Which light for 180 Gallon?

SoulFish · 07/29/2008, 11:11 PM

Gathering the pieces for a 180 (72x24x24) It's mainly going to be fish. But I want to keep a few things in it like shrooms, etc. Stuff that doesnt require perfect lighting, water parameters etc. But I would like to have lots of like, cheaper shrooms etc.

Would this light work for what I need?

72" PC Coralife Light

scapes · 07/30/2008, 09:15 AM

I think it would probably work, just make sure you DEFINATELY are not going to do anything more than shrooms down the road. I have a 180g w/ 3x250w MH + 2x80w t5's b/c I have sps/lps/zoas. If you feel like you are going to go my route, I wouldn't waste my money on this fixture. However, for what you're wanting, I think it should be fine for fish.

ejpreefer · 07/30/2008, 09:58 AM

Yes, that lighting would work, or I would go with VHO. You do
not need halides.

sufunk · 07/30/2008, 10:06 AM

I recently switched to 250w halides and my old fixture is sitting in my office.

The old fixture is the 72" coralife 3x150w halides and 4x96w pc's. I ran it for about a year and it is in perfect condition. everything still works great and it's clean. The bulbs probably need to be replaced soon though.

If you might be interested, shoot me a pm.

nickterp · 07/30/2008, 10:11 AM

Really think VERY strongly before you commit to buying PC lighting. It will severly limit what you will be able to keep in your tank.

I've wasted alot of money in this hobby by limiting myself with certain purchases like lighting, skimmers, etc.. and then deciding to upgrade later. You will actually save money by anticipating what you'll want to do in the future.

For example, if you bought something like these lights instead: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/239341/product.web which is a T5 lighting setup, I think you'd be able to keep a much greater variety of corals in your tank. And you'll only be spending a couple hundred more, as opposed to completely replacing that PC setup later.

The Saltman · 07/30/2008, 06:28 PM

I would go halide

Macimage · 07/30/2008, 07:10 PM

I would go with t5's rather than pc's, as the t5's are more energy efficient.

If you have a hood, you could use this retro kit with three lights and upgrade and add more of them if you need more light later:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

Joyce

reefergeorge · 07/30/2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Macimage
I would go with t5's rather than pc's, as the t5's are more energy efficient.

If you have a hood, you could use this retro kit with three lights and upgrade and add more of them if you need more light later:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap

Joyce

If you have a canopy I would either go this route^^^^, or stagger four 48" bulbs with individual reflectors on an icecap 660.

SoulFish · 07/31/2008, 01:07 AM

awesome guys, thanks alot. I'm think the T5's are the way for me. $200 I can swing, 2k thats too much. And if the T5's will allow a bit more expansion into the hobby then thats good.

BTW I am very concerned with power consumption here in CA, so it does look like T5's are almost the best of both worlds. MH are the top dawg, but just too spendy for me on both the initial purchase as well as the power consumption. All really good advice thansk guys ... think you guys just saved the me the upgrade price

SoulFish · 07/31/2008, 01:09 AM

so with T5 lighting on that 180, what could I get coral wise then?

maroun.c · 07/31/2008, 05:31 AM

Soul fish,
With 3 Mh
150 W 14k on the sides and 250 W 22K in the middle on a tank with the same deapth as yours, some of my mushrooms seem to be light starved (believe it or not)
I would not go with PC and would follow the last advice I got from Melev 250W MH 10 K (still have to get the bulbs and see how yellow they will be) and supplement with actinic T5 that seems to be the best lighting scheme. Check my build thread (red house) on the last page currently.

downhillbiker · 07/31/2008, 08:38 AM

i have the 48" version of this odyssea MH light. it is much more inexpensive than other brands. odyssea used to have fire problems with their tar/mechanical ballasts, but now they use electronic ballasts. i had an electrician go through everything when i bought the light, and he said it looked fine. you can get this fixture for less than $600 and free shipping.

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=332

here is a pic and vid from my tank, just to let you get an idea what it looks like, i am getting insane growth, and everything loves it mushrooms, SPS, LPS, anemones, and clams.

smoothlarryhughes · 07/31/2008, 10:56 AM

i would go metal halide...you know you are going to want more eventually so you might as well get the mh now...will save money in the long run

SoulFish · 07/31/2008, 11:55 AM

So so the best would be Metal Halids, and a second runner up would be T5

MH
- Pros
a. Best lighting for any Corals
b. Some economy versions around $600 in 72"

-Cons
a. The most expensive to run (1134 Watts)
b. The Most expensive purchasing option

T5
- Pros
a. Slightly cheaper than MH
b. Half the power consumption (500-600 Watts)
c. Could have soft Corals?

- Cons
a. Can't have Stoney Corals

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are there any economy 72" lighting systems that use less power?
I know this may not be physically possible and this may be a stupid question. But the cost of power in CA is ridiculas at the moment. So just wondering if there is a MH that consumes less power but still puts out good light.

downhillbiker · 07/31/2008, 01:18 PM

not that i know of. i am not sure though. another added bonus of MH is the appearance. the "point source" type of lighting allows for a really nice looking shimmer in the tank.

07/29/2008, 11:11 PM	#1
SoulFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Area Posts: 316	Which light for 180 Gallon? Gathering the pieces for a 180 (72x24x24) It's mainly going to be fish. But I want to keep a few things in it like shrooms, etc. Stuff that doesnt require perfect lighting, water parameters etc. But I would like to have lots of like, cheaper shrooms etc. Would this light work for what I need? 72" PC Coralife Light

07/30/2008, 10:06 AM	#4
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	I recently switched to 250w halides and my old fixture is sitting in my office. The old fixture is the 72" coralife 3x150w halides and 4x96w pc's. I ran it for about a year and it is in perfect condition. everything still works great and it's clean. The bulbs probably need to be replaced soon though. If you might be interested, shoot me a pm. __________________ Florida President of J.S.S.J (Jessica Simpson is a Shemale Jinx!!!) Current Tank Info: 36g reef and 180g reef, 3x250w Phoenix 14k MH's and 8x39w T-5's, 2 Tunze 6100's with 7095 controller, 2 Koralia 3's, ASM-G3 skimmer, mag-12 return, eco systems sump/fuge

07/31/2008, 05:31 AM	#11
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	Soul fish, With 3 Mh 150 W 14k on the sides and 250 W 22K in the middle on a tank with the same deapth as yours, some of my mushrooms seem to be light starved (believe it or not) I would not go with PC and would follow the last advice I got from Melev 250W MH 10 K (still have to get the bulbs and see how yellow they will be) and supplement with actinic T5 that seems to be the best lighting scheme. Check my build thread (red house) on the last page currently. __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

07/31/2008, 08:38 AM	#12
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	i have the 48" version of this odyssea MH light. it is much more inexpensive than other brands. odyssea used to have fire problems with their tar/mechanical ballasts, but now they use electronic ballasts. i had an electrician go through everything when i bought the light, and he said it looked fine. you can get this fixture for less than $600 and free shipping. http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=332 here is a pic and vid from my tank, just to let you get an idea what it looks like, i am getting insane growth, and everything loves it mushrooms, SPS, LPS, anemones, and clams. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

07/31/2008, 01:18 PM	#15
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	not that i know of. i am not sure though. another added bonus of MH is the appearance. the "point source" type of lighting allows for a really nice looking shimmer in the tank. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

07/30/2008, 09:15 AM	#2
scapes Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 2,520	I think it would probably work, just make sure you DEFINATELY are not going to do anything more than shrooms down the road. I have a 180g w/ 3x250w MH + 2x80w t5's b/c I have sps/lps/zoas. If you feel like you are going to go my route, I wouldn't waste my money on this fixture. However, for what you're wanting, I think it should be fine for fish.

07/30/2008, 09:58 AM	#3
ejpreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 684	Yes, that lighting would work, or I would go with VHO. You do not need halides.

07/30/2008, 10:11 AM	#5
nickterp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 263	Really think VERY strongly before you commit to buying PC lighting. It will severly limit what you will be able to keep in your tank. I've wasted alot of money in this hobby by limiting myself with certain purchases like lighting, skimmers, etc.. and then deciding to upgrade later. You will actually save money by anticipating what you'll want to do in the future. For example, if you bought something like these lights instead: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/239341/product.web which is a T5 lighting setup, I think you'd be able to keep a much greater variety of corals in your tank. And you'll only be spending a couple hundred more, as opposed to completely replacing that PC setup later.

07/30/2008, 06:28 PM	#6
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	I would go halide

07/30/2008, 07:10 PM	#7
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	I would go with t5's rather than pc's, as the t5's are more energy efficient. If you have a hood, you could use this retro kit with three lights and upgrade and add more of them if you need more light later: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ulbs_by_IceCap Joyce

07/31/2008, 01:07 AM	#9
SoulFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Area Posts: 316	awesome guys, thanks alot. I'm think the T5's are the way for me. $200 I can swing, 2k thats too much. And if the T5's will allow a bit more expansion into the hobby then thats good. BTW I am very concerned with power consumption here in CA, so it does look like T5's are almost the best of both worlds. MH are the top dawg, but just too spendy for me on both the initial purchase as well as the power consumption. All really good advice thansk guys ... think you guys just saved the me the upgrade price

07/31/2008, 01:09 AM	#10
SoulFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Area Posts: 316	so with T5 lighting on that 180, what could I get coral wise then?

07/31/2008, 10:56 AM	#13
smoothlarryhughes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perkiomenville, PA Posts: 134	i would go metal halide...you know you are going to want more eventually so you might as well get the mh now...will save money in the long run

07/31/2008, 11:55 AM	#14
SoulFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Area Posts: 316	So so the best would be Metal Halids, and a second runner up would be T5 MH - Pros a. Best lighting for any Corals b. Some economy versions around $600 in 72" -Cons a. The most expensive to run (1134 Watts) b. The Most expensive purchasing option T5 - Pros a. Slightly cheaper than MH b. Half the power consumption (500-600 Watts) c. Could have soft Corals? - Cons a. Can't have Stoney Corals --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are there any economy 72" lighting systems that use less power? I know this may not be physically possible and this may be a stupid question. But the cost of power in CA is ridiculas at the moment. So just wondering if there is a MH that consumes less power but still puts out good light.