[alex laser]

hello everyone, i have had a planted saltwater tank with a lower power t5 light on it, but i want to start adding some corals. Im am looking into a stronger lighting system. i am up for anything except metal halides because they are just to expensive, and i dont think i will need them for the types of coral i will getting. my question is what lighting system would you recomend . my tank is 48 inches long. i would preferably like to stay under 150 dollars. thanks in advance,
alex

 

[Gymnothorax]

HO T5's are the most practical choice right now for the money, power consumption, spectrum retention, low heat output, and bulbs are available in a variety of spectrum. Buy a bigger fixture with more bulbs or buy a second one. If you have the cash LED fixtures are a better choice yet.
I really like these.

AI Sol

~Gymnothorax

 

[Wuton]

With a 150 dollar spending cap, your best course of action is to look in the selling forum. There are many fixtures that are being sold and a deal may come along within the price range you are looking for. More than likely you will be working with a retro kit of some kind.

Best of luck in your endeavors.

 

[Bruder]

As in anything else in this hobby, you get what you pay for. That is not to say you can not find a decent fixture in your price range, but too many times I have seen (and been victim to) people saying, "Man, I wish I would have bought the nicer one from the start" rather than buying a "cheap" fixture only to find out that it isn't sufficient for what they want it to do.

Wuton is right in saying that you can find a deal in the selling forums from time to time.

I wouldn't necessarily agree that halides are a ton more expensive than t-5s. It depends how many bulbs we are talking, frequency of use, electricity rates, etc. IME, the fixtures you are going to be able to find in your price range probably aren't going to be the most energy efficient fixtures.

Ask yourself this, what exactly do you want your lights to accomplish? What corals would you like to keep? How much are you willing to spend annually to change bulbs? What is more important to you: growth, color, both? Do you have a canopy to hide retrofits (which are generally less expensive)?

For what it is worth, I have an 8 bulb Tek fixture on my 48" tank and I can pretty much grow anything under it. It is by no means top of the line in terms of t5's, but it is a quality fixture. If you can find one for around $200 or so, I'd say bite the bullet on the extra $50.

Hope that helps a bit,
Ryan

 

[weimers75]

I agree with Bruder. The worst thing you can do is spend $150 now, then decide later you want the $300 fixture...then you're out $450 when you could spend $300 once. I have an 8 bulb ho t-5 on my 90, and run 6 bulbs. I love the fact that I can change the spectrum of one or all the bulbs, so the customization option is there with t-5's. I too can grow anything under them, I have acros with great color. I agree, check the selling forum for some deals and take your time. Lighting is perhaps the single biggest investment in your tank and is crucial for corals...decide up front what type of corals you will ever want...if you go with a 6 or 8 light t-5, you can always add or subtract bulbs later on if you go to higher or lower light corals with the same fixture.

 

[Bruder]

Found something you might be interested in. Sent you a PM.