lighting

wiremonkey22 · 11/23/2007, 05:56 PM

just a question is metal halide sp? really the way to go for reef keeping or are power compacts just as good more of a $$$ issue havent set one up yet just looking into how much im going to have to beg my wife lol.....

Aquarist007 · 11/23/2007, 05:59 PM

That question depends alot on whether you are going to keep corals or not---and whether you are going to keep lps and soft coral or sps corals. Sps corals need alot more light, esp to bring out the brillant colours so halides would be a suggestion here.

wiremonkey22 · 11/23/2007, 06:42 PM

eventually would like to keep sps in the long run after getting more experince in reef also ive heard the blue light is important whats the importance here my plan is 100 g love the tangs need room for one or two also any thought on these wet dry canister filters or better off with a sump

demonsp · 11/23/2007, 06:49 PM

For a beginnining reefer a good set of PC or T-5 lighting can go a long way with a $ savings.Its hard to find any hardcore reefer useing anything but MH.

PC lighting is fine for new setup and learning the Reef process. Fish dont mind lighting and alot of coral do fine under PC.

MH create a more realistic setting and faster more healthy coral though.

demonsp · 11/23/2007, 06:50 PM

more then one tang then 100 gallon still small. What size tank do you have now?

wiremonkey22 · 11/23/2007, 06:58 PM

100 got it from a friend cheap had a 75 with Saltwater long time ago then moved around too much to keep it ended up selling it but cant wait to get back into the hobby now that im stationary for a while so 1 tang or none never had anything but damsels and clowns just doing my research open to critisim thanks for the reply

Flybynight · 11/23/2007, 07:00 PM

I say use M/H. They are amazing.

demonsp · 11/23/2007, 07:06 PM

You could probley get more then one but with so many to choice from why use more then one for your display. Look here fo rmore unique fish. http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden...3319&subref=AB

Have fun stocking as it takes time to fill. Fish dont care about light so research the type of coral you want from there lighting need to feeding to help decide you lightin. But you could de alot with a 100 gallon and MH lights.

Still size and lighting to matter if water quality is poor and inconsistant.

wiremonkey22 · 11/23/2007, 07:15 PM

so one more question about lighting is it possible to over light for inverts that require low to moderate or is there such a thing as over lighting

demonsp · 11/23/2007, 07:20 PM

If you have enough LR and good placement you should always have low light , mid light and high light areas.

Im sure you could overlight but just raise the light up more to help but you should just research the right lighting for your tank to be sure.Heres onr spot.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=287&aid=414

seapug · 11/23/2007, 07:38 PM

PCs really aren't the best option as far as output/watt goes. If the wife gets concerned by the term "metal halide," go with a beefy T5 system. They are powerful, look great, and you can still call them "flourescent" lights.

Flybynight · 11/23/2007, 07:43 PM

Ya T5s are good but when we put the spectrometer on them they do not go very deep. But they do go deeper than Vhos and much deeper than PC.

Aquarist007 · 11/23/2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
For a beginnining reefer a good set of PC or T-5 lighting can go a long way with a $ savings.Its hard to find any hardcore reefer useing anything but MH.

PC lighting is fine for new setup and learning the Reef process. Fish dont mind lighting and alot of coral do fine under PC.

MH create a more realistic setting and faster more healthy coral though.

just don't get yourself in a situation that you cannot upgrade easily and inexpensively.

I shelled out for a coral life system as detailed in my signature---that was over 1000 dollars---I'm really stuck with 150 halides unless I change the ballasts and the whole fixture.

demonsp · 11/23/2007, 07:49 PM

MH lighting can not even come close to PC or T-5 in coral growth and color as color in fish. You see shades under MH that you never knew where there.

Flybynight · 11/23/2007, 07:59 PM

so you are saying MH are better? because the way you worded that you think PC are better

seapug · 11/23/2007, 08:18 PM

I use MH and love them but I actually think T5s give much better colors. Metal Halides are point sources of light so you get a great natural "shimmering" effect that has some benefits that T5s don't have, but you can still keep just about everything under them, provided the tank isn't too deep, as Flybynight said.

On that note, what are the dimensions of the tank?

snagged by reef · 11/24/2007, 06:53 PM

forget the PC's..ime. definately go with t5's if you dont want to spend the money on MH's. and i just recently saw a thread of an absolutely beautiful sps t5 tank. go to the sps forum, he uses strictlt t5's.

fewells · 11/24/2007, 07:59 PM

If I can make one suggestion on lighting. Go with this. If you have one place to spend your money spend it here. Go with halides now because chances are that you will get them in the future.

Yes, you can sell your old lights to "help" pay for the upgrade but it was a waste of my money when I had to keep upgrading when people talked me into pc's 8 years ago. I have been using halides for about 6 now and tried t5's but did not like them.

You probably want 1 for every 2 foot of tank.

Lumenarc's are great reflectors. Not pretty but very very good reflectors.

Ballasts and bulb choice is up to you in the end but I use coralvue ballasts and helios bulbs. You would probably be good with 250 watters.

It seems to me that if you can go ahead and buy good lights other equipment can be upgraded slowly as you get more skilled and get more money. Halides will help you be more successful IMO.

Aquarist007 · 11/24/2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fewells
If I can make one suggestion on lighting. Go with this. If you have one place to spend your money spend it here. Go with halides now because chances are that you will get them in the future.

Yes, you can sell your old lights to "help" pay for the upgrade but it was a waste of my money when I had to keep upgrading when people talked me into pc's 8 years ago. I have been using halides for about 6 now and tried t5's but did not like them.

You probably want 1 for every 2 foot of tank.

Lumenarc's are great reflectors. Not pretty but very very good reflectors.

Ballasts and bulb choice is up to you in the end but I use coralvue ballasts and helios bulbs. You would probably be good with 250 watters.

It seems to me that if you can go ahead and buy good lights other equipment can be upgraded slowly as you get more skilled and get more money. Halides will help you be more successful IMO.

I agree except for the selling part--used aquarium hardware goes so dirt cheap that sometimes its better off to keep spares then give the stuff away. That is why I agree with you----spend the money now without the idea of upgrading later---and being able to sell the stuff you have to compensate.

fewells · 11/25/2007, 09:05 AM

that is why help was in quotes. it turns out to be very little help when you sell your old lights.

Go with the Halides.

Aquarist007 · 11/25/2007, 10:33 AM

To put it very unscientific:

Its kind of like our second favorite hobby

you have to look at how much you are getting, how good it is and penetration :
Translated it is lumens, spectrum and depth of penetration
A 150 watt 10,00k MH will deliver 10,000 lumens of full spectrum light and maxes out at 18 inches depth in the tank.
LOL

11/23/2007, 05:56 PM	#1
wiremonkey22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 12	lighting just a question is metal halide sp? really the way to go for reef keeping or are power compacts just as good more of a $$$ issue havent set one up yet just looking into how much im going to have to beg my wife lol.....

11/23/2007, 05:59 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	That question depends alot on whether you are going to keep corals or not---and whether you are going to keep lps and soft coral or sps corals. Sps corals need alot more light, esp to bring out the brillant colours so halides would be a suggestion here. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

11/23/2007, 06:42 PM	#3
wiremonkey22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 12	eventually would like to keep sps in the long run after getting more experince in reef also ive heard the blue light is important whats the importance here my plan is 100 g love the tangs need room for one or two also any thought on these wet dry canister filters or better off with a sump __________________ The only thing constant is change. Current Tank Info: none yet

11/23/2007, 06:58 PM	#6
wiremonkey22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 12	100 got it from a friend cheap had a 75 with Saltwater long time ago then moved around too much to keep it ended up selling it but cant wait to get back into the hobby now that im stationary for a while so 1 tang or none never had anything but damsels and clowns just doing my research open to critisim thanks for the reply __________________ The only thing constant is change. Current Tank Info: none yet

11/23/2007, 07:00 PM	#7
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	I say use M/H. They are amazing. __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

11/23/2007, 06:49 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	For a beginnining reefer a good set of PC or T-5 lighting can go a long way with a $ savings.Its hard to find any hardcore reefer useing anything but MH. PC lighting is fine for new setup and learning the Reef process. Fish dont mind lighting and alot of coral do fine under PC. MH create a more realistic setting and faster more healthy coral though.

11/23/2007, 06:50 PM	#5
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	more then one tang then 100 gallon still small. What size tank do you have now?

11/23/2007, 07:06 PM	#8
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	You could probley get more then one but with so many to choice from why use more then one for your display. Look here fo rmore unique fish. http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden...3319&subref=AB Have fun stocking as it takes time to fill. Fish dont care about light so research the type of coral you want from there lighting need to feeding to help decide you lightin. But you could de alot with a 100 gallon and MH lights. Still size and lighting to matter if water quality is poor and inconsistant.

11/23/2007, 07:15 PM	#9
wiremonkey22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 12	so one more question about lighting is it possible to over light for inverts that require low to moderate or is there such a thing as over lighting __________________ The only thing constant is change. Current Tank Info: none yet

11/23/2007, 07:20 PM	#10
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	If you have enough LR and good placement you should always have low light , mid light and high light areas. Im sure you could overlight but just raise the light up more to help but you should just research the right lighting for your tank to be sure.Heres onr spot. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=287&aid=414

11/23/2007, 07:38 PM	#11
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	PCs really aren't the best option as far as output/watt goes. If the wife gets concerned by the term "metal halide," go with a beefy T5 system. They are powerful, look great, and you can still call them "flourescent" lights. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

11/23/2007, 07:43 PM	#12
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	Ya T5s are good but when we put the spectrometer on them they do not go very deep. But they do go deeper than Vhos and much deeper than PC. __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

11/23/2007, 07:49 PM	#14
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	MH lighting can not even come close to PC or T-5 in coral growth and color as color in fish. You see shades under MH that you never knew where there.

11/23/2007, 07:59 PM	#15
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	so you are saying MH are better? because the way you worded that you think PC are better __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

11/23/2007, 08:18 PM	#16
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I use MH and love them but I actually think T5s give much better colors. Metal Halides are point sources of light so you get a great natural "shimmering" effect that has some benefits that T5s don't have, but you can still keep just about everything under them, provided the tank isn't too deep, as Flybynight said. On that note, what are the dimensions of the tank? __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

11/24/2007, 06:53 PM	#17
snagged by reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 157	forget the PC's..ime. definately go with t5's if you dont want to spend the money on MH's. and i just recently saw a thread of an absolutely beautiful sps t5 tank. go to the sps forum, he uses strictlt t5's.

11/24/2007, 07:59 PM	#18
fewells Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, MO Posts: 356	If I can make one suggestion on lighting. Go with this. If you have one place to spend your money spend it here. Go with halides now because chances are that you will get them in the future. Yes, you can sell your old lights to "help" pay for the upgrade but it was a waste of my money when I had to keep upgrading when people talked me into pc's 8 years ago. I have been using halides for about 6 now and tried t5's but did not like them. You probably want 1 for every 2 foot of tank. Lumenarc's are great reflectors. Not pretty but very very good reflectors. Ballasts and bulb choice is up to you in the end but I use coralvue ballasts and helios bulbs. You would probably be good with 250 watters. It seems to me that if you can go ahead and buy good lights other equipment can be upgraded slowly as you get more skilled and get more money. Halides will help you be more successful IMO. __________________ When you look this good you don't have to know anything. Current Tank Info: 90 reef

11/25/2007, 09:05 AM	#20
fewells Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, MO Posts: 356	that is why help was in quotes. it turns out to be very little help when you sell your old lights. Go with the Halides. __________________ When you look this good you don't have to know anything. Current Tank Info: 90 reef

11/25/2007, 10:33 AM	#21
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	To put it very unscientific: Its kind of like our second favorite hobby you have to look at how much you are getting, how good it is and penetration : Translated it is lumens, spectrum and depth of penetration A 150 watt 10,00k MH will deliver 10,000 lumens of full spectrum light and maxes out at 18 inches depth in the tank. LOL __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock