Lighting up my reef tank

[Bustedup211]

Currenty I have a 75 g tank (48 x 19 x 20) with 140lbs of live rock 75lbs of live sand/argonite mix running BAKPAK 2R dual venturi a small hang on refugium with 8 40 watt standard flourescents. The mix on the bulbs are 2 18k 2 a03 actinic 2 50/50 7500 2 aqua glo bulbs. The mix of livestock is as follows:

1 yellow tang size medium
2 4 stripe damsel
3 clarke
1 yellow tail damsel
1 devil damsel
1 med foxface
1 bi-color angel
2 pajama cardinals
2 banjai cardinals
1 algae goby
1 green bubbletip anenamea?

1 green sps
1 orange sps
1 elagance
1 mushroom leather
1 toadstool leather currently splitting
1 large (6 x 8) mushroom colony
1 purple pagoda cup
1 yellow pagoda cup
1 pearl bubble sps
4 pieces of soft coral
1 feather duster
1 emarald crab
10 turbo snails
numerous hermits and astreas

I am wanting to change to either pc at 6 x 65 or t-5 lights at 8 x 54. I have been at this a year and the tank is stable. 0's across. Adding a larger refugium now (15 gal).

Sorry for the length but I thought you would need to know. What are the suggestions.

Steve

[tims]

since you are up greading the lights , why not put a retro MH on it instead. your guys will like it and it gives you room to add later down the line

[AquaticCo]

I would go with Halide's also, but given the choice between PC's and T5's go with the T5's.

Doug

[TimmyG]

If it's PCs or T5s
Pick the T5s

I also have a 75g and went from NO to overdriving NOs to 65w PCs to VHOs.
I've been looking at T5 for some time but I just havn't seen any in use...
IMO PCs suck. I had 4 65w PCs for 6mths and the color of the bulbs went to sh__.
By far the worst lighting decision I ever made.
If you go PCs make sure that the ballast is for 65w.
I oppened up my ballast and it was rated for 55w not 65w....I was pissed.
With that being said I'm now adding 2 MH and 2 VHOs.

HTH Timmy

[Bustedup211]

[Bustedup211]

Thanks for the info on the pc's. pretty much have eliminated them now. thinking about the halides and t 5 mix. saw one for 450 with the bulds. 2 175's and 2 54 . retro kit but I can make it work

[dme330i]

Go with the halide retro. Make sure you check out Doug's place too - www.reeftanklighting.com