Need help choosing!

[jimsflies]

I have a buddy that has some pc retro fit kits for sale. You could make a diy and put an extra light in.

But by the same token why not go with 3-4 t5's? Less watts and more light. Plus more color options.

Oh and I would say that no, the pc's would be not bright enough for most sps (at least to attain full color and growth potential).

[Sir Patrick]

+1 to what jimsflies said.

Better off getting the best right away, otherwise you will spend money just to upgrade again very quickly and spend money twice (if not 3 times).

Lighting and skimming are 2 places you can waste alot of money by not getting the best option the first time.

a 3 or 4 bulb t5ho would be the way to go on your tank.

[MizTanks]

I have a buddy that has some pc retro fit kits for sale. You could make a diy and put an extra light in.

But by the same token why not go with 3-4 t5's? Less watts and more light. Plus more color options.

Oh and I would say that no, the pc's would be not bright enough for most sps (at least to attain full color and growth potential).

Could you please point me in the right direction Jim? 3-4t5's? I do not know how to build my own light system. I am NOT DIY inclined

[jojo22]

You can purchase t-5 kits that are as colse to plug and play as DIY gets. End caps, ballast, and bulbs, add a set of directions and it's color by number.

Honestly there are kits that my 8 year old could put together, plus you have us, so you will be fine.

[jimsflies]

You can probably use a workhorse 7 ballast to save costs. Should be less than $30 for the ballast. They are pretty easy to wire up.

[jojo22]

I forget the model, but I absolutely loved the workhorse ballast I had on my MH.

[Fishgeek88]

Get a sunlight supply T5 fixture. The 4 bulb 24" tek light is very nice. I run one of the sunlight supply 24" 4 bulbs econo sunlight supply on my 20 gallon and love them. This is the one I run:

http://sunlightsupply.com/aqua/produ...g&type=product

[MizTanks]

Look guys I'm serious when I said I'm DIY ignorant. I don't even know WHAT a ballest is, nor an endcap. I do feel I first need to understand the *workings* first before I even try and build my own. I know only what I've read about what works best for corals, but I don't know the whys. I know MH stands for Metal Halid and that they comsume a lot of energy, get very hot and are expensive to replace but are wonderful for corals. So maybe this would be a wonderful thread idea. One that explains the importance and workings of *lighting*. So telling me to get this and that, do this and that does absolutely no good. It's because of this exact issue that I got rid of a 75g predrilled tank that was *given* to me. I was so overwhelmed! I didn't know what to do with it! I didn't know how to set it up. I didn't know what to get, or even what was needed.
I live in a town where the only people I know who keep SW are the ones from the LFS and they are not very helpful. They are not into SW like I find here. It's frustrating to think I could have a big tank if only I knew what you all do. I'v got a 26g bowfront tank that I'd like a light setup for. Can't I buy one already made, with the right watage?