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02-06-2008, 02:30 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 22
Posts: 42
Karma: 9
 |  Light help! coral beginner
Hey everyone. I have been helping my brother with his saltwater tanks for a few years but they have all been FOWLR tanks. I have a 28 gallon bowfront tank that I want to make into a reef tank. I am quite lost on what lights to use that would be good on a pretty tight budget (college student). I am just not sure what's a good choice between MH and t5 lights. Im really not sure what kind of corals I would like to have but I dont really want to be too limited as to what I can get if I see something I like. ANY help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks  | 
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02-06-2008, 05:24 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,912
 
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You can never go wrong with MH's, but they are expensive and you might have to buy additional equipment to off set the side effects(fans,chillers). Alot of ppl have T lighting and its working for them, but are limited on some corals(IMO). You can always get a used unit on craigslist or a lesser brand like Odyssea on Ebay. I think you should research on what corals you want to have and go from there. One piece of advice, dont buy cheap b/c you'll be buying the " good stuff " later and spending the money aways. While researching, save the money for the good stuff. Hope this helps, Luna. _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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02-06-2008, 07:46 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Stylophora
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 966
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If your going to go with Odyssea I would stay away from the EBay route,
the shipping for all the stuff I have seen on there has been outrageous!
I have bought several items including lights from Aquatraders.com. I had
a problem with 1 bulb not working when I got my light and they responded
by immediately sending out a full set of bulbs for my light. And iot looks to
me like they are offering free shipping right now. _________ I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.
Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
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02-06-2008, 09:03 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Flamingo Tongue
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 124
Karma: 129
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I to have bought and been satisfied with Aquatraders
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75g mixed tank
2x 250w HQI MH
4x65w T5 accintics
Coralife 220 Skimmer
29g fuge/sump
1400gph Overflow
29w UV | |
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02-06-2008, 09:05 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator |
It really depends on what type of coral you want. There are a ton of amazing tanks running T5, mind you I couldn't get the coral form SPS.
A nice 175W or 250W pendant MH would work well
J | |
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02-06-2008, 10:18 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,778
 
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To 3Reef!!! Salutations! Glad to see you found way here!
If budget is limited, PC's are not a bad way to go...stick with soft corals and you can easily get by with 3-4 watts per gallon.
I have a Nano doing really well with only 2w per gallon.
Fish don't care.
Just make decision which way you want to go before buying as you will live with for a long time, hopefully.
Let us know how your system is doing & post some pics.  _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
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02-06-2008, 11:45 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 22
Posts: 42
Karma: 9
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hey everyone. I actually live near a store that sells odyssea lights. There is a 24 inch fixture with a metal halide and two 65 watt PC lights on it and possibly a moon light or two for 160. I have been looking and that is the cheapest fixture by a bit. the other fixture im looking at is: 24 inch Current USA SunDial T5 HO 4x24W w/ Timers & LED for about 200. any thougts? | |
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02-07-2008, 12:48 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Tassled File Fish
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: joliet,il Age: 41
Posts: 1,998
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both mh and t5 can keep all corals depending on the setup. its the almighty dollar that makes it happen | |
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02-07-2008, 01:06 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: valencia,pa. Age: 35
Posts: 1,238
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its hard to say without knowing your tank size.i beleive my daughters 10 gallon is best off with the 40watt power compact.my 55 gallon with every type of coral in it has 4 54watt t5's over it.my corals may grow faster with hm idk but its beautiful.if i ever get a deeper tank i will have to get mh lights but i won't cause i'm not exactly well off.
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55 gallon reef with 4x54 watt t5,29 gallon sump,red monti cap,1blue echinophyllia,trumpet,red lobo,2 toadstools 1purple and 1neon,gsp,xenia and yellow xenia,red ,many mushrooms,2 giant frilly shrooms,cabbage coral,yellow polyps,many zoos,1 orange and one neon green nepthia,duncans,cladiella | |
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02-07-2008, 01:31 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: valencia,pa. Age: 35
Posts: 1,238
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