help 10g $100 budget for lighting ????????

vinnyvalentine · 12/29/2009, 11:38 AM

any suggestions i am planning on keeping some soft corals want the best lighting and most watts for my money i had ordered a coralife 96 watt for 86.00 dollars but called today its out of stock cant find anything comparable for the money can i maybe use retrofit????????? im new to reef keeping

pickle311 · 12/29/2009, 11:47 AM

The PAR38 LED lights look nice and are $120 I think.

Llamaguy · 12/29/2009, 11:50 AM

Buy a used 150w metal halide. Just recently I saw an electronic ballast and reflector for $60. That plus a new bulb would put you just over $100 depending on the bulb.

Or a fishneedit 24" T5 fixture if you don't mind the overhang.

smirkis · 12/29/2009, 11:53 AM

a 150w mh over a lil 10gal for softies lol

on my 10gal i used a 2x18w t5 setup from current and kept every softy without issues, many lps and even the easier sps corals. it was plenty of light. it was 60dlrs for the fixture. if u wanna be sure, get a 2 fixtures for a total of 4x18w or go bigger and get 4x24w 24"

but if your tank is a standard 10gal, its only 20" long, so if 2" overhang on each side doesn't bother u, get the 4x24w

150w mh over a 10gal softie tank is just funny

Llamaguy · 12/29/2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smirkis

150w mh over a 10gal softie tank is just funny

How many people say they just want softies and actually stick to that?

BigandUgly · 12/29/2009, 01:30 PM

I thought 150w MH over my 20 gallon was a little overkill. Ten gallon would be lots of fun. Aquatraders has the 150W MH for $99 shipped. Decent unit for the price.

vinnyvalentine · 12/29/2009, 06:49 PM

dont those lights cause fires???? i found the coralife 96 watt quad 50/50 do u think this will be sufficent lite?????????????

timb0x · 12/29/2009, 07:41 PM

http://www.youtube.com/user/ipsfdotc...13/ovwew1xZuHs

check out this series of vids about to to build a full cheap nano reef. this one is part a of the lighting of the series which shows how to build a great, cheap lighting hood. i recommend watching all of the series.

E.intheC · 12/29/2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinnyvalentine

dont those lights cause fires???? i found the coralife 96 watt quad 50/50 do u think this will be sufficent lite?????????????

...where did this come from? Are you talking about Metal Halides in general or a certain brand?

Johnny C · 12/29/2009, 09:17 PM

If you are only looking to spend $100, buy the Current 18'' T5. The Par38 would be cool though!

JAYWARREN · 12/29/2009, 09:29 PM

what is the PAR38 light? anyone have a link?

Johnny C · 12/29/2009, 09:31 PM

http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_i...p2tu7sepr93im4

DOTZ · 12/29/2009, 09:57 PM

If you want to cheap you can use some compact swirly bulbs from Walmart. They have GE day light 65K that work great and put off a nice white color with a slight tinge of yellow.

Another cheap option would be these.http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...utm_medium=cse

12/29/2009, 11:38 AM	#1
vinnyvalentine Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 33	help 10g $100 budget for lighting ???????? any suggestions i am planning on keeping some soft corals want the best lighting and most watts for my money i had ordered a coralife 96 watt for 86.00 dollars but called today its out of stock cant find anything comparable for the money can i maybe use retrofit????????? im new to reef keeping __________________ 55 gallon preditor tank 10g nano reef Current Tank Info: 55 g preditor 10g nano reef

12/29/2009, 01:30 PM	#6
BigandUgly Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: East Irondequoit, NY Posts: 281	I thought 150w MH over my 20 gallon was a little overkill. Ten gallon would be lots of fun. Aquatraders has the 150W MH for $99 shipped. Decent unit for the price. __________________ The true sign of intelligence is understanding what you don't know. Current Tank Info: Several tanks running. Hoping to get one right.

12/29/2009, 06:49 PM	#7
vinnyvalentine Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 33	dont those lights cause fires???? i found the coralife 96 watt quad 50/50 do u think this will be sufficent lite????????????? __________________ 55 gallon preditor tank 10g nano reef Current Tank Info: 55 g preditor 10g nano reef

12/29/2009, 09:17 PM	#10
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	If you are only looking to spend $100, buy the Current 18'' T5. The Par38 would be cool though! __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

12/29/2009, 09:31 PM	#12
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_i...p2tu7sepr93im4 __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

12/29/2009, 11:47 AM	#2
pickle311 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin TX...Finally Posts: 981	The PAR38 LED lights look nice and are $120 I think.

12/29/2009, 11:50 AM	#3
Llamaguy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 115	Buy a used 150w metal halide. Just recently I saw an electronic ballast and reflector for $60. That plus a new bulb would put you just over $100 depending on the bulb. Or a fishneedit 24" T5 fixture if you don't mind the overhang.

12/29/2009, 11:53 AM	#4
smirkis Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego, 805 n 54 Posts: 40	a 150w mh over a lil 10gal for softies lol on my 10gal i used a 2x18w t5 setup from current and kept every softy without issues, many lps and even the easier sps corals. it was plenty of light. it was 60dlrs for the fixture. if u wanna be sure, get a 2 fixtures for a total of 4x18w or go bigger and get 4x24w 24" but if your tank is a standard 10gal, its only 20" long, so if 2" overhang on each side doesn't bother u, get the 4x24w 150w mh over a 10gal softie tank is just funny

12/29/2009, 07:41 PM	#8
timb0x Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 16	http://www.youtube.com/user/ipsfdotc...13/ovwew1xZuHs check out this series of vids about to to build a full cheap nano reef. this one is part a of the lighting of the series which shows how to build a great, cheap lighting hood. i recommend watching all of the series.

12/29/2009, 09:29 PM	#11
JAYWARREN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 90	what is the PAR38 light? anyone have a link?

12/29/2009, 09:57 PM	#13
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	If you want to cheap you can use some compact swirly bulbs from Walmart. They have GE day light 65K that work great and put off a nice white color with a slight tinge of yellow. Another cheap option would be these.http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...utm_medium=cse