I need some lighting any advice

JStraz4991 · 06/20/2010, 10:40 PM

I am working on coverting my 40 gallon breeder to reef.And have no idea on what lights to get.and would really like some advice.something along t5 or MH

Johnny C · 06/20/2010, 11:04 PM

In my opinion, the Tek T5 fixture would be a great choice for your 40BR. A four-bulb fixture would allow you to keep a mix of corals and would really brighten up the tank. If you are strictly looking to go with Stony Corals, the six-bulb would work best.

CMcNeil · 06/21/2010, 07:53 AM

ATI sunpower 6x39w would work great and grow ANY coral you want.

tydtran · 06/21/2010, 08:11 AM

A forty breeder is a shallow tank so pretty much any T5 fixture is going to work great. If money is no object then by all means get the expensive T5 fixtures, but if you want to save some money, the cheaper fixtures, like Nova Extreme, will work as well. I am building a 40 breeder right now on a budget and I am going to go with a single 250 watt metal halide. I like have bright and dim areas in my aquarium.

tallreefguy · 06/21/2010, 10:44 AM

I've put a 250 watt Phoenix 14k light on my 29ish bowfront tank. Everything did very well! But I agree with above that a 4bulb to 6 bulb T5 fixture will do very well.

jhoff · 06/21/2010, 05:56 PM

36"6 bulb ATI sunpower...
ATI Blue+
KZ super blue
KZ fiji purple
GE 6500k daylight
KZ super blue
ATI blue+

Johnny C · 06/21/2010, 10:19 PM

I'm a huge supporter of ATI products (heck, I'm saving for one myself!), but with that being said... the OP sounds like he's slowly transitioning his tank to support corals. Unless he has a lot of money to spend (or wants a very high-end fixture), IMO the ATI is going a bit overboard. The 40BR is only 16'' high and it is very likely that he will have issues keeping Soft Corals + LPS under such high PAR without bleaching.

In short... if your looking to keep a mixture of corals, go with a Tek. If your looking to support high light-demanding livestock (i.e. SPS-Dominated, Clams + Anemones), go with an ATI. Skip the Nova Extreme Pro, it costs more money than the Tek and the quality is mediocre at best. This is of course just my opinion!

JStraz4991 · 06/22/2010, 04:52 PM

Yea from reading what you guys said i think im going with the tek.ati is to expensive maybe in the future.so can i hold all corals with the tek

lisafoster · 06/22/2010, 05:21 PM

I have Mh over my 125 and I tried t5s over my 15. I hate the t5s they wash everything out. I would never give up the shimmer of metal halides. However I guess if you have not had mh you would not notice and with t5s there is not as much of a heat issue and not as large of an electric bill. I was going to go t5s over my 125 I am so happy I did not

t4zalews · 06/22/2010, 06:00 PM

I'm a halide person...but for this tank I would recommend T5's. either a 4 bulb or 6 bulb depending on coral selection.

06/20/2010, 10:40 PM	#1
JStraz4991 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 435	I need some lighting any advice I am working on coverting my 40 gallon breeder to reef.And have no idea on what lights to get.and would really like some advice.something along t5 or MH __________________ "I had a fish once but it died" Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder Reef.Purple Firefish,Royal Gramma,Green/Blue Chromis,and a mated pair of Clownfish

06/20/2010, 11:04 PM	#2
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	In my opinion, the Tek T5 fixture would be a great choice for your 40BR. A four-bulb fixture would allow you to keep a mix of corals and would really brighten up the tank. If you are strictly looking to go with Stony Corals, the six-bulb would work best. __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

06/21/2010, 10:19 PM	#7
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	I'm a huge supporter of ATI products (heck, I'm saving for one myself!), but with that being said... the OP sounds like he's slowly transitioning his tank to support corals. Unless he has a lot of money to spend (or wants a very high-end fixture), IMO the ATI is going a bit overboard. The 40BR is only 16'' high and it is very likely that he will have issues keeping Soft Corals + LPS under such high PAR without bleaching. In short... if your looking to keep a mixture of corals, go with a Tek. If your looking to support high light-demanding livestock (i.e. SPS-Dominated, Clams + Anemones), go with an ATI. Skip the Nova Extreme Pro, it costs more money than the Tek and the quality is mediocre at best. This is of course just my opinion! __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

06/22/2010, 04:52 PM	#8
JStraz4991 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 435	Yea from reading what you guys said i think im going with the tek.ati is to expensive maybe in the future.so can i hold all corals with the tek __________________ "I had a fish once but it died" Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder Reef.Purple Firefish,Royal Gramma,Green/Blue Chromis,and a mated pair of Clownfish

06/22/2010, 05:21 PM	#9
lisafoster so much to learn Join Date: May 2010 Location: massachusetts Posts: 621	I have Mh over my 125 and I tried t5s over my 15. I hate the t5s they wash everything out. I would never give up the shimmer of metal halides. However I guess if you have not had mh you would not notice and with t5s there is not as much of a heat issue and not as large of an electric bill. I was going to go t5s over my 125 I am so happy I did not __________________ 125 mixed reef/ semi aggressive 15 gallon angler nano reef tank 40 breeder reef Current Tank Info: 125 gallon evolving reef/ 15gallon angler nano reef, 40 gallon breeder reef

06/21/2010, 07:53 AM	#3
CMcNeil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St.Petersburg,Florida Posts: 7,368	ATI sunpower 6x39w would work great and grow ANY coral you want.

06/21/2010, 08:11 AM	#4
tydtran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 853	A forty breeder is a shallow tank so pretty much any T5 fixture is going to work great. If money is no object then by all means get the expensive T5 fixtures, but if you want to save some money, the cheaper fixtures, like Nova Extreme, will work as well. I am building a 40 breeder right now on a budget and I am going to go with a single 250 watt metal halide. I like have bright and dim areas in my aquarium.

06/21/2010, 10:44 AM	#5
tallreefguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 269	I've put a 250 watt Phoenix 14k light on my 29ish bowfront tank. Everything did very well! But I agree with above that a 4bulb to 6 bulb T5 fixture will do very well.

06/21/2010, 05:56 PM	#6
jhoff Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Edison New Jersey Posts: 1,082	36"6 bulb ATI sunpower... ATI Blue+ KZ super blue KZ fiji purple GE 6500k daylight KZ super blue ATI blue+

06/22/2010, 06:00 PM	#10
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	I'm a halide person...but for this tank I would recommend T5's. either a 4 bulb or 6 bulb depending on coral selection. __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

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