Looking for Love(Lighting) in all the wrong places

jjaalmaraz · 06-07-2006, 09:47 PM

All,

I am going to bite my lip and spend the little bucks for some lighting. I only have a 30gal tank and only want to do softies and maybe...just maybe....move to LPS..maybe when I get older. I know I don't want Halide, I'm torn between VHO and Compact. I have seen some pretty good deals on Ebay lately and want to know what you guys think. Also, if anybody has some really good deals on anything, I'll be happy to look. I need 36" and already have moonlight, not a big deal to have it built in, would be nice though. As usual, money is a problem, I have it, but the boss (my wife) would beat the life out of me if I spent anymore money on "That darn FISH TANK!!". So even though I want good, it needs to be cheap (My wife can't notice the money missing from the account). All help would be appreciated with this covert op, Thanks

Casey · 06-07-2006, 09:49 PM

Do VHO for sure.

or T5,s not pc.

Tim224DT · 06-07-2006, 09:54 PM

VHO or T5 i dont like the color from PC lighting. Also VHO and T5 bulbs are cheaper to replace.

Tim

jjaalmaraz · 06-07-2006, 10:08 PM

How many watts should I go for? It looks like I will need more bulb's with T5's? Depending on the Watts?
I have 60 Watt NO's now. 1 30watt actinic and 1 30watt 10K. Both coralife. I also have an extra 30watt NO normal everyday light on as well.

Reefer High · 06-07-2006, 10:41 PM

I know you said no halides, but i have a light for sale if the cost of halides was the issue. It is a Helios 24 inch 150 watt hqi with dual PC's for actinics. I am asking $175 for it, which it around the price of T-5's or PC's.

Waynesworld · 06-08-2006, 08:04 AM

What are the demensions of your tank? You can do what I did and purchase a t-5 retro kit if you have a canopy. Try a site called reefgeek.com or premiumaquatics for t5s. I beleive there is also a sponsor here DIY thats has some good t5 stuff. You dont need more bulbs with the t-5, just remember to get individual reflectors for each bulb. It will be plenty of light....

jjaalmaraz · 06-08-2006, 08:45 AM

Looking around (at work..I feel sooo guilty), I'm noticing that VHO and T5's cost as much as what Reefer High is going the sell his system for. Another concern of mine is heat. Won't Halide create a lot of heat and force me to get a chiller or something? I'd hate to have to spend more money (inevitable in this hobby) trying to keep my tank cool.
Also, like I said before, I want to stay with the easy stuff and I'm guessing I dont really need that level of lighting. Like my fellow penny pinching aquarium pals, I want to get the right lighting without chopping an or leg off. I'd like to lop off a few fingers and maybe a toe or two. Kerri was over at my house and told me with the NO lighting I have now, I could keep some basic corals. I have a 30gal long. It measures 36" across. Wouldn't the 24" Reefer High is selling be to small?
Chapter 2 of my book..........I went to a LFS (on Blanding in Middleburg) that told me to get T5's with two bulb's. That it would run me roughly $120 or so (coralife). I think watts were like 90 or something. I have that now with my lighting? My confusion has reached the point of no return and like many of you...I'm considering throwing money at it until it solves the problem. Stop me when I'm wrong.

Bennihanna · 06-08-2006, 09:42 AM

I think heat willnot be a problem for you as the pendants will be suspended, not inside a canopy. I have a 150 HQI pendant over my 25 gallon with no heat problems.

Waynesworld · 06-08-2006, 10:50 AM

true and that deal reefer high is a good deal on lights. I prefer t-5s or nuemrous reasons, but in your application, that setup will do well. Only costs are the HQI bulbs, which are generall around $45-$65

Ocnreef · 06-08-2006, 10:51 AM

We also have a 150w HQI MH over our 24g with no heat problems.

Reefer High · 06-08-2006, 12:36 PM

Yes you are right my light will not look right on a 30 long. I was thinking that you really had a 29 gallon and were calling it a 30 gallon. Thier will be dead spots on both ends of the tank. Also if the light rob wants to sell you is coralife brand it will also not work. Coralife at this point does not make high output t-5's.

jjaalmaraz · 06-08-2006, 02:01 PM

Well now I'm really confused (Nothing new here). I'll keep on the lookout, deadspots, what if I just didn't put any corals in the corners in those spots? Just curious.

hng · 06-08-2006, 02:07 PM

He he, love the title to your thread. I have a 30 gal too and I use VHO's and have been really happy so far. If all you want are softies, then get a used icecap ballast and some waterproof encaps and install 2 36 inch bulbs (they're 95 watts each). That should be plenty of light to start with. When you need more light, or have more money, it will be easy to rewire it to run 3 bulbs or even 4 bulbs. I have 3 bulbs over my tank right now and heat transfer is not much of an issue. I do use a fan though, but the AC in my house is set at 79 during the day when I'm at work and the temp in the tank max's at 80.5 The whole thing shouldn't cost very much.

jjaalmaraz · 06-08-2006, 02:20 PM

I would need to find a hood to put those in as well? I'm sending back the lights I have to the seller (ebay) because I was told they were VHO. That leaves me with a single tube 30watt NO light. I don't think there is room for all of that, it is one of those stock, came with the tank lights.

hng · 06-08-2006, 02:33 PM

A hood is easy and inexpensive to make and will allow you plenty of flexibility. A 36 in VHO bulb with endcaps is slightly more than 36.5 inches, so the hood will have to take that into account. I could measure mine at home if you think it would help.