Forums / Lighting / Equipment Forums

pc vs. metal halide

acee529 — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:13:22 GMT

I have a 30 gallon marine fish setup for about 5 years now and want to set up a reef system. I want to setup a reef tank and are in the process of buying a light setup. My question is will a power compact light fixture(192w) be sufficent enough for corals and anenomes or should i lean towards a metal halide (442w) fixture. I was hoping that the pc lighting would be enough because its cheaper and easier on the electric bill but i would like to get some clams and anenomes.I know pc should support most corals but clams and anenomes im not so sure.Would appreciate some feedback.Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!

Retrofit kit for canopy

Mtav80 — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:45:53 GMT

Hello all!

I'm looking to set up a reef tank with a few fish down the road.

I have a 55 gallon tank with canopy and I would like to keep the canopy. Tank size is 48"L x 13" W 19" D. The canopy is pretty deep at close to 10". It is wood so I could screw the retrofit kit to the top. In my research I have decided to go with some T5 lights. I'm looking at 2 day and 2 lunar lights. (If that will be enough).

Since the canopy is exact 48" long I wouldn't be able to fit in 48" light set would I? Would 36" be enough? I'm not dead set on what corals I want to have yet. Looking at some Soft Corals, Mushrooms and Polyps, maybe some leathers.

I was thinking about getting two of these Giesemann

I'm not sure if that would be enough or too weak. If I can't keep the lighting costs under 300 I will probably go fish only. Thanks to all that can help me with this. The lighting options have me almost as confused on which protein skimmer I'm going to go with!

(edited link 5/13 argi)

Power compact light question

bangooface — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:23:00 GMT

Hi I currently have a 48 inch coralife powercompact light set up as 10k/actinic. I really love the color of 20k (bluish) light but I guess power compact does not come in this color. What would be the best set up to match the 20k color? I was thinking of maybe getting mixture of 7100k and 10000k? Or maybe I'll just buy sunlight supply T-5's? Thank you

solar tube skylights?

scubanoah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:43:42 GMT

Has anyone here used anything like this to light up a frag tank? I read somewhere Anthony Calfo had some experience with these so hopefully he will see this. i was looking at the tube skylights you can buy at home depot and lowes. seems like it would work fine. i am looking to put it over a 40 breeder with mainly softies. any info would be appreciated. thanks!

T-5 lighting?

barbnel — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:42:39 GMT

I have a 90 gallon marine aquarium. It is 24 inches tall. I moved everything from a 75 gallon to this new tank. I had four 54 watt T-5 bulbs on the 75. Do I need to add two more bulbs to the 90 gallon tank? I currently have a very large anemone, mushroom, yellow polyps, green star polyps, button polyps, xenia, christmas tree rock, finger leathers. Would 6 HO T-5 bulbs be sufficient for this tall tank? Tanks a lot!

Flourecent light just died

fatcats — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:00:00 GMT

My 48' flourecent two tube lighting system didnt turn on this morning and i unpluged it and pluged it into different outlets and still nothing. So i took it apart and found a little white ballast box. It dosnt look wet and the wires are all intact. I dont really want to buy new lights right now, i am saving for a really good system, what can i really do?

Thanks

understanding lighting data

sjames — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:11:58 GMT

Hello,

I was hopeing I could get some advice,information links on applying the data Sanjays site provides to practical application.

The reason for this is Im trying to decide on a lighting upgrade and every time I think Im making the right decisions, I second guess my understanding of the data provided.

The reasons I want to upgrade is Im unhappy with the yellowish tinge the XMs seem to have, Im also not happy with the spread from the small DE reflectors in my pendant.

My current plan is to upgrade to lumenarc minis, icecap ballasts with 400w radium 12ks.

The two lamps Im comparing are a 250w XM10k (my current bulbs) to 400w Reeflux 12k.

The plots look similar except for a large spike from 440-460nm on the reeflux. What is the significance of this to the tank inhabitants?

How do the numbers provided in the graphs relate to PAR? Is the PPFD number PAR over the entire spectrum? Are the irridance numbers on the y axis also PAR for a specific wavelength?

When I hear people talk about 300-400 Par for high light corals. How would I know that the lights I get will achive that? and at what depth?

Im sorry for the million question post. If thats too much to get into I understand.

Thanks!

Actinics??

artur — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:37:31 GMT

Recently I got from marinedepot a Current USA 24in outer orbit lamp, (150w hqi and 4 t5) but I didnt like the actinics at all, and the 10k hqi outperform the t5, when both lights are on my tank look yellowish and my zoanthids turn to a brown like color, and when only the actinics are on the tank looks blueish, but not purple or like black light,

Is there a better more true actinic t5?? also i like to try the 14k or 15k hqi but apparently you don't ship this item to Mexico, why is that? how come you did ship the hole fixture but cant ship the bulb?

P.C. How close for spacing?

90overflow — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:05:20 GMT

Inside dimensions on my Hood are 48" x 20", currently have four 96 watt lamps, want to add two more 96 watts. How close can I space them? My reflector is one big piece. Also has anyone used the M.D. DIY Square pin Sockets? Have you had any problems with them? Cooling fans are no problem as I have a stack of them from computer racks.

Lighting for a 2' tank

DRRT — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:32:52 GMT

What would be the best lighting for a 120 gallon tank 24" deep? I want to keep softies and macroalgae. I really won't be able to get a refugium to house the macroalgae if I get this tank because lighting it will be so expensive. I would like some decent quality metal halide lighting that won't be too expensive.

Thanks for all your help.

most PAR 175w MH?

scubanoah — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:13:19 GMT

What bulb is going to give the most PAR and still have decent color in a 175w single ended metal halide? i heard the the 20k XM has a higher PAR rating than the 15k XM. I really like the color of the 15k XM bulbs that i am currently using. Thanks

How bright is the sun?

koletrain — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:45:54 GMT

I have a 150 gallon mixed reef with 2-250w 14k hamiltons, 2-175w 10k hamiltons, and 4-65w pc actinics. I see no problem with the amount of light i'm supplying, but my reef tank veteran friend thinks its too much light. Now yes, I know depending on what I'm growing it could be, but I'm steering more toward the sps corals, so not a problem. So I guess what I'm getting at, is there such a thing as too much light? Sub question, and I'm pretty sure I already know this answer but want to confirm, could lighting alone be responsible for hair algae? I say no, it has to feed on nutrients also, but I like gathering opinions and info

T5 vs. Metal halides

regraham — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:13:30 GMT

I am thinking about changing my lighting from metal halides to the sunlight supply tek with 8 T5 bulbs. I currently have a hamilton retro kit with (2) 250watt and (2) 96 compact.

Will the T5 be more energy efficient? How many T5 bulbs will I need for a 75 gallon? Which type of bulbs would you suggest. I currently have corals, polyps and and aneome.

how to hang giesemann pendulum light

Garry Mc — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:04:05 GMT

hi I've recently bought a giesemann infinity light and giesemann wall brackets to hang it from, my question is that I will be hanging it from the dividing wall between 2 houses, the unit weighs ruffly 20kgs the wall sounds hollow but there must be brick behind the plaster I've bought heavy duty anchor bolts to put the brackets up but haven't done it yet as theyre for solid Walls and when knocked on, mine sounds like it has a hollow space between plaster and brick. Has anyone put up wall brackets for a pendulum light before if so your input would be greatly apprieciated. Thank you
Garry Mc Carthy

Aqualight pro Ballast ?

Squanto804 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:22:14 GMT

I have a Aqualight Pro Light with 3 150 watt bulbs. Is it possible to change this to a 250 watt system?

Thanks for any info.

LIGHTING WATTAGE HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sandtiger — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:19:26 GMT

Hi,

I am setting up my 210 gallon tank. It came with a "perfect-a-strip" lighting mount, which consists of (2) 30 watt daylight fluorescents.

I have heard and read that for a saltwater fish only tank, 3-5 watts per 1 gallon is the rule of thumb. If this is true, then I am way short of what I need.

I would like a 50/50 fluorescent lighting system that I can easily mount over the tank. Can I work with what I have, or do I need a new lighting system??

How do I correct this problem???

Thanks, Sandtiger.

coralife bulb taking long time to come on while other bulbs are already on

boatman83 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:32:15 GMT

I have a 48inch Coralife aqualight with double linear strip. I have my actinic blubs come on before my daylight bulbs. When my actinic bulbs come on, one comes on and the other takes about 10 minutes to come on. When my daylight bulbs come on I have the same problem, one comes on but the other can take up to three hours to come on. Once they come on though they seem to be fine.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how i can fix this problem. Do I need a new ballast for both sets of bulbs?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

giesemann infiniti

Garry Mc — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:42:18 GMT

Ive just bought my giesemann infiniti, its the 4 ft model (2 HQI and 2 t5), it has 2 cable leads coming out of it, and was wondering if one of them is for a ballast?, after reading up on it on the internet, it says that the ballast is intergrated.. does this mean that it is actually inside the hood? or am i missing it from the box as it isn't in there...? could any1 shed some LIGHT on this situation hahaha (sorry bout the bad joke)... thanks Garry

T5 Actinic in OuterOrbit HQI+T5 not working

AlexAndCoral — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:16:35 GMT

Hi all,

I have a 72in 3x150 OuterOrbit HQI+T5 light unit.

One of the sets of T5 fails to light. The bulbs are seated, and work fine, sometimes, but it fails to come on most of the time, flickering, or not lighting at all.

Do I need to replace the ballast? The fluorescent capacitor? And how can I do it?

Thanks,

Alex

Lighting: Do your blue actinic lights run 24 hours a day?

jrbdm99 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 09:03:38 GMT

I am just starting my research and was wondering if your blue lights run all the time and just your whites during the day?

Any chance of some help

Garry Mc — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:03:21 GMT

Any chance I can get some help my question is 2 or 3 ones below. Its about a giesmann infiniti light
thanks.

Need help please

Courtney — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:21:21 GMT

I am in need of Lighting for my 58 Gallon Saltwater tank, its 36" long i was wondering would this work

36" Odyssea Aquarium Compact Lighting 192W

I looked it up on Ebay since i do not have alot of money and its cheaper on ebay, i was told at petland that i need at least 200W but i cant find anything with anymore wattage then this, so i was wondering if it would work, i just have some live rocks and fish, and live sand, i want to have maybe some live plants in there too, but not untill i get the lighting done, i cant have coral because i have puffers, Thank you very much

Moon Glow LED's be on all night

taraymond — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:06:57 GMT

Should Moon Glow LED's be run all night or should the tank have a period of complete dark?

Thanks

Coralife Ballast

Ryan — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 07:10:10 GMT

I have two 1x96w coralife ballasts laying around that I would like to put to good use.....Neither of them have the plug in wiring harness, Is there anyone who knows where I could get them at?

Fan Operation on an Orbit

DaddyO — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:23:42 GMT

I just got a nice 48" Orbit 4X65W daylight and actinic fixture. The cooling fan runs only when the daylight (white) row of lights is on. The fan does not run when only the actinic (blue) row of lights is on.

Is this normal?

The FAQ's for the Orbit at Current's website says the fan should run when any "main" light is on.

I wrote to Current's Customer Service with this question and their answer was they thought the fixture was not defective.

But, they never directly answered the question whether it is normal for the fan not to run with only the actinics on. The implication seems to be actinics are not "main" lights by Current's definition. Or that the fan runs when only the front row of lights is on.

So, I turn to my learned colleagues here in this forum for the correct answer based on experience.

For those with this fixture, does the fan run all the time (i.e., whenever the daylight AND/OR actinic lights are on)? Or, does the fan run only when the front row of lights (usually daylights) is on?

Many thanks,

DaddyO (brand newbie to this forum)

lighting question

joaodiver — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:01:36 GMT

Hi,

I have a tank with more or less 40 gal , which will be for coral and fish. I liked to know if my lighting sytem, T5 (4 * 39w), with the following ones lampadas: two day light 14000 K and two actinic.

Is my choice a good one and allows to have sps and lps??

thanks,

João

defective PC flourescent bulb? Or ... ?

dastratt — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:14:35 GMT

Sorry this is a bit of a "newbie" question I haven't had this problem before.

I've been buying replacement PC bulbs (lamps) from internet.

Now a replacement bulb (lamp) fritzes (lights red faintly, then won't light, seems greyish in color) when I plug it into my fixture. The old bulb (lamp) still works fine.

Is there agreement that this is a defective bulb? Or what should I try or what else would it be?

__________________
Alex

day lights , actinic

fasteddie — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:53:45 GMT

High I can get 6 bulbs under my canopy should i use 3 daylights and 3 actinic,

or 4 day light bulbs and 2 actinic thank you

Coralife VHO Ballast

Hophead — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:47:50 GMT

Ughhhhhhhhh
I have been without adequate light in my fish tank for over a month. My coralife ballast quit on me. I got another on Ebay Model number AF908 but it did not come with the wiring harness and endcaps. I am struggling to find a new harness but don't really know what I'm looking for. I've tried searching for Coralife AF908 but get nothing. I'm starting to see the light as to why no one uses these anymore.

Any suggestions besides purchasing another ballast?

t5 lighting

crackerjack — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:45:54 GMT

hi, i need to upgrade my lighting. i currently have a 75 gal. reef tank and have had no luck with anemones. i understand now, that my current lights are inadequate. i am very interested in " 48 in. current usa nova t5 lighting system. will this light be sufficient for any corals, anemones, etc. that i might want (within reason)? thanks for any suggestions. i am on a budget and the one i found at marine depot is $224.00

current versus coralife

fasteddie — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:50:28 GMT

I was looking at these two 72in metal halide lamp fixtures one has built in ballasts would this heat the water more?

the coralife has compact actinic 4 of them.

The current has 8 39w t5 actinic

is the one with the built in ballasts all so is less by 100 dollars any thoughts on this any one

vho or metal lighting

fasteddie — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:30:34 GMT

Im seting up a 180gal reef tank I like the leather, mushroom corals the best but would also like a bubble

tip anemone for a maroon clownfish. The lfs I will be geting this from states that he can have a canopy made that

is taller that will work with metal halide lights he will have 3 250w metal halides, and 2 vho actinics useing ice cap

light fixtures,and ice cap ballasts or i could use all vho fluorescent this tank is 24in wide by24in deep

any suggestions dont want to have too much lights and damage coral or use more electric then needed

thank you

hex litghting ??

clev — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:10:17 GMT

hey guys im new here ande realativly new to reef tanks and my question is i have a 65 gallon hexagon about 2' deep and i want to know whats the best kind of lighting for it because im loosing money on corals and polyps i have 3 bulbs 2 15watt sunlight and 1 15 watt atinic bulb please help suggest a link so i can view options thanks alot guys desperate

28G Bowfront Lighting Suggestion?

JG — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:32:24 GMT

I have a 28G Bowfront that's approximately 24" high and was wondering if the Nova Extreme T5 24" with two bulbs (actinic & 10K) would work for a softies only tank.

Thanks,

lights for a 6foot tank

fasteddie — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:47:47 GMT

Would i be better off with vho lamps or metal halide with actinic bulbs on a 180gallion 6 foot tank

I would like to have the lamps in a wood canopy i will have mostly soft coral .Would

also like too have a anemone for a clown fish. thank you

MH 250 W : can I add actinic and how?

Sandblaster — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:35:50 GMT

I'm upgrading to MH. I will get 250w MH aquamedic pendant. I like to have acrtinic lighthing also. How can I add actinic lightning? If so, How much wattage will I get. I'm upgrading from 125 to 180 gal. Is there such thing as that?

Thanks

135 gallon reef tank lighting advise

reefbuff — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:29:49 GMT

I have a 135 gallon reef tank and it is currently equipped with two 660 icecap ballasts that power

**two URI 72 inch VHO Super Actinic Bulbs 160 watts each, super actinic R (420nm peak) 100% blue spectrum.

and,

**two URI 72 inch VHO Actinic White Bulbs 160 watts each, Actinic White (12000K)=50% actinic 03 blue phosphors & 50% white spectrum (Triband)

For a total of 640 watts, which is only about 4.75 watts per gallon.

My question is, is my lighting sufficient? Or is it time to upgrade. My tank is made up of soft corals, bubble tip anemone, fog spawn, open brain, and other LPS corals. Everything seems to be o.k. just want some input to see if I'm o.k. or not.

Which is better for a 90g

drunkensunday — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:38:33 GMT

I have a 90g tank which is a standard 48" x 18" x 24". I'm looking at buying some t5 lighting. I want my lighting to be intense enough for a mixed variety of corals, including clams and a anenome. Would I be better of with a 6x54w with individual reflectors, or a 8x54w with one big reflector? Thanks...

PC lighting vs. T5HO

cdurand — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:32:29 GMT

Ok, so I'm in the midst of setting up my tank and I realize I should probably replace the bulbs in my Current Orbit PC fixture. I don't have an exact number on the useage of the bulbs in this thing but it's probably close to a year.

Anyhow, bulbs are going to be about $140. This got me to thinking that maybe I could put this money towards a better light setup.

I am leaning towards the Current Nova Extreme Pro T5 fixture. Would this be an improvement over my Current Orbit 1026 PC lights?

The 1026 runs pretty hot. Are the T5 fixtures any better in this regard? From what I've been reading it seems like people recommend T5 over PC and that the T5's run a little cooler.

compact satellite lighting fixture

rockey329 — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:01:00 GMT

I just got a Current Satellite system today model CU01006. I love the lighting but I would like to know if there is any way to just run the moon light bulbs during night time hours,rather than all the lights all the time............Please advise............Dennis