which light to purchase

jlt232000 · 01/15/2009, 10:43 AM

need help choosing light configuration. The tank is a 25 gal with an eclipse 2 hood. I plan on keeping soft coral and some clowns and maybe some other small fish. I have CPR back pack skimmer and about 100lbs of Fiji rock and 20 lbs of live sand from a tank I had in college.
Not sure if I can keep any SPS or LPS with light config below.
Basicaly I can go with a kit from hello lights that has 2x28W bulbs
a 28watt 10000k and a 28watt actinic 03 bulb $135

or a 2x32 Watt Current USA PowerCompact Dual SunPaq Retrofit Kit 1-Dual Daylight / 1-Dual Actinic $105

Any sugg would be great espicialy when trying to fit this in the eclipse hood.

thanks leo

rush07 · 01/15/2009, 11:09 AM

Wow. That's a lot live rock.

Are the Hellolights T5's? I think that the 25 gallon tank is 20 inches deep and 24" long. I think with PC's you will struggle at hat depth. Could you swing this light?
Nova Extreme

Freight paid, pretty good light for the price. Or this one for a little more:

Sundail

I think with these you would be OK with Zoas and softies.

jlt232000 · 01/15/2009, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the sugg. rush07. The only prob is the eclips hood. It looks like I would have to get rid of the hood completey to fit iether of those lights.

rush07 · 01/15/2009, 11:38 AM

Gotcha. I misunderstood. I don't know much about these hoods and retrofitting them, but I am sure someone here does. Good Luck!

jlt232000 · 01/15/2009, 11:47 AM

Looking at the nova extreme, I might ba able to make that one work. Looks like i can make some cuts in the hood for the leg stands. With those lights can you keep any softies SPS and or LPS?

rush07 · 01/15/2009, 12:02 PM

I think these have contoured reflectors, which are not as good as individual parabolic reflectors but are better than others without anything. It will give you more light than any PC system and I you should be OK with the less light demanding corals. 96 watts of T5 lighting equals about 190 watts of PC lighting I believe. You also have a much wider selection of bulbs to get the look you want. The stock bulbs are OK, but when it comes time to replace them (if you don't want to do it right away), I would look at ATI or Geissmann bulbs.

See if you get some feedback regarding retrofitting the Eclips hood. Again, I have not experience with this. I did see this:

24" Retrofit kit

I think if you can get 130 watts of PC light over 25 gallons you would also be OK with Zoas and softies. Less than that you might struggle with a 21" deep tank. Hopefully someone will chime in with more knowledge than I.

01/15/2009, 10:43 AM	#1
jlt232000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 82	which light to purchase need help choosing light configuration. The tank is a 25 gal with an eclipse 2 hood. I plan on keeping soft coral and some clowns and maybe some other small fish. I have CPR back pack skimmer and about 100lbs of Fiji rock and 20 lbs of live sand from a tank I had in college. Not sure if I can keep any SPS or LPS with light config below. Basicaly I can go with a kit from hello lights that has 2x28W bulbs a 28watt 10000k and a 28watt actinic 03 bulb $135 or a 2x32 Watt Current USA PowerCompact Dual SunPaq Retrofit Kit 1-Dual Daylight / 1-Dual Actinic $105 Any sugg would be great espicialy when trying to fit this in the eclipse hood. thanks leo

01/15/2009, 11:09 AM	#2
rush07 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central, NY Posts: 146	Wow. That's a lot live rock. Are the Hellolights T5's? I think that the 25 gallon tank is 20 inches deep and 24" long. I think with PC's you will struggle at hat depth. Could you swing this light? Nova Extreme Freight paid, pretty good light for the price. Or this one for a little more: Sundail I think with these you would be OK with Zoas and softies.

01/15/2009, 11:25 AM	#3
jlt232000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 82	Thanks for the sugg. rush07. The only prob is the eclips hood. It looks like I would have to get rid of the hood completey to fit iether of those lights.

01/15/2009, 11:38 AM	#4
rush07 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central, NY Posts: 146	Gotcha. I misunderstood. I don't know much about these hoods and retrofitting them, but I am sure someone here does. Good Luck!

01/15/2009, 11:47 AM	#5
jlt232000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 82	Looking at the nova extreme, I might ba able to make that one work. Looks like i can make some cuts in the hood for the leg stands. With those lights can you keep any softies SPS and or LPS?

01/15/2009, 12:02 PM	#6
rush07 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central, NY Posts: 146	I think these have contoured reflectors, which are not as good as individual parabolic reflectors but are better than others without anything. It will give you more light than any PC system and I you should be OK with the less light demanding corals. 96 watts of T5 lighting equals about 190 watts of PC lighting I believe. You also have a much wider selection of bulbs to get the look you want. The stock bulbs are OK, but when it comes time to replace them (if you don't want to do it right away), I would look at ATI or Geissmann bulbs. See if you get some feedback regarding retrofitting the Eclips hood. Again, I have not experience with this. I did see this: 24" Retrofit kit I think if you can get 130 watts of PC light over 25 gallons you would also be OK with Zoas and softies. Less than that you might struggle with a 21" deep tank. Hopefully someone will chime in with more knowledge than I.