Help with Lighting upgrade

[Wildcat]

Hello everyone!

Currently I have 36" long x 18" wide x 20" high tank with 2 NO flurecente lights. The tank right now is Fish only with about 90 of live rock. I will be starting a reef tank so it's time to upgrade the lighting.

I don't have alot of money to spend right now....so this was what I was thinking of adding....

1 - 175W 5.5K PFO retrofit kid with 12x12" spider reflector

Later on I will add another one.

Does that sound good or should I upgrade the bulb or ballast???

Wildcat

[golfish]

I would add a 400 watt 10K or 20K ran on an HQI ballast. 139.00 for the ballast and 119.00 for the bulb.....

[Ironreef]

depends on what you keep. I would go with 250w at least. It's cheaper and you get more bang. If you plan on keeping sps clams 1 400w 20k would be nice. Maybe cheaper . You probally would only need 1. 10k ushio would be nice also. And probally last longer. Even if replacement bulb is a concern you can use 6.5k it cost alot less but the no lights maynot be enough to rid the color?? You can try. 1 ushio 10k with 2 no would be good. But it depends on what you keep and/or are you going to have a heat issue ect... 250w you still can keep everything. Probally not the most light demanding sps if you want color. I say at least 250w

[Wildcat]

Here is what I came up with:

PFO 250watt 65K Iwaski with spider reflector

It's only 185 plus shipping.

What do you think? In the mean time keep those suggestions comming......I don't know much about this subject....so thanx

Wildcat

[Wildcat]

oh by the way...does anybody know of a good place to order online....

[Ltspd]

www.lampsnow.com


Its now called hello lights or something to that effect.

[Wildcat]

Lampsnow are too expensive....i can get the same setup at Premium Aquatics for $40 less. But thanx anyway's.

Wildcat

[Ninong]

Originally posted by Wildcat

Here is what I came up with: PFO 250watt 65K Iwaski with spider reflector

That's an excellent choice that will cover your entire tank quite well. Use your existing normal output fluorescents as actinics for dawn/dusk effects and for actinic supplementation of your 6500K Iwasaki.

Good luck,

Ninong

[Ironreef]

Thats a good choice but get the mh not the mv. The mh seems to run the Iwaski beter than the mv per Sanjay test. The mv you can only use Iwaski. The mh you can run all bulbs. You can try Ushio 10k later also. The hqi is suppose to run 10k ushio 10% better but thats not much and you can switch light bulbs as you please. I would think thats a good choice. But if you plan on dedicationg to sps don't forget the 400w but there power useage also. IMO You will be happy with 250w in a mixed reef