Ignorant lighting upgrade questions

alaska clowns · 10/24/2010, 11:34 PM

Currently I have two 24" coralife PC's (130W each) on my 55 gallon aquarium. I would like to upgrade, as well as take the weight of the lights off the center aquarium brace. I plan to build a simple canopy, and I'm looking for the right light to install in it.

Am I on the right track.... would something like this retrofit kit work to put in the canopy? (link at bottom)
Would I need any type of fan to keep it cool (the back of the hood will be open)?
How many watts would this give me - would I be able to support corals that I can't currently support with my PC'S?
If I'm not on the right track.....perhaps someone has a suggestion for a better and/or less expensive kit......?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt..._Retrofit_Kit_ _Sunlight_Supply_TEK_II_Reflectors_24_Inch_Fluorescent_Retrofit_Kits&vendor=Giesemann_Aquarium_Lighting_Systems&idProduct=GL27111&IdCategory=FILTRTRFTF&tab=0

Thank you for your help!

corbett_n · 10/25/2010, 08:01 AM

I would go to reefgeek.com and get a 4X24w retro-fit t5 kit. they come with your choice of quality ATI bulbs. I kept a great sps 30g tank with 4X24w t5 kit.
Bulbs: 2 x blue+
1 x aquablue special
1 x fiji purple

shifty51008 · 10/25/2010, 09:18 AM

why would you want 24w's over a 55 gal. tank? just go with the 4x54watt retro. that will cover a 4' tank better and give you good bulb choices.

corbett_n · 10/25/2010, 09:32 AM

yeah 54w retro would be much better, I didn't see it was for a 55g

chimmike · 10/25/2010, 09:42 AM

why would you want a 24" long light over a 48" long tank is what I was wondering.......

droberts · 10/25/2010, 10:17 AM

i bought a t-5 unit off ebay for my 55 that has worked great it has 4 54w bulbs and moon lights built in fans and a digital timer and legs to sit on the sides of the tank i paid around $130 delivered to the door. i can grow any coral with the light i just place the sps closer to the top. monti's grow well at the middle level of the tank. i sold the tank and kept the light for my frag tank.

SoFLreef · 10/25/2010, 10:19 AM

lol^

alaska clowns · 10/25/2010, 11:01 AM

Thank you!
I was thinking that I'd get more light for my cash if I used a retrofit kit...... but maybe I'm wrong, after checking out some of the ebay items.....
I just need to make a good case so I can sell my husband on the upgrade

corbett_n · 10/25/2010, 12:34 PM

some of the ebay fixtures are crap and come with inferior bulbs

Paco · 10/25/2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corbett_n

some of the ebay fixtures are crap and come with inferior bulbs

You get what you pay for. No way 'round it.

nemosworld · 10/25/2010, 12:55 PM

I had one of these over my 55 when i first started, and it grew monti caps, lps and softies with no issue, the whole tank recieved good light with no shadows.
I currently have it over my 75 gallon tank with sps, it will remain there until i get my led's.
Corals are healthy and growing.
http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_G...p/rhg13912.htm

I don't have a hood on my tank, but if you do get a hood i would go with a 4 bulb retro kit like you linked to or the post below yours. but i think mine is the cheapest way, you won't have the cost of the hood and you save on the light purchase. but this is only good if you intend to keep lps, softies and fish. with may a few sps like, monti caps, birdsnest, Pocillopora, and some millipora. I have had good success with these in my 55.
in my 75 i have acro's, birdsnest, milli's, zoa's and all doing well with this fixture. jus buy good bulbs.

Pumped · 10/25/2010, 03:45 PM

Active cooling and Individual lamp reflectors are important things to look for in T5 fixtures. Which some of the ebay ones don't have.

alaska clowns · 10/25/2010, 06:09 PM

[QUOTE=nemosworld;17832759]I had one of these over my 55 when i first started, and it grew monti caps, lps and softies with no issue, the whole tank recieved good light with no shadows.
I currently have it over my 75 gallon tank with sps, it will remain there until i get my led's.
Corals are healthy and growing.
http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_G...p/rhg13912.htm

Thanks for the link...... am I reading that right, that you have just 108W of light, and that's enough for what you've got in your tank?

alaska clowns · 10/25/2010, 06:14 PM

So if I already have the materials to build a canopy......(whether I build it or not)
what would be a better buy - a complete light fixture, or a retrofit kit (and now I've figured out that any kit would require fans in the canopy itself)?

Right now I have soft corals, and probably the most difficult thing I'd like to add in the future is a BTA. I'm not really sure how much light I'd need.

Thanks again!

corbett_n · 10/26/2010, 07:37 AM

I don't have any fans in my 6 bulb canopy, and it runs fine with very little heat

cdeboard · 10/26/2010, 07:43 AM

I have a 4x54w odyssea (www.aquatraders.com) with built in digital timer and moonlights. Probably the same as the one mentioned above. I currently have this over a 90g (24" deep) with a clam on the bottom. No issues. I love odyssea stuff. The only complaint I have is the fans are cheap in them. I stuck a $1 computer fan over the other 2 cooling holes, keeps it extremely cool. $133 to my door.

alaska clowns · 10/26/2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeboard

I have a 4x54w odyssea (www.aquatraders.com) with built in digital timer and moonlights. Probably the same as the one mentioned above. I currently have this over a 90g (24" deep) with a clam on the bottom. No issues. I love odyssea stuff. The only complaint I have is the fans are cheap in them. I stuck a $1 computer fan over the other 2 cooling holes, keeps it extremely cool. $133 to my door.

Wow, thanks for the aquatraders link!
I'll have to check what shipping will be to AK, but that's the best price I've seen on something that wouldn't be a downgrade from what I have.

Looks like it would be cheaper to get a unit than to build the canopy.

PaulieReef · 10/26/2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimmike

why would you want a 24" long light over a 48" long tank is what I was wondering.......

^ This made me rofl.

rcoughtrey · 10/26/2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaska clowns

Wow, thanks for the aquatraders link!
I'll have to check what shipping will be to AK, but that's the best price I've seen on something that wouldn't be a downgrade from what I have.

Looks like it would be cheaper to get a unit than to build the canopy.

You will read that people don't like their quality. I had the 4x54watt T5 fitting for 3 years until I had a pump fall off and put too much water on the lighting.

I just brought the duel MH's from there and I'm happy with what I got for my money.

10/24/2010, 11:34 PM	#1
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	Ignorant lighting upgrade questions Currently I have two 24" coralife PC's (130W each) on my 55 gallon aquarium. I would like to upgrade, as well as take the weight of the lights off the center aquarium brace. I plan to build a simple canopy, and I'm looking for the right light to install in it. Am I on the right track.... would something like this retrofit kit work to put in the canopy? (link at bottom) Would I need any type of fan to keep it cool (the back of the hood will be open)? How many watts would this give me - would I be able to support corals that I can't currently support with my PC'S? If I'm not on the right track.....perhaps someone has a suggestion for a better and/or less expensive kit......? http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt..._Retrofit_Kit_ _Sunlight_Supply_TEK_II_Reflectors_24_Inch_Fluorescent_Retrofit_Kits&vendor=Giesemann_Aquarium_Lighting_Systems&idProduct=GL27111&IdCategory=FILTRTRFTF&tab=0 Thank you for your help!

10/25/2010, 09:18 AM	#3
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	why would you want 24w's over a 55 gal. tank? just go with the 4x54watt retro. that will cover a 4' tank better and give you good bulb choices. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

10/25/2010, 09:42 AM	#5
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	why would you want a 24" long light over a 48" long tank is what I was wondering....... __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

10/25/2010, 10:17 AM	#6
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	i bought a t-5 unit off ebay for my 55 that has worked great it has 4 54w bulbs and moon lights built in fans and a digital timer and legs to sit on the sides of the tank i paid around $130 delivered to the door. i can grow any coral with the light i just place the sps closer to the top. monti's grow well at the middle level of the tank. i sold the tank and kept the light for my frag tank. __________________ only one who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible Current Tank Info: Quart mason jar

10/25/2010, 03:45 PM	#12
Pumped Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Turlock Posts: 145	Active cooling and Individual lamp reflectors are important things to look for in T5 fixtures. Which some of the ebay ones don't have. __________________ 240gal powered by t-5's

10/25/2010, 08:01 AM	#2
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	I would go to reefgeek.com and get a 4X24w retro-fit t5 kit. they come with your choice of quality ATI bulbs. I kept a great sps 30g tank with 4X24w t5 kit. Bulbs: 2 x blue+ 1 x aquablue special 1 x fiji purple

10/25/2010, 09:32 AM	#4
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	yeah 54w retro would be much better, I didn't see it was for a 55g

10/25/2010, 10:19 AM	#7
SoFLreef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 300	lol^

10/25/2010, 11:01 AM	#8
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	Thank you! I was thinking that I'd get more light for my cash if I used a retrofit kit...... but maybe I'm wrong, after checking out some of the ebay items..... I just need to make a good case so I can sell my husband on the upgrade

10/25/2010, 12:34 PM	#9
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	some of the ebay fixtures are crap and come with inferior bulbs

10/25/2010, 12:55 PM	#11
nemosworld Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,411	I had one of these over my 55 when i first started, and it grew monti caps, lps and softies with no issue, the whole tank recieved good light with no shadows. I currently have it over my 75 gallon tank with sps, it will remain there until i get my led's. Corals are healthy and growing. http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_G...p/rhg13912.htm I don't have a hood on my tank, but if you do get a hood i would go with a 4 bulb retro kit like you linked to or the post below yours. but i think mine is the cheapest way, you won't have the cost of the hood and you save on the light purchase. but this is only good if you intend to keep lps, softies and fish. with may a few sps like, monti caps, birdsnest, Pocillopora, and some millipora. I have had good success with these in my 55. in my 75 i have acro's, birdsnest, milli's, zoa's and all doing well with this fixture. jus buy good bulbs.

10/25/2010, 06:09 PM	#13
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	[QUOTE=nemosworld;17832759]I had one of these over my 55 when i first started, and it grew monti caps, lps and softies with no issue, the whole tank recieved good light with no shadows. I currently have it over my 75 gallon tank with sps, it will remain there until i get my led's. Corals are healthy and growing. http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_G...p/rhg13912.htm Thanks for the link...... am I reading that right, that you have just 108W of light, and that's enough for what you've got in your tank?

10/25/2010, 06:14 PM	#14
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	So if I already have the materials to build a canopy......(whether I build it or not) what would be a better buy - a complete light fixture, or a retrofit kit (and now I've figured out that any kit would require fans in the canopy itself)? Right now I have soft corals, and probably the most difficult thing I'd like to add in the future is a BTA. I'm not really sure how much light I'd need. Thanks again!

10/26/2010, 07:37 AM	#15
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	I don't have any fans in my 6 bulb canopy, and it runs fine with very little heat

10/26/2010, 07:43 AM	#16
cdeboard Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Posts: 520	I have a 4x54w odyssea (www.aquatraders.com) with built in digital timer and moonlights. Probably the same as the one mentioned above. I currently have this over a 90g (24" deep) with a clam on the bottom. No issues. I love odyssea stuff. The only complaint I have is the fans are cheap in them. I stuck a $1 computer fan over the other 2 cooling holes, keeps it extremely cool. $133 to my door. __________________ CVRC Current Tank Info: 90g

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