what lights to pick

schoch79 · 01/05/2007, 01:39 AM

Ok so I have a 20 gallon tank. 24 inches long and 16 inches deep. Should I go for the 130 watt compact florescent or the 96 watt t-5 lights? I don't want to go metal halide, mostly cause of the temps but cost also. I am also willing to do some diy with all t-5's or all compacts but not if it will cost me like $500 like some of the lights from that custom nano sight for just PC's. Thanks for the help.

aquarius77 · 01/05/2007, 01:44 AM

I use a metal halide on a 20h same as yours. With that much light you dont need it slammed on the tank to work so heat is no issue for me.

JR719 · 01/05/2007, 01:50 AM

Sorta depends on what you want to keep. If your looking at SPS, go with a halide or T5. For softies, go with VHO. I personally would not go with PC's as I've had them and did not like them very well.
If all your going to keep is fish, the PC's will work fine.

aquarius77 · 01/05/2007, 02:01 AM

I agree most pc lights are fairly useless if you want a reef. I had mine for about 5 mos and disliked every min of it, its a fuge light now.

JRistau81 · 01/05/2007, 02:05 AM

Go with the T5s over PC's, but after switching to Halides, I would never go back, and I have never had a temp problem

schoch79 · 01/05/2007, 10:28 AM

ok so t5's it is then but I'm a little concerned to go with only 96 watts of light because that will just almost put me at 5 wpg. I know that the wpg rule is obsolete but it's still a general rule of thumb for me. Will this much light realistically keep sps corals?

schoch79 · 01/05/2007, 11:45 AM

bump

kau_cinta_ku · 01/05/2007, 12:29 PM

if you get a good set of t'5 then it is alot more powerful than you think. i have an icecap t5HO retro 4 x 39 watt over my 46 gal. tank and i almost think that is way to much light. just make sure to get indivudal reflectors for the bulbs or they are useless and are just the same as running pc's

01/05/2007, 01:39 AM	#1
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	what lights to pick Ok so I have a 20 gallon tank. 24 inches long and 16 inches deep. Should I go for the 130 watt compact florescent or the 96 watt t-5 lights? I don't want to go metal halide, mostly cause of the temps but cost also. I am also willing to do some diy with all t-5's or all compacts but not if it will cost me like $500 like some of the lights from that custom nano sight for just PC's. Thanks for the help.

01/05/2007, 01:50 AM	#3
JR719 Tang Cop Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: OK Posts: 2,240	Sorta depends on what you want to keep. If your looking at SPS, go with a halide or T5. For softies, go with VHO. I personally would not go with PC's as I've had them and did not like them very well. If all your going to keep is fish, the PC's will work fine. __________________ Can't sleep, clowns will eat me. America is the most grandiose experiment the world has seen, but, I am afraid, it is not going to be a success. Sigmund Freud Current Tank Info: 300 reef, Aqua controller, Deltec calcium reactor, Reeflo 250 skimmer, Icecap bla bla bla

01/05/2007, 02:05 AM	#5
JRistau81 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield, Illinois Posts: 264	Go with the T5s over PC's, but after switching to Halides, I would never go back, and I have never had a temp problem __________________ I like pigs. Dogs look up to us; cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals. - Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 2 Hamilton 400w 14K Metal halide, Red Sea Berlin Skimmer (Don't scoff, it works well), 150-200 lbs LR, 50 lbs LS, 100 lbs Southdown...anything else?

01/05/2007, 10:28 AM	#6
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	ok so t5's it is then but I'm a little concerned to go with only 96 watts of light because that will just almost put me at 5 wpg. I know that the wpg rule is obsolete but it's still a general rule of thumb for me. Will this much light realistically keep sps corals? __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

01/05/2007, 11:45 AM	#7
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	bump __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

01/05/2007, 01:44 AM	#2
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I use a metal halide on a 20h same as yours. With that much light you dont need it slammed on the tank to work so heat is no issue for me.

01/05/2007, 02:01 AM	#4
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I agree most pc lights are fairly useless if you want a reef. I had mine for about 5 mos and disliked every min of it, its a fuge light now.

01/05/2007, 12:29 PM	#8
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	if you get a good set of t'5 then it is alot more powerful than you think. i have an icecap t5HO retro 4 x 39 watt over my 46 gal. tank and i almost think that is way to much light. just make sure to get indivudal reflectors for the bulbs or they are useless and are just the same as running pc's