[bb7551]

Hey, My name is John, I'm 15 and live in an increadibly narrow minded county in southern NJ, I am interested in starting a reef tank. I would like to make it from my 55 gallon tank. I want to be able to stock all kinds of corals. What is the cheapest way to get good light to the corals. Can I use regular floro's? I have about 5 unused shop lights down in the basement, but can only fit two on top of the tank, and that is without the filter in. I would like to use the VHO's but the cheapest ones I could find were like 150 bucks without bulbs, is there anyone out there with a good, prewired used one you can sell me? as long as it works good, I would like to get the VHO's put them on top of the tank, and get frags from all you nice people, I have regular plants to trade for nice frags. I have my 55 gallon cycling now, and should be ready in a week or so. Thank you, John

 

[Casey]

Welcome John you have found the best place on the net!

 

[dheiney]

I tried to go cheap on lights when I started my 10 G Nano, and let me tell you, it doesn't pay. I bought ballasts for NO bulbs from HD, and then got *SO* hot. I wound up just dropping the cash on an ICECAP VHO ballast, and am still pleased with it. I still do my own wiring, so you don't have to buy a retro or a pre-fab.

Also, had problems w/ the cheap ballasts burning out bulbs, can't prove it to be exact, but things seem better. The nice thing w/ the IceCap is when I moved up to my 75G, the ballast supports my larger bulbs too!

Good luck!

 

[bb7551]

but, I don't want to drop the money an then, a little whole later get old tank syndrome and quit, you know, John

 

[Phantom Phish]

Unfortunately, lights are expensive. But if you want to keep corals, there's really no way around it. NO bulbs are probably not going to be enough intensity for corals, particularly if you want to stock "all kinds of corals". I think in a 55 gallon tank, VHOs or PCs would be the minimum intensity you'd want, and even then you may not have much luck with the "higher light loving corals". However, NOs would be fine for a fish only with live rock tank. Something to consider...

 

[Buzz_Hog]

Keeping a reef tank is not cheap, and will not be cheap.... If you don't want to stick with the hobby, or get serious about it, NOW is the time to decide and bail out... You WILL end up spending a lot of money and if you try and do things on the cheap, you will spend even more money replacing stuff...

Basically, in reef keeping, the most fitting saying is... "s**t or get off the pot..."...

 

[Prismaco]

Couple Q':

How long has your tank been cycling ?
Did you have Fresh Water <>< in it ?
If so did you treat them for Ich ?
Are you on a budget ?
How much Live Rock do you have ?
Skimmer ?
Power Heads ?
Heater?
Did you use Tap Water or RO water ?

-Paul

 

[binylee]

I just got what you are looking for. The ballast are workhorse (not bad at all). The system is power compact. check your pm.

 

[Prismaco]

The ballasts that I have are work hourses....

-Paul