lighting options

[CubsFan]

Hi all, I am new to the forum and I'm needing some help deciding on a light upgrade. I have a standard 75 gallon tank , a emperor 280 filter, a sea clone protein skimmer, a 20 inch refugium, 2 maxi jet powerheads, and some JBJ power compact 260 watt lights that need replaced, about 100 lb.s of live rock, a leather, colony polyps, other kind of polyps, three diff sets of mushrooms, silver branch xenias, waving hands, a delicate anemone, and a long tentacle. I am also wanting to get into some hard corals I have tried some in the past (before I had the refugium) and I didn't have much luck. So basically what I am asking is what type of lights should I get (I am leaning towards metal halide) the wattage, brand of lights, and some places on the net that have the best prices. I appreciate all info


Thanks

Brian

[charlie]

Brian,


With a standard 75, you should be able to get away with 175W halides, probably 2 of them. Personally, I would do 250W. The thing with halides is the initial cost, and the amount of heat that is produced by them.

There are many brands out there!!!! What type of hard corals do you plan on?

here is a link to a comparison of bulbs to get you started:
List of all my articles

Do some searching around, and see what other folks are trying and using.

[FireEater]

If you are just now upgrading lights, I would highly recommend T5's. There are just to many benefits to them to ignore these days. They are strong enough to grown any coral or keep any clam if set up right.

You will not have the heat issues nor the electric bill as with MH's. I have 3 250w MH's along with T5's and early next year when the bulbs need replacing I'm converting over to strictly T5's. It will save enormously on my 450 dolar a month electric bill. My chiller will not have to run nearly as much as it does now. I will lose the shimmer effect of MH's but the wife will be happy with the new electric bill and that is most important.

You can most likely convert over now a lot cheaper with the T5's than with the MH's. The Giesemann bulbs are by far the best out there IMO. I have used them for years with great results. I use the T5 HO Pure Actinic ones.

HERE is one place to see them. I have ordered from them before but usually shop around now for the best price.

Take you time and do the research before jumping into a new setup. There are many ways to go about it and so much to read up on them. Compare the difference between MH's and T5's to see which way you want to go. You will find that bulb replacement is a lot cheaper on the T5's.

HERE is just one of many threads on the net about people changing over to T5's.

[CubsFan]

If i decided to go t5 should i do retrofit and build a hood. or buy a set up
thanks for all the responses so far

[FireEater]

It would probably be cheaper to do a retro fit. A retro fit is more custom and you can put it together to fit you best needs.

Buying a setup could also work out fine for you. The main thing you should remember on either setup is that each bulb needs it own reflector. They make individual reflectors that snap onto each bulb. This is the most important part of T5 lighting.

Like I said, try not to be in a big hurry, take a few weeks or so to ask the questions and read the info out there. In the long run you will be happy doing this because it was a thought out choice.