Brains smoking, Help choose lights

locod · 11/02/2010, 08:49 PM

Ok, I'm setting up a 75g. I'm using a canopy. I cant make up my mind on what type of lighting i want to go with. I have 4 - 54w t-5s over the tank now, to start off i was going to go with two t5s and 2 - 250w DE with reef optic 3 reflectors and a 250w dual galaxy ballast from sunlight supply. that set up with bulbs will cost me $400 new. Now I have deviated to trying LED's, I was thinking of adding this kit 24 Premium LED Do-It-Yourself Retrofit Kit
along with the 4 - t-5. Close as i can figure this DIY finished will cost $320.
My third option is to just add 2 more t-5 retros for a total of 6 -54w t-5s. I'll have to add a few LEDs for the much loved shimmer affect which will bring the total of that to about $180.
I will be keeping a mixed reef with SPS, LPS, and softies. I guess my biggest want is growth which in my mind would come from the 250w DE's but thats just my opinion.
What do you think?

Oh yeah, you might want to know my tank measurements, it's a standard 48"x18"x20"D. I have a very thin sand bed, so there is about 18" of water to the top of the sand.

Drewbaby · 11/02/2010, 09:50 PM

I personally like T5's. If you run the right bulbs you can get great growth and great color. I like UVL brand bulbs because of the internal reflectors, which make a big difference because it puts alot more light into the tank. In my 48" 4-65w fixture I run 2 UVL 454 actinics and 2 UVL 10k's. If you like a more blue look only run 2 10k and 4 actinics in your setup.

They make a wide spectrum of bulbs:
454 actinic "ultra blue" - 460nm actinic
super actinic - 420nm actinic
75.25 - 14k equivalent
actinic white - 12k equivalent
aquasun - 10k equivalent
red sun - 633nm designed to make red/orange pop
indigo sun - 100% blue spectrum peaks at 420nm

11/02/2010, 08:49 PM	#1
locod Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5	Brains smoking, Help choose lights Ok, I'm setting up a 75g. I'm using a canopy. I cant make up my mind on what type of lighting i want to go with. I have 4 - 54w t-5s over the tank now, to start off i was going to go with two t5s and 2 - 250w DE with reef optic 3 reflectors and a 250w dual galaxy ballast from sunlight supply. that set up with bulbs will cost me $400 new. Now I have deviated to trying LED's, I was thinking of adding this kit 24 Premium LED Do-It-Yourself Retrofit Kit along with the 4 - t-5. Close as i can figure this DIY finished will cost $320. My third option is to just add 2 more t-5 retros for a total of 6 -54w t-5s. I'll have to add a few LEDs for the much loved shimmer affect which will bring the total of that to about $180. I will be keeping a mixed reef with SPS, LPS, and softies. I guess my biggest want is growth which in my mind would come from the 250w DE's but thats just my opinion. What do you think? Oh yeah, you might want to know my tank measurements, it's a standard 48"x18"x20"D. I have a very thin sand bed, so there is about 18" of water to the top of the sand.

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11/02/2010, 09:50 PM	#2
Drewbaby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: FL Posts: 874	I personally like T5's. If you run the right bulbs you can get great growth and great color. I like UVL brand bulbs because of the internal reflectors, which make a big difference because it puts alot more light into the tank. In my 48" 4-65w fixture I run 2 UVL 454 actinics and 2 UVL 10k's. If you like a more blue look only run 2 10k and 4 actinics in your setup. They make a wide spectrum of bulbs: 454 actinic "ultra blue" - 460nm actinic super actinic - 420nm actinic 75.25 - 14k equivalent actinic white - 12k equivalent aquasun - 10k equivalent red sun - 633nm designed to make red/orange pop indigo sun - 100% blue spectrum peaks at 420nm