Any suggestions please

gemmasicolo · 04/14/2009, 08:05 AM

I have a 65 gal 12x48 tank that needs lights. Keep in mind I'm a newbie and know nothing about lighting other than what came with my nano cube.

I have a canopy on top, does this also mean I will have to do a retro?

Is there any simple suggestions anyone can give me about the type of lights I should get and maybe a website to help me? I plan on having a reef tank.

Any guidence would be appreciated.

Skeptic_07 · 04/14/2009, 08:47 AM

You don't have to retro it. You could just get a fixture with legs like a Sunpod and toss the canopy, if you wanted.

If you plan on a reef, metal halide or T5s are probably your best options. With halides, you will need to purchase reflectors, ballasts and bulbs. I was recently considering a similar tank and i was thinking mogul base lumenarc mini II (reflector), galaxy ballast and radium bulbs. You'll probably also want some actinic as well if you go that rout. I was going to get VHO's for that but T5's work fine as well.

T5's are similar in that they need a ballast and reflector but retro kits are usually sold with all the parts you need and you probably wont have to buy it all separately. Some retro kits are very simple and all you have to do is screw them into your canopy, put the bulb in, connect power and you're done.

hellolights.com is a great place to buy lighting. marinedepot.com has a great selection too.

This might be a bit advanced but this is the best metal halide lighting resource anywhere: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

stang02 · 04/14/2009, 07:21 PM

Depends also on what you want in your tank... metal halides almost always = chiller due to the excess heat they produce, giving you more expense. t5 can give similar lighting needs without any heat . fish only or softies you can get away with pcs or power compacts

gemmasicolo · 04/16/2009, 06:41 AM

I'm leaning towards t5. I do want to have some corals and an anemone.

This is what came with the tank, can I use this for anything? I do want to use the canopy.What type of lights are these? The two extra bulbs he gave me say actinic on them.

Skeptic_07 · 04/16/2009, 08:38 AM

I think those are T8s. Fine for fish and algae but not much use for corals and nems. Much less light output than T5. For corals and stuff you'll probably want 4-6 or even 8 T5s if they can fit in the canopy with individual reflectors. I know ATI are supposed to have the best lamps but I haven't done a huge amount of research on T5. There are many retrofit kits for T5. Usually about $120 will get you everything you need to run 2 lamps (minus the lamps themselves). Hellolights.com and marinedepot.com both have a good selection of T5 stuff. Good luck! HTH!

DarG · 04/16/2009, 08:57 AM

Retro is the best option for the canopy. Nothing to it, easy to set up and wire. Check reefgeek for T5 retro kits. 12" wide, so maybe you can get 5 T5 HO bulbs/reflectors in there depending on the reflector. They range in width from 2" to 3" or so.
You basically mount the T5 socket mounts and wire in the bulb end caps/sockets to the ballast and the wire the ballasts to a plug. It's very simple, with wiring diagrams and color coding and push and lock connectors on most of the ballasts and the bulb endcaps (sockets). The reflectors clip on the bulbs.

T5 retros are the least expensive way to get high quality flourescent lighting. You wont need an 8 bulb array on a 12" wide tank. You can even do 4 bulbs with the Icecap 660 ballast ... that ballast drives the lamps at about 80 watts each for the 4 foot T5's as opposed to 54 watts with the standard T5 HO ballasts. One icecap 660 will power 4 of the four foot T5's. Plenty of spread for a 12" wide tank with 4 T5s and good reflectors.

Lots of options for retros ... reefgeek, DIYreef, Hellolights ... all sell retros as do most of the other RC sponsors.

04/14/2009, 08:05 AM	#1
gemmasicolo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 402	Any suggestions please I have a 65 gal 12x48 tank that needs lights. Keep in mind I'm a newbie and know nothing about lighting other than what came with my nano cube. I have a canopy on top, does this also mean I will have to do a retro? Is there any simple suggestions anyone can give me about the type of lights I should get and maybe a website to help me? I plan on having a reef tank. Any guidence would be appreciated.

04/14/2009, 08:47 AM	#2
Skeptic_07 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lawn guy land Posts: 1,418	You don't have to retro it. You could just get a fixture with legs like a Sunpod and toss the canopy, if you wanted. If you plan on a reef, metal halide or T5s are probably your best options. With halides, you will need to purchase reflectors, ballasts and bulbs. I was recently considering a similar tank and i was thinking mogul base lumenarc mini II (reflector), galaxy ballast and radium bulbs. You'll probably also want some actinic as well if you go that rout. I was going to get VHO's for that but T5's work fine as well. T5's are similar in that they need a ballast and reflector but retro kits are usually sold with all the parts you need and you probably wont have to buy it all separately. Some retro kits are very simple and all you have to do is screw them into your canopy, put the bulb in, connect power and you're done. hellolights.com is a great place to buy lighting. marinedepot.com has a great selection too. This might be a bit advanced but this is the best metal halide lighting resource anywhere: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

04/14/2009, 07:21 PM	#3
stang02 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 237	Depends also on what you want in your tank... metal halides almost always = chiller due to the excess heat they produce, giving you more expense. t5 can give similar lighting needs without any heat . fish only or softies you can get away with pcs or power compacts

04/16/2009, 06:41 AM	#4
gemmasicolo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 402	I'm leaning towards t5. I do want to have some corals and an anemone. This is what came with the tank, can I use this for anything? I do want to use the canopy.What type of lights are these? The two extra bulbs he gave me say actinic on them.

04/16/2009, 08:38 AM	#5
Skeptic_07 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lawn guy land Posts: 1,418	I think those are T8s. Fine for fish and algae but not much use for corals and nems. Much less light output than T5. For corals and stuff you'll probably want 4-6 or even 8 T5s if they can fit in the canopy with individual reflectors. I know ATI are supposed to have the best lamps but I haven't done a huge amount of research on T5. There are many retrofit kits for T5. Usually about $120 will get you everything you need to run 2 lamps (minus the lamps themselves). Hellolights.com and marinedepot.com both have a good selection of T5 stuff. Good luck! HTH!

04/16/2009, 08:57 AM	#6
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Retro is the best option for the canopy. Nothing to it, easy to set up and wire. Check reefgeek for T5 retro kits. 12" wide, so maybe you can get 5 T5 HO bulbs/reflectors in there depending on the reflector. They range in width from 2" to 3" or so. You basically mount the T5 socket mounts and wire in the bulb end caps/sockets to the ballast and the wire the ballasts to a plug. It's very simple, with wiring diagrams and color coding and push and lock connectors on most of the ballasts and the bulb endcaps (sockets). The reflectors clip on the bulbs. T5 retros are the least expensive way to get high quality flourescent lighting. You wont need an 8 bulb array on a 12" wide tank. You can even do 4 bulbs with the Icecap 660 ballast ... that ballast drives the lamps at about 80 watts each for the 4 foot T5's as opposed to 54 watts with the standard T5 HO ballasts. One icecap 660 will power 4 of the four foot T5's. Plenty of spread for a 12" wide tank with 4 T5s and good reflectors. Lots of options for retros ... reefgeek, DIYreef, Hellolights ... all sell retros as do most of the other RC sponsors.