Question on reef lighting

[new2salt2]

was wondering if the following lighting is sufficiant to run a decent reef tank? i am limited on funds so am looking for cheapest way to go here.

a 48" Custom Sea Life 2x65watt Smartlite. with two 65watt Smart Lamps, totalling 130watts of light! contains one Daylight and an Actinic Tube. The hood is black aluminum with a built in electronic balast. also includes a polished reflector and polycarbonate splash lens. It measures 48"x6"x4".

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if this is not a good light let me know and if anyone has a used PC light for sale let me know as well.. this light is selling for around $100.

[Reefland]

You will be pretty limited on your coral selection with just 2 PC tubes over a 48" long tank. Your choices would be limited to mushrooms, button polyps and maybe a toadstool leather or colt corals. Finding a PC set-up with 4 tubes or better yet a VHO set-up with 4 tubes would be a better option and give you more flexibility with coral choices.

Regards,
Scott Z.

[new2salt2]

well i only have a 55 gal tank and its not very deep.. was planning to keep corals up close to top. since its not htat big maybe thoese will be enough for me to start with. i have only tried one coral so far andit died so i need to start slwo.. anything will probably be better than just rock and fish. Alos my finances are limited to what i can purchase..

[saltwaterdave]

Have you thought about trying to find something used?

[new2salt2]

yea.. am currently looking for something used, but so far nobody has offered anything

[Poseidon]

I agree with Scott, I had a 4 tube 55 watt fixture and everything I tried grew excellent. I have since moved up to MH over a 135. I sold my fixture at a LFS for 150... used as is. Best advice is what you prob DON'T want to hear, wait till you can spend the extra cash and get the better fixture...

Trust us, we all went thru what you are and learned the hard way, it costs more to buy cheap and end up buying twice then it does to buy "right" the first time....

[new2salt2]

ihear ya. i learned that with the size of tank to buy too. I need to go with a more energy efficient bulb than MH ones. I know for a fact that i will get into the coral thing slowly and that is why i am looking into a PC unit. my question for you is.. if everything grew great with your 4 tube unit then why did you go with a MH bulb?

[Poseidon]

Well my PC fixture was 48". And my new 135 is a 6ft tank, so I had noticebly darker edges...

Also the Actinic in PC bulbs is not the same as VHO actinics so the colors did not have the same "pop" as they did in the LFS...

And third reason PC are GREAT for softies and some LPS, but Clams and SPS really NEED the added intensity of MH.

I understand you nOT wanting to do the MH but I would steer you towards VHO over PC, just for the difference in color, plus the bulbs are about the same cost and last the same amount of time (Don't believe the 3 year claim of some bulbs).

[new2salt2]

ok so let me ask you.. if i got a vho unit with 2 bulbls what is the wattage i would need? 55w? also do you think they suck more power than the PC bulbs?

[Poseidon]

48" inch VHO are 110 watts apiece, So 2 bulbs would would give you 220 watts, or the same as a 4 Bulb PC fixture. As far as power goes I have never measured the difference but 220 is 220watts as far as the power company is concercened

I think a good setup for you would be this....

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...gory_Code=ICFB

plus these...

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...tegory_Code=AW
http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...tegory_Code=SA

and this...
http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...gory_Code=Ltac

and this is optional, if you buy wire at HD or Lowes

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...gory_Code=Ltac

Now remember you can buy this where ever you want, I just bought my lights from these guys and was very impressed. Another great place to shop is www.premiumaquatics.com

Total including bulbs: $248.25 plus shipping

I paid 299.99 for my 4 bulb PC fixture then had to buy BULBS yuk!!!

Another plus you could definately fit this under your canopy and if you do want to get Higher light corals in the future all you'll need is 2 more bulbs and the endcaps, the ballast shown will drive 4 48" bulbs so that won't need to be upgraded!!!

Hope this helps, Mike

[new2salt2]

you rock man thanks

[Poseidon]

you rock man thanks

THanks!!!