power Compacts enough? still good?

ejk17 · 02/10/2010, 12:21 AM

Well this is my first post, so here it goes. I am starting a new 90 gallon reef aquarium, and I am on the hunt for lighting. I have been looking around for a while and the only problem is I am on a budget. I found this retrofit kit power compact system at bigals and I was wondering what you guys thought of it.http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...tkit484x65watt Is it enough lighting for this tank? Could I keep more than softies? Are Power compacts even worth it, or should I go for t5. So many questions! Anything will help.

Thanks Evan

na0404 · 02/10/2010, 12:26 AM

Bump

evsalty · 02/10/2010, 12:28 AM

For $50 more you can get a 4 bulb 48" T5"VHO" yes VHO not just HO complete setup from hellolights. The pc's are not going to be all that great for much more then softies and the easiest of lps and sps corals. Most of which would have to be placed up in the top 10" of the tank. With the T5 VHO's you would be able to keep almost anyting in there. I say almost since there is still only 4 bulbs but you could always add 2 more when the funds allow.

ejk17 · 02/10/2010, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evsalty

For $50 more you can get a 4 bulb 48" T5"VHO" yes VHO not just HO complete setup from hellolights. The pc's are not going to be all that great for much more then softies and the easiest of lps and sps corals. Most of which would have to be placed up in the top 10" of the tank. With the T5 VHO's you would be able to keep almost anyting in there. I say almost since there is still only 4 bulbs but you could always add 2 more when the funds allow.

Awesome response time ev! thanks for the help Ill definitely take these into consideration. Are sps sustainable under this do you know or is it a bit to small? Ive heard six is the minimum for t5s.

evsalty · 02/10/2010, 03:24 AM

Usually T5's are ran as HO (high output) but with those ones they are 15% overdriven so it would be closer to the output of 5 bulbs. Your tanks depth is the biggest concern but I am sure that there are many people running T5HO's on deep tanks successfully. Like I said before it should be able to run most sps and lps (might have to play with coral placements) and in the future you could add the 2 more.

02/10/2010, 12:21 AM	#1
ejk17 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 364	power Compacts enough? still good? Well this is my first post, so here it goes. I am starting a new 90 gallon reef aquarium, and I am on the hunt for lighting. I have been looking around for a while and the only problem is I am on a budget. I found this retrofit kit power compact system at bigals and I was wondering what you guys thought of it.http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...tkit484x65watt Is it enough lighting for this tank? Could I keep more than softies? Are Power compacts even worth it, or should I go for t5. So many questions! Anything will help. Thanks Evan

02/10/2010, 12:26 AM	#2
na0404 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 13	Bump

02/10/2010, 12:28 AM	#3
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	For $50 more you can get a 4 bulb 48" T5"VHO" yes VHO not just HO complete setup from hellolights. The pc's are not going to be all that great for much more then softies and the easiest of lps and sps corals. Most of which would have to be placed up in the top 10" of the tank. With the T5 VHO's you would be able to keep almost anyting in there. I say almost since there is still only 4 bulbs but you could always add 2 more when the funds allow.

02/10/2010, 03:24 AM	#5
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Usually T5's are ran as HO (high output) but with those ones they are 15% overdriven so it would be closer to the output of 5 bulbs. Your tanks depth is the biggest concern but I am sure that there are many people running T5HO's on deep tanks successfully. Like I said before it should be able to run most sps and lps (might have to play with coral placements) and in the future you could add the 2 more.