Best lighting for $150-$200 on 55g?

Hotrod324 · 10/24/2006, 12:54 PM

What is the best lighting you could get for a 55g 48" long tank for around $150-200? Please no answers saying just save up and get the metal halides...this is me saving up!

Andrew · 10/24/2006, 01:02 PM

Here you go. You'll just have to make a canopy or mounting bracket which isn't hard.

http://hellolights.com/482x54wtekli.html

aclos3 · 10/24/2006, 01:03 PM

Do you want retros to fit into an existing canopy, or would you like fixtures. If you are after fixtures, you could go with Coralife Aqualight Deluxe fixtures. They have a 2x65w, 48" long fixture for $115 and a 4x65w, 48" for a little over $200 on marinedepot. I have a 20" 96w quad fixture from coralife and I love it.

szeth13 · 10/24/2006, 01:22 PM

do a vho retro

Hotrod324 · 10/24/2006, 01:35 PM

I guess retro is what im looking for...something to put in my canopy that i have now. In this pricerance would t-5s be an option? Everywhere i look at t-5s is totally different...

szeth13- ballpark estimate on how much a vho retro would cost me for my 55g?

bankspower · 10/24/2006, 01:57 PM

There's a 4X65 watt Coralife power compact in the Reef Central classifieds for 75 bucks. That'd make a good lite for a decent price.

I have no affiliation with the seller, I just saw the ad about 2 minutes ago.

Shawn

Jim_S · 10/24/2006, 02:02 PM

Go with the TEK T-5 retro kit. Better than VHO's IMO and much beters than PC's.

Jim

somethinfishier · 10/24/2006, 11:09 PM

T5s will give you the best bang for your buck. Shop around. Look in the t5 thread for some info on them.

Gundo5000 · 10/24/2006, 11:22 PM

Go to ebay and typ 48'' t5

carlos_fb · 10/24/2006, 11:40 PM

The question is what do you want to keep in your tank? if it's a fish only tank 4 X 65 PC will do it. For a reef, that's another story specially if you want to keep SPS later on.

twon8 · 10/24/2006, 11:45 PM

reefgeek.com

check out the t-5 retros, 159 for a 2 bulb setup, including bulbs, the best deal i could find.

carlos_fb · 10/24/2006, 11:55 PM

I got mine from reefgeek too. Best prices online and awesome customer service.

Hotrod324 · 10/25/2006, 12:22 AM

Not interested in SPS for the most part. Cant afford them anyways. So are two t-5s better than the 4 x 96w PCs?

and whats the deal with Catfish Lighing products? why are they so cheap?

carlos_fb · 10/25/2006, 12:49 AM

I think I would go with PC's in your case. I'm sure you will get some really good input here. Good luck!

somethinfishier · 10/25/2006, 05:21 PM

If you are just starting anything is going to get you hooked. In my case the first light I bought I did not have very long because I wanted to upgrade. The tek t5 retro is what I would go with. I do not know much about pc because I have never had any. The t5 have been getting very good reviews and would be easy to upgrade if you decided to.

10/24/2006, 12:54 PM	#1
Hotrod324 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 135	Best lighting for $150-$200 on 55g? What is the best lighting you could get for a 55g 48" long tank for around $150-200? Please no answers saying just save up and get the metal halides...this is me saving up!

10/24/2006, 02:02 PM	#7
Jim_S Timo Boll Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,333	Go with the TEK T-5 retro kit. Better than VHO's IMO and much beters than PC's. Jim __________________ We will survive in this world of competition, shooting guns and our ammunition... Bradley Nowell Current Tank Info: We're recreating the ocean in our livings rooms. With that said, I've had some ups and downs.

10/24/2006, 11:22 PM	#9
Gundo5000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,534	Go to ebay and typ 48'' t5 __________________ GUNDO

10/24/2006, 11:45 PM	#11
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	reefgeek.com check out the t-5 retros, 159 for a 2 bulb setup, including bulbs, the best deal i could find. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

10/24/2006, 01:02 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Here you go. You'll just have to make a canopy or mounting bracket which isn't hard. http://hellolights.com/482x54wtekli.html

10/24/2006, 01:03 PM	#3
aclos3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 394	Do you want retros to fit into an existing canopy, or would you like fixtures. If you are after fixtures, you could go with Coralife Aqualight Deluxe fixtures. They have a 2x65w, 48" long fixture for $115 and a 4x65w, 48" for a little over $200 on marinedepot. I have a 20" 96w quad fixture from coralife and I love it.

10/24/2006, 01:22 PM	#4
szeth13 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: pine hill nj Posts: 553	do a vho retro

10/24/2006, 01:35 PM	#5
Hotrod324 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 135	I guess retro is what im looking for...something to put in my canopy that i have now. In this pricerance would t-5s be an option? Everywhere i look at t-5s is totally different... szeth13- ballpark estimate on how much a vho retro would cost me for my 55g?

10/24/2006, 01:57 PM	#6
bankspower Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 89	There's a 4X65 watt Coralife power compact in the Reef Central classifieds for 75 bucks. That'd make a good lite for a decent price. I have no affiliation with the seller, I just saw the ad about 2 minutes ago. Shawn

10/24/2006, 11:09 PM	#8
somethinfishier Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ok Posts: 111	T5s will give you the best bang for your buck. Shop around. Look in the t5 thread for some info on them.

10/24/2006, 11:40 PM	#10
carlos_fb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 879	The question is what do you want to keep in your tank? if it's a fish only tank 4 X 65 PC will do it. For a reef, that's another story specially if you want to keep SPS later on.

10/24/2006, 11:55 PM	#12
carlos_fb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 879	I got mine from reefgeek too. Best prices online and awesome customer service.

10/25/2006, 12:22 AM	#13
Hotrod324 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 135	Not interested in SPS for the most part. Cant afford them anyways. So are two t-5s better than the 4 x 96w PCs? and whats the deal with Catfish Lighing products? why are they so cheap?

10/25/2006, 12:49 AM	#14
carlos_fb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 879	I think I would go with PC's in your case. I'm sure you will get some really good input here. Good luck!

10/25/2006, 05:21 PM	#15
somethinfishier Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ok Posts: 111	If you are just starting anything is going to get you hooked. In my case the first light I bought I did not have very long because I wanted to upgrade. The tek t5 retro is what I would go with. I do not know much about pc because I have never had any. The t5 have been getting very good reviews and would be easy to upgrade if you decided to.