Lighting

[ETBReefer05]

I wanted to add 39 or 40 watts of lighting to my tank. Currently I have two 39W ATI T5 VHO bulbs on a retrofit kit for my custom hood. Basically, I want about 4w per gallon so I can start to venture into SPS land. As I said I have a custom hood that I would have to work around with any type of lighting, so ease of installation comes into play as well. What do you think would provide the best performance:cost ratio? I was thinking of doing and LED setup to supplement my T-5s, that way I could have lighting that I can dim and simulate sun cycles...Any advice would be great.

[XSiVE]

Well, the easiest option is to just add another two t5's in there on another ballast.

Something I think you should first do is forget about the whole watts per gallon "rule" it's very general and typically wrong, especially as you get into more efficient lights. For example, my LED setup only runs 160 watts, I have more light output than my 600 watt previous setup.

There are a few off-the-shelf LED type items that might be useful, but if you are going to go partial LED you might as well go full LED. If you're going to go full LED, the only affordable (and by affordable I mean less than $300) option is DIY, but it's pretty labor intensive.

If I were in your situation I would probably go with another 2 bulb t5 retro kit.

[ETBReefer05]

Thanks XSiVE,
I bought my first retrokit from a store and it was about $220. Could someone point me in the direction of a cheaper 2 bulb retrofit kit?

[XSiVE]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/lighting/t5-florescent-aquarium-lighting/t5-retro-fit-kits-and-parts/39w-36-t5-retrofit-kit-tek-sunlight-supply.html

[Sir Patrick]

I gotta agree w/ xsive.


Gotta add though-

Watts per gallon is a term that was outdated, and no longer used for many years. It is not a good way to aproximate lighting for coral. Lets say ya had 2 lights, completely seperate. Same lenght, same wattage, but ones a t5ho and the other is a powercompact- there is no comparison- the t5ho will be much more intence and give much more light.

These days we look more at par rating and intensity. 4 T5 HO should do the trick for ya on your tank.

[MyNemesis]

Sunlight supply has very user friendly retro kits. They are about $120.00 for a two bulb kit with the ballast, wiring, end caps and stand offs, and great reflectors. Preuss in Lansing carries them or can order them for you. The nice thing about the retro kits is that when (not if) you move to a bigger tank, or set up a frag tank, you can move the arrangement to whatever new use you need. The Sunlight supply 24" kits also run 36" bulbs, which adds to the flexibility. Their website is: sunlightsupply.com

[cg5071]

Good to know. I pretty much built my light from scratch. It wasnt any cheaper in the end than buying something else but It does let you get a little at a time. I need to look into the sunlightsupply for the rest of my lights.

[ETBReefer05]

Thanks for all the help guys, I will be purchasing some new lights in the next month or so. :thumbsup: