looking for budget lighting

Aqua_expert19 · 08/27/2013, 05:17 PM

im looking at getting either a 20g tall or a 29gal tank. im looking at aquatraders as they offer a ton of lighting options for cheap. would i be better off getting a led fixture or a t5 fixture from them? i have no real desire to do sps due to difficulty of keeping them. but i want to do softs/lps/anemones.

also if you can point me in the right direction for watts/gallon that would be great. a lot of people are saying its different now and based on area. Ive been out of the loop for 10 years or so

help me out please!

sirreal63 · 08/27/2013, 06:04 PM

The best advice is to avoid AquaTraders.

Wmich2008 · 08/27/2013, 06:09 PM

You could do a diy led setup. Pretty simple and for your size tank won't cost to much.

CKI · 08/27/2013, 06:12 PM

AVOID Aquatraders, they are no longer in business, if you order something they wil ship it, but you can not reach anyone there if there is ever a problem. I learned the hard way! What is your budget for lighting? that will help us

CKI · 08/27/2013, 06:13 PM

http://www.reefradiance.com/dm-132e.html <--- i just ordered 2 of the programmable models from Rick, he is a pleasure to deal with. That model is 169.00 shipped to you and comes with a 2 year warranty

Aqua_expert19 · 08/27/2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmich2008

You could do a diy led setup. Pretty simple and for your size tank won't cost to much.

how much we talking? i was also looking at a jbj 28g with led, what do you think about the lighting in there?

Wmich2008 · 08/27/2013, 06:15 PM

Check out rapid led.

Aqua_expert19 · 08/27/2013, 06:19 PM

i was hoping to get a basic tank setup for around 500 or so, that includes everything except fish and coral

Wmich2008 · 08/27/2013, 06:19 PM

Biocube 29 with rapid led retrofit. Could also add some intank media stuff

Wmich2008 · 08/27/2013, 06:21 PM

Or just the pc bulbs if you are doing lower light corals.

IamThor · 08/27/2013, 06:25 PM

Innovative Marine 24!!!

Wmich2008 · 08/27/2013, 06:28 PM

To expensive for their price range after equipment.

Aqua_expert19 · 08/27/2013, 06:32 PM

what do you guys think about JBJ 24?

Swip · 08/27/2013, 06:37 PM

Reefbreeders value unit - 180$
Tunze 6015 - 40$
Eheim Jager heater - 30$
20 pound of dry rock, half pukani/half fiji - 65$

185$ left for skimmer and tank. I don't know the prices of tanks in the US and have no experience with the skimmers available to you so I can't comment on that.

Aqua_expert19 · 08/27/2013, 06:40 PM

i was looking at doing a hob fuge as when i had my 55 gallon reef that worked well

but im fairly undecided and open to suggestions, like i said havent done this for 10 years and things have changed soooo much. i cant decide if i want to go 29 bare tank or an all in one. also probably wont buy anything till end of fall, just doing a ton of research before i drop money again.

Swip · 08/27/2013, 06:53 PM

While a hob refugium is probably good for pods and small critters, I don't think it will help much with nutrient export. It will be too small for that.
Skimmer would be easier and better in my opinion. And even if you wanted to go skimmerless.. a hob filter with some filter floss and gac/gfo would probably still outperform a hob fuge.

that Fish Guy · 08/27/2013, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CKI

AVOID Aquatraders, they are no longer in business, if you order something they wil ship it, but you can not reach anyone there if there is ever a problem. I learned the hard way! What is your budget for lighting? that will help us

Maybe they just changed thier name?

I hear every two years they change their name because of all the complaints and bad press they get.

Why do people keep buying this crap anyways?

Don't they research everything before buying?

Heck, I was just researching GFO Media to get the best one before buying something that is only 10 or 20 Dollars.

I could not imagine not researching cheap stuff let alone an expensive lighting system.

asid61 · 08/27/2013, 10:26 PM

Well, for budget, go Reef Breeders.
If you are not as constrained, the Maxspect Razor would be my first choice in the US. Then the AI Vega or Hydra. And then the Radion. I don't like the Radion because of it's yellows and greens mainly.

The cheapest thing to do would be to make a Lumia 5.1 build (good for 30 gallon AIO) or an Evil cluster of leds. Both are pretty easy, and the first one you don't need to choose the leds for it, as it is a multichip. Drivers can be Meanwell LDDs, and the power supply can be a 48v one from ebay.

dppitone · 08/27/2013, 11:59 PM

The 20g high and the 29g are different widths. So bearing that in mind you can get a 30" hooded PC (power compact) setup for the 29 gallon with with two 55 watt bulbs for about $40 used anywhere, ebay, craigslist, in the forums here. If the bulbs are old you can get it for less.

Or for the 20 gallon high, which is 24" wide, get the same setup, but with two 36 watt bulbs.

As for bulbs specifics, you can get both bulbs as 10k/actinic. Or one bulb make all 10k, and one bulb be 10k/actinic.

So in both of those cases your doing enough light for your coral/anemone/coralline rock/invert needs.

If you want to spend 3x to 10x more, than then do used or new T5s or LEDs.

Whichever you choose of these options will work fine. I would personally do the PC route on that tank.

knap_123 · 08/28/2013, 06:47 PM

Look on craiglist for deals.

Aqua_expert19 · 08/28/2013, 07:26 PM

Well i think im going with the jbj 28 led intermediate. How are the stock lights? Should i upgrade them immediately? How many watts should i be looking at? Any more info would be great

asid61 · 08/28/2013, 11:45 PM

Softies and LPS would be okay. A retrofit kit from Steve's Leds would do it if you want sps.

Aqua_expert19 · 08/29/2013, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asid61

Softies and LPS would be okay. A retrofit kit from Steve's Leds would do it if you want sps.

well thats all im looking for. sps seem like its going to be too much for me to handle right now. i dont have a ton of money for dosing and making them happy, so they are best left to those with great setups.

08/27/2013, 05:17 PM	#1
Aqua_expert19 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 713	looking for budget lighting im looking at getting either a 20g tall or a 29gal tank. im looking at aquatraders as they offer a ton of lighting options for cheap. would i be better off getting a led fixture or a t5 fixture from them? i have no real desire to do sps due to difficulty of keeping them. but i want to do softs/lps/anemones. also if you can point me in the right direction for watts/gallon that would be great. a lot of people are saying its different now and based on area. Ive been out of the loop for 10 years or so help me out please!

08/27/2013, 06:04 PM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	The best advice is to avoid AquaTraders. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

08/27/2013, 06:12 PM	#4
CKI Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Delaware Posts: 281	AVOID Aquatraders, they are no longer in business, if you order something they wil ship it, but you can not reach anyone there if there is ever a problem. I learned the hard way! What is your budget for lighting? that will help us __________________ _____________________________ 75Gal - 30 gal sump - Coralife T5's - Eshopps overflow - PSK-150-Triton Deep Blue

08/27/2013, 06:13 PM	#5
CKI Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Delaware Posts: 281	http://www.reefradiance.com/dm-132e.html <--- i just ordered 2 of the programmable models from Rick, he is a pleasure to deal with. That model is 169.00 shipped to you and comes with a 2 year warranty __________________ _____________________________ 75Gal - 30 gal sump - Coralife T5's - Eshopps overflow - PSK-150-Triton Deep Blue

08/27/2013, 06:40 PM	#15
Aqua_expert19 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 713	i was looking at doing a hob fuge as when i had my 55 gallon reef that worked well but im fairly undecided and open to suggestions, like i said havent done this for 10 years and things have changed soooo much. i cant decide if i want to go 29 bare tank or an all in one. also probably wont buy anything till end of fall, just doing a ton of research before i drop money again. Last edited by Aqua_expert19; 08/27/2013 at 06:47 PM.

08/27/2013, 06:09 PM	#3
Wmich2008 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Battle creek Michigan Posts: 536	You could do a diy led setup. Pretty simple and for your size tank won't cost to much.

08/27/2013, 06:15 PM	#7
Wmich2008 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Battle creek Michigan Posts: 536	Check out rapid led.

08/27/2013, 06:19 PM	#8
Aqua_expert19 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 713	i was hoping to get a basic tank setup for around 500 or so, that includes everything except fish and coral

08/27/2013, 06:21 PM	#10
Wmich2008 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Battle creek Michigan Posts: 536	Or just the pc bulbs if you are doing lower light corals.

08/27/2013, 06:25 PM	#11
IamThor Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 10	Innovative Marine 24!!!

08/27/2013, 06:28 PM	#12
Wmich2008 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Battle creek Michigan Posts: 536	To expensive for their price range after equipment.

08/27/2013, 06:32 PM	#13
Aqua_expert19 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 713	what do you guys think about JBJ 24?

08/27/2013, 06:37 PM	#14
Swip Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 139	Reefbreeders value unit - 180$ Tunze 6015 - 40$ Eheim Jager heater - 30$ 20 pound of dry rock, half pukani/half fiji - 65$ 185$ left for skimmer and tank. I don't know the prices of tanks in the US and have no experience with the skimmers available to you so I can't comment on that.

08/27/2013, 06:53 PM	#16
Swip Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 139	While a hob refugium is probably good for pods and small critters, I don't think it will help much with nutrient export. It will be too small for that. Skimmer would be easier and better in my opinion. And even if you wanted to go skimmerless.. a hob filter with some filter floss and gac/gfo would probably still outperform a hob fuge.

08/27/2013, 10:26 PM	#18
asid61 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,111	Well, for budget, go Reef Breeders. If you are not as constrained, the Maxspect Razor would be my first choice in the US. Then the AI Vega or Hydra. And then the Radion. I don't like the Radion because of it's yellows and greens mainly. The cheapest thing to do would be to make a Lumia 5.1 build (good for 30 gallon AIO) or an Evil cluster of leds. Both are pretty easy, and the first one you don't need to choose the leds for it, as it is a multichip. Drivers can be Meanwell LDDs, and the power supply can be a 48v one from ebay.

08/27/2013, 11:59 PM	#19
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	The 20g high and the 29g are different widths. So bearing that in mind you can get a 30" hooded PC (power compact) setup for the 29 gallon with with two 55 watt bulbs for about $40 used anywhere, ebay, craigslist, in the forums here. If the bulbs are old you can get it for less. Or for the 20 gallon high, which is 24" wide, get the same setup, but with two 36 watt bulbs. As for bulbs specifics, you can get both bulbs as 10k/actinic. Or one bulb make all 10k, and one bulb be 10k/actinic. So in both of those cases your doing enough light for your coral/anemone/coralline rock/invert needs. If you want to spend 3x to 10x more, than then do used or new T5s or LEDs. Whichever you choose of these options will work fine. I would personally do the PC route on that tank.

08/28/2013, 06:47 PM	#20
knap_123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: alex city, alabama Posts: 756	Look on craiglist for deals.

08/28/2013, 07:26 PM	#21
Aqua_expert19 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 713	Well i think im going with the jbj 28 led intermediate. How are the stock lights? Should i upgrade them immediately? How many watts should i be looking at? Any more info would be great

08/28/2013, 11:45 PM	#22
asid61 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,111	Softies and LPS would be okay. A retrofit kit from Steve's Leds would do it if you want sps.