55 Gallon Reef Lighting

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 02:32 PM

At first I wasn't going to go with a reef tank, but the more I started to think about it I decided that I might as well have my tank reef ready just in case and that way it will save me some money down the road with lighting. My tank is a 55 gallon 48"h x 13"w x 21"d. I'm not sure if a 4 bulb 48" T5HO fixture will be good for coral growth or not, If not then would a 6 bulb 48" T5HO fixture do the trick?

MalHavoc · 07/15/2008, 02:38 PM

Have you thought about what sort of corals you want to keep?

by the way,

To Reef Central

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 03:09 PM

Not sure what types, i'd just rather buy the lighting once instead of twice and I would rather not go with metal halide, and thanks for the welcoming!

shuguley · 07/15/2008, 03:29 PM

I've got the same size tank as you. A 4 bulb T5HO will work, but keep in mind, some have one reflector and some have individual reflectors. The individual reflectors are better and more expensive. I was going cheap so I bought a Nova Extreme T5H0 4X54 watt fixture. (About $200) It has one reflector and I should be able to keep almost any kind of coral except for SPS. If you go the individual reflector route, you will probably be able to keep anything.

MalHavoc · 07/15/2008, 03:43 PM

A 4 bulb T5 system would let you keep a wide variety of corals, like most softies, and "lps" corals (you can ask about those later on). I'd probably stay away from higher-light SPS and clams. A 6 bulb system gives you more options, but it also makes the hood more crowded and possibly increases heat issues.

che25 · 07/15/2008, 03:45 PM

I recently upgraded by lighting from PC to MH lights. The MH lights are very nice, albeit costly. I've been fighting a nasty cyano bloom since the new lights went online. You might consider this negative experience if you ever want to upgrade your lighting in the future....better to get the disequilibrium out of the way in the beginning than two years from now when you want to upgrade your lights.

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 03:46 PM

I'm using my blackberry right now and off the top of my head I don't know if they have individual reflectors or not. If they do not would I be better off with the 6 bulb?

MalHavoc · 07/15/2008, 03:49 PM

how wide is the 6 bulb fixture? You list your tank as only being 13" wide. That's pretty cramped.

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 04:24 PM

Its 48" long 9" wide and 2.5" Tall
comes with 6 x 54 watt T5 HO bulbs
bulbs it coems with are
4x 10K
2x Actinic Blue
and
8x 1 Watt blue LEDS
comes with a 5 year warranty
3 chords , 1 is for two bulbs, 1 is for 4 bulbs and 1 is for the LEDs
its 275.00 (shipping included)
I am also going to be building a canopy but im waiting to build the canopy untill I get a lighting setup so I know how much room I have to work with

MalHavoc · 07/15/2008, 04:52 PM

sounds decent enough. Brand? any mention of reflectors?

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 05:27 PM

Not sure what the brand is I'm sure its just a knock off of some sort but with a 5 year warranty I dunno... It does say individual reflectors my phone isn't letting me copy the address but its eBay item number 170238811699

mray · 07/15/2008, 05:54 PM

The listing does say individual reflectors but they might just be slight concaves. Ask for a picture without bulbs.

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 06:13 PM

I'll ask him tonight but I dunno if he will cause it says they are still new and un opened

Jakers88 · 07/15/2008, 07:19 PM

Yea, he said that those are the only pictures he has on file and since they are all sealed he can't open them

So do you guys think this is something worth getting or no?

07/15/2008, 02:32 PM	#1
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	55 Gallon Reef Lighting At first I wasn't going to go with a reef tank, but the more I started to think about it I decided that I might as well have my tank reef ready just in case and that way it will save me some money down the road with lighting. My tank is a 55 gallon 48"h x 13"w x 21"d. I'm not sure if a 4 bulb 48" T5HO fixture will be good for coral growth or not, If not then would a 6 bulb 48" T5HO fixture do the trick?

07/15/2008, 02:38 PM	#2
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	Have you thought about what sort of corals you want to keep? by the way, *To Reef Central* __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/15/2008, 03:43 PM	#5
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	A 4 bulb T5 system would let you keep a wide variety of corals, like most softies, and "lps" corals (you can ask about those later on). I'd probably stay away from higher-light SPS and clams. A 6 bulb system gives you more options, but it also makes the hood more crowded and possibly increases heat issues. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/15/2008, 03:45 PM	#6
che25 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 173	I recently upgraded by lighting from PC to MH lights. The MH lights are very nice, albeit costly. I've been fighting a nasty cyano bloom since the new lights went online. You might consider this negative experience if you ever want to upgrade your lighting in the future....better to get the disequilibrium out of the way in the beginning than two years from now when you want to upgrade your lights. __________________ Ave caesar! Morituri te salutamus Current Tank Info: 75 gal. glass, mixed reef/fish(SPS, LPS and softies), 2X150 MH w/130 watt actinic, Euro Reef RS80 Skimmer. DIY ATO w/Kalkwasser and 10 gal. DIY Fudge. DIY RODI system.

07/15/2008, 03:49 PM	#8
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	how wide is the 6 bulb fixture? You list your tank as only being 13" wide. That's pretty cramped. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/15/2008, 03:09 PM	#3
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	Not sure what types, i'd just rather buy the lighting once instead of twice and I would rather not go with metal halide, and thanks for the welcoming!

07/15/2008, 03:29 PM	#4
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	I've got the same size tank as you. A 4 bulb T5HO will work, but keep in mind, some have one reflector and some have individual reflectors. The individual reflectors are better and more expensive. I was going cheap so I bought a Nova Extreme T5H0 4X54 watt fixture. (About $200) It has one reflector and I should be able to keep almost any kind of coral except for SPS. If you go the individual reflector route, you will probably be able to keep anything.

07/15/2008, 03:46 PM	#7
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	I'm using my blackberry right now and off the top of my head I don't know if they have individual reflectors or not. If they do not would I be better off with the 6 bulb?

07/15/2008, 04:24 PM	#9
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	Its 48" long 9" wide and 2.5" Tall comes with 6 x 54 watt T5 HO bulbs bulbs it coems with are 4x 10K 2x Actinic Blue and 8x 1 Watt blue LEDS comes with a 5 year warranty 3 chords , 1 is for two bulbs, 1 is for 4 bulbs and 1 is for the LEDs its 275.00 (shipping included) I am also going to be building a canopy but im waiting to build the canopy untill I get a lighting setup so I know how much room I have to work with

07/15/2008, 04:52 PM	#10
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	sounds decent enough. Brand? any mention of reflectors? __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/15/2008, 05:27 PM	#11
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	Not sure what the brand is I'm sure its just a knock off of some sort but with a 5 year warranty I dunno... It does say individual reflectors my phone isn't letting me copy the address but its eBay item number 170238811699

07/15/2008, 05:54 PM	#12
mray Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 122	The listing does say individual reflectors but they might just be slight concaves. Ask for a picture without bulbs.

07/15/2008, 06:13 PM	#13
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	I'll ask him tonight but I dunno if he will cause it says they are still new and un opened

07/15/2008, 07:19 PM	#14
Jakers88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 77	Yea, he said that those are the only pictures he has on file and since they are all sealed he can't open them So do you guys think this is something worth getting or no?