup. I'm not a T-5 user so maybe someone else could chime in, but it's my understanding that the 4x39 watts of those would out-do the 2x96 watt of the PC's. Only thing missing with it is that it doesn't have the mounting legs, would have to be suspended or mounted in a canopy.

HTH

m3rcury · 06/21/2006, 07:24 AM

my suggestion - looked for a used light. if you live in a large city, or near a large city, post on the club page of a local reef club. when i started, i found a guy that sold me a 250w MH fixture for $160. the bulb only had 6 months on it. not only will you get a good deal, but you will start to meet other people that have been doing this a long time and see some awesome tanks. it's really fun to see what other people have done with their reefs.

i would also HIGHLY suggest looking for a local hobbist when i comes to live rock. i bought my LR from a guy tearing his tank down because he was moving. awesome rock for $3 per pound. only other place i've seen LR for that cheap was online, but then you have to pay shipping. also, this LR had been in an established tank for over a year. so, it was completely cured and covered with growth.

if i was to start over, i don't think i would buy anything new without first trying to find it used. there are a LOT of people that have been in this hobby for a long time with extra equipment lying around that they would be willing to sell. i've only been doing this for about 6 months and already have an extra protein skimmer.

here is the link for the "reef club forums." find one near you: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=80

also, i thought that with 6 watts per gallon he would be able to grow some hard corals as well if they were placed high in the tank. is this not true?

rickh · 06/21/2006, 02:56 PM

You will be able to grow all the above mentioned plus LPS and some SPS in the upper 1/2 of the tank. Your tank is only 16" deep and if you have any sand depth at all the coral is very close to the light. I have the same 196 watts about 18" above the sand and everything is doing fine. (See the old photo) MH on a small/shallow tank is unnecessary and usually causes heat problems.

Kellie in CA · 06/21/2006, 03:09 PM

That price seems really high, you can get that fixture on eBay, shipped, for under $200.

http://cgi.ebay.com/36-Orbit-2x96w-P...QQcmdZViewItem

reeftalker · 06/21/2006, 03:46 PM

I have to agree with the pricing of that fixture. I bought a T5 retro with 4x65 actinics and 4x65 10,000k sunlight., all for $330 shipped.

thor32766 · 06/21/2006, 04:16 PM

yeah check ebay out, you can get it quite a bit cheaper.

reeftalker · 06/21/2006, 04:16 PM

I have to agree with the pricing of that fixture. I bought a T5 retro with 4x65 actinics and 4x65 10,000k sunlight., all for $330 shipped.

rickh · 06/21/2006, 11:05 PM

If you read the original post he doesn't want to build anything--so retro is out. You must be careful with retro lighting. You can spend hundred dollars on the electronics, but don't forget you can also spend that much again building a canopy. Depending on your ability your project may look bad, the lights may not work or you could have heat problems. RRRRRRRRRRR

e46mpower · 06/22/2006, 12:54 AM

Thanks everyone for your wisdom...I will check out ebay if it will save me some cash...thanks again guys...

06/21/2006, 05:18 AM	#1
e46mpower Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 131	What can I have in my tank with this light? I have a 30gal tank 36x13x16 and will be using a Current-usa Orbit Power Compact lighting system. I believe it is 192 watts, 96 watt actinic, 96 watt daylight. What can I grow in my tank with this light? Thanks guys. This light will cost me roughly $300 shipped. Is there anything else I should be looking at with this price range? I am looking for something that is all in one and is ready to go. This system has a built in fan, parabolic reflector, lunar lights, seperate switches and stands.

06/21/2006, 06:02 AM	#3
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	With those PC's you could do pretty much most leathers, shrooms, rics, zoanthids, GSP's, xenia, etc....pretty much any softies. You could also possibly do some montipora capricornis or digitata, although my experience with those under PC's was that they survived and grew very slowly, but they weren't very spectacular in that respect. For about the same money you could get a Tek light T-5 fixture, four bulb setup. I'm not a T-5 user so maybe someone else could chime in, but it's my understanding that the 4x39 watts of those would out-do the 2x96 watt of the PC's. Only thing missing with it is that it doesn't have the mounting legs, would have to be suspended or mounted in a canopy. HTH __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

06/21/2006, 03:46 PM	#7
reeftalker Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 27	I have to agree with the pricing of that fixture. I bought a T5 retro with 4x65 actinics and 4x65 10,000k sunlight., all for $330 shipped. __________________ Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon - T5

06/21/2006, 04:16 PM	#8
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	yeah check ebay out, you can get it quite a bit cheaper. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

06/21/2006, 04:16 PM	#9
reeftalker Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 27	I have to agree with the pricing of that fixture. I bought a T5 retro with 4x65 actinics and 4x65 10,000k sunlight., all for $330 shipped. __________________ Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon - T5

06/21/2006, 05:55 AM	#2
jeffb3t Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 1,327	There are a lot of soft coral that will be fine with this light. Mushrooms, zoas, GSP will do great.

06/21/2006, 07:24 AM	#4
m3rcury Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 325	my suggestion - looked for a used light. if you live in a large city, or near a large city, post on the club page of a local reef club. when i started, i found a guy that sold me a 250w MH fixture for $160. the bulb only had 6 months on it. not only will you get a good deal, but you will start to meet other people that have been doing this a long time and see some awesome tanks. it's really fun to see what other people have done with their reefs. i would also HIGHLY suggest looking for a local hobbist when i comes to live rock. i bought my LR from a guy tearing his tank down because he was moving. awesome rock for $3 per pound. only other place i've seen LR for that cheap was online, but then you have to pay shipping. also, this LR had been in an established tank for over a year. so, it was completely cured and covered with growth. if i was to start over, i don't think i would buy anything new without first trying to find it used. there are a LOT of people that have been in this hobby for a long time with extra equipment lying around that they would be willing to sell. i've only been doing this for about 6 months and already have an extra protein skimmer. here is the link for the "reef club forums." find one near you: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=80 also, i thought that with 6 watts per gallon he would be able to grow some hard corals as well if they were placed high in the tank. is this not true?

06/21/2006, 02:56 PM	#5
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	You will be able to grow all the above mentioned plus LPS and some SPS in the upper 1/2 of the tank. Your tank is only 16" deep and if you have any sand depth at all the coral is very close to the light. I have the same 196 watts about 18" above the sand and everything is doing fine. (See the old photo) MH on a small/shallow tank is unnecessary and usually causes heat problems.

06/21/2006, 03:09 PM	#6
Kellie in CA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Claremont, CA Posts: 203	That price seems really high, you can get that fixture on eBay, shipped, for under $200. http://cgi.ebay.com/36-Orbit-2x96w-P...QQcmdZViewItem

06/21/2006, 11:05 PM	#10
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	If you read the original post he doesn't want to build anything--so retro is out. You must be careful with retro lighting. You can spend hundred dollars on the electronics, but don't forget you can also spend that much again building a canopy. Depending on your ability your project may look bad, the lights may not work or you could have heat problems. RRRRRRRRRRR

06/22/2006, 12:54 AM	#11
e46mpower Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 131	Thanks everyone for your wisdom...I will check out ebay if it will save me some cash...thanks again guys...