Upgrading from PC's suggestions

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 08:40 AM

I have a traditional 60 gallon tank currently with 260 watt pcs. 4x65 bulbs. I have been seeing some growth of my zoas but not much. That could be due to some other factors as well though.

Either way I want to upgrade my lighting and need suggestion on two setups that I was looking at.

1.300w metal halides: 2 150w 17" hanging pendents with 2 14w t5 actinics each.

2.216w t5s: 48" system with 4 54w bulbs

I hear alot of good things both about t5s and metal halides. I mostly hear a lot of people raving about metal halides. I would like to get them but don't know if this setup will be too bright or not. Right now I have some softies but would like to be able to keep anything including clams.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 11:11 AM

Can anyone offer an opinion to help me decide which to buy and why?

Quote:

1.300w metal halides: 2 150w 17" hanging pendents with 2 14w t5 actinics each.

2.216w t5s: 48" system with 4 54w bulbs

SBraden · 05/20/2010, 11:18 AM

I chose T5's over Halides because I didn't want to run a chiller. Sometimes I wish I would have went halide for the spotlight water ripple effect, but I like my setup. I can keep pretty much anything that I want and I really like the amount of bulb choices that I have so that I can get any look that I want.

On a side note - those fixtures sound like Odyssea lights. You may want to look into them more. I have never used them, but when I was considering them I heard a lot of horror stories about them burning out fast, smoking, and even catching fire. There may have been improvements as this was a few years ago, but absolutely research the company before you buy. If these are not Odyssea's disregard everything I just said.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 11:35 AM

Okay. So if I were to get the metal halides I would need a chiller? I was going to hang the pendents above the tank from the ceiling. Would I still need a chiller?

Also the lights are odyssea fixtures. I have heard some horrible things also, but I have also heard some good things. Plus The lights that I have on my tank now are odyssea lights and I have been happy with them for the year that I've had them and haven't any problems.

austin93 · 05/20/2010, 12:01 PM

You would probably not need a chiller. I would buy MH as I had T5 and wasn't happy with their flat appearance. I noticed little difference in growth and I did like the way I could control color. I am very happy I made the change. I try to live by the motto, "Buy right or buy twice." Get the best you can afford because you will end up changing eventually anyway.

sigpialx · 05/20/2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin93

You would probably not need a chiller. I would buy MH as I had T5 and wasn't happy with their flat appearance. I noticed little difference in growth and I did like the way I could control color. I am very happy I made the change. I try to live by the motto, "Buy right or buy twice." Get the best you can afford because you will end up changing eventually anyway.

+1

Totally agree

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 12:12 PM

Thanks guys for your input. So since I won't need the chiller I think that I will probably go with the metal halides.

I want to have a mixed reef so do you thing that with this lighting setup that I will be able to keep sps, lps, softies, and clams?

t4zalews · 05/20/2010, 12:17 PM

how long is this tank? I dont understand the 14w T5's...I vote halide, the shimmer rocks and I've never needed a chiller. I run 2x250w and 2 39w T5's on my 65g with no issues

Sugar Magnolia · 05/20/2010, 12:19 PM

You should be fine with the MH set up as far as the diversity of livestock you want to keep goes. You can clip on a fan if heat does become an issue. I got a simple clip on fan and attached it to my canopy to help dissapate the heat over my tank.

drew1 · 05/20/2010, 12:23 PM

Yep, go MH and a fan. You won't be sorry.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 12:25 PM

The tank is 48" long and I think about 18" deep.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

I dont understand the 14w T5's

Each pendant has 2x14w t5 actinics

Sugar Magnolia · 05/20/2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyReef 2b Great

The tank is 48" long and I think about 18" deep.

That'll work out great then. The spread for MH lighting is 24". You may have to keep your more light demanding corals nearer to the top of the tank.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 01:21 PM

Oh ok. COOL! I have no problem keeping some of the more light demanding corals nearer the top.

I'm psyched to be getting some metal halides. I should've gotten them in the beginning.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

The tank is 48" long and I think about 18" deep.

Sorry that was a mistake. The tank is 48" long and about 24" deep. How does this effect my coral selection?

t4zalews · 05/20/2010, 01:52 PM

you're good..I ran 150w on a 24" high tank. My bulbs were only ~5 in off the water too with no heat issues. I had sps on the top and middle, toward the bottom I had some less demanding corals. the key with 150's is getting good reflectors. I had crummy outer orbit reflectors, if I had better ones I could have placed more sps around the tank.

MyReef 2b Great · 05/20/2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

you're good..I ran 150w on a 24" high tank. My bulbs were only ~5 in off the water too with no heat issues. I had sps on the top and middle, toward the bottom I had some less demanding corals. the key with 150's is getting good reflectors. I had crummy outer orbit reflectors, if I had better ones I could have placed more sps around the tank.

Awesome! Thanks for the experience.

View Poll Results: Which setup would be best?
The first one with the metal halides	5	62.50%
The second option with the t5's only	3	37.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll

05/20/2010, 08:40 AM	#1
MyReef 2b Great Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 83	Upgrading from PC's suggestions I have a traditional 60 gallon tank currently with 260 watt pcs. 4x65 bulbs. I have been seeing some growth of my zoas but not much. That could be due to some other factors as well though. Either way I want to upgrade my lighting and need suggestion on two setups that I was looking at. 1.300w metal halides: 2 150w 17" hanging pendents with 2 14w t5 actinics each. 2.216w t5s: 48" system with 4 54w bulbs I hear alot of good things both about t5s and metal halides. I mostly hear a lot of people raving about metal halides. I would like to get them but don't know if this setup will be too bright or not. Right now I have some softies but would like to be able to keep anything including clams.

05/20/2010, 12:01 PM	#5
austin93 Don't Panic! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Trenton, MO Posts: 757	You would probably not need a chiller. I would buy MH as I had T5 and wasn't happy with their flat appearance. I noticed little difference in growth and I did like the way I could control color. I am very happy I made the change. I try to live by the motto, "Buy right or buy twice." Get the best you can afford because you will end up changing eventually anyway. __________________ DON'T PANIC! Current Tank Info: 30 Rimless

05/20/2010, 12:19 PM	#9
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	You should be fine with the MH set up as far as the diversity of livestock you want to keep goes. You can clip on a fan if heat does become an issue. I got a simple clip on fan and attached it to my canopy to help dissapate the heat over my tank. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

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05/20/2010, 11:18 AM	#3
SBraden Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 10	I chose T5's over Halides because I didn't want to run a chiller. Sometimes I wish I would have went halide for the spotlight water ripple effect, but I like my setup. I can keep pretty much anything that I want and I really like the amount of bulb choices that I have so that I can get any look that I want. On a side note - those fixtures sound like Odyssea lights. You may want to look into them more. I have never used them, but when I was considering them I heard a lot of horror stories about them burning out fast, smoking, and even catching fire. There may have been improvements as this was a few years ago, but absolutely research the company before you buy. If these are not Odyssea's disregard everything I just said.

05/20/2010, 11:35 AM	#4
MyReef 2b Great Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 83	Okay. So if I were to get the metal halides I would need a chiller? I was going to hang the pendents above the tank from the ceiling. Would I still need a chiller? Also the lights are odyssea fixtures. I have heard some horrible things also, but I have also heard some good things. Plus The lights that I have on my tank now are odyssea lights and I have been happy with them for the year that I've had them and haven't any problems.

05/20/2010, 12:12 PM	#7
MyReef 2b Great Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 83	Thanks guys for your input. So since I won't need the chiller I think that I will probably go with the metal halides. I want to have a mixed reef so do you thing that with this lighting setup that I will be able to keep sps, lps, softies, and clams?

05/20/2010, 12:17 PM	#8
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	how long is this tank? I dont understand the 14w T5's...I vote halide, the shimmer rocks and I've never needed a chiller. I run 2x250w and 2 39w T5's on my 65g with no issues

05/20/2010, 12:23 PM	#10
drew1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 189	Yep, go MH and a fan. You won't be sorry.

05/20/2010, 12:25 PM	#11
MyReef 2b Great Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 83	The tank is 48" long and I think about 18" deep.

05/20/2010, 01:21 PM	#14
MyReef 2b Great Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 83	Oh ok. COOL! I have no problem keeping some of the more light demanding corals nearer the top. I'm psyched to be getting some metal halides. I should've gotten them in the beginning.

05/20/2010, 01:52 PM	#16
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	you're good..I ran 150w on a 24" high tank. My bulbs were only ~5 in off the water too with no heat issues. I had sps on the top and middle, toward the bottom I had some less demanding corals. the key with 150's is getting good reflectors. I had crummy outer orbit reflectors, if I had better ones I could have placed more sps around the tank.