Lighting questions - Aquarium Advice

Ayesha97 · 04-09-2006, 12:43 AM

I'm looking to uprade the lighting in my tank. I would like to have PC lighting and aiming for 60-150 watts of light... but after a quick search at some online stores I found the term "compact flourescent." Is this the same thing? I want to make sure that I get the right thing before I shell out the money for it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on brand of lighting or types that I should be considering insead? I had seen some set ups by Coralife that I was considering. (I am also partially limited by what the lfs carries, I got a large gift card there for my birthday).

My tank is a 20 gal tank with a bunch of live rock, a clown, a goby, snails, glass shrimp and a sea urchin. I would like to be able to get more into corals in the future, but only as money allows. Not in any rush. The tank has been up and running for over 2 years.

Thanks for any help you can throw my way.

ColdFish · 04-09-2006, 05:12 AM

Hi Ayesha97

Yes they are the same thing. I'm a big fan of the Coralife Aqualights. This one would get you 130 watts and you can do a lot with 6.5 watts/gallon

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345

Not sure if this is the best price you can get on it or not. You might want to take a look on eBay to get an idea.

Ayesha97 · 04-09-2006, 09:16 AM

thanks for the link. Thats the exact one that I was looking at last night. Good to know that I was right on target

Macrosill · 04-09-2006, 09:56 AM

I like www.ahsupply.com . I have bought from them. They are retro kits and you will need a hood to put the system in or build your own. Very reasonable prices and fast shipping. I have a twin 65 watt 6700k kit on my 55 gal planted right now. I will definitely be putting one of their kits on my reef. The manufactured systems are very nice but pricey as well.

Keep in mind that you will also need actinic lighting as well. This can be done with seperate bulbs. I have also seen it done with 50/50 bulbs as well.

04-09-2006, 12:43 AM	#1
Ayesha97 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 295	Lighting questions I'm looking to uprade the lighting in my tank. I would like to have PC lighting and aiming for 60-150 watts of light... but after a quick search at some online stores I found the term "compact flourescent." Is this the same thing? I want to make sure that I get the right thing before I shell out the money for it. Does anyone have any suggestions on brand of lighting or types that I should be considering insead? I had seen some set ups by Coralife that I was considering. (I am also partially limited by what the lfs carries, I got a large gift card there for my birthday). My tank is a 20 gal tank with a bunch of live rock, a clown, a goby, snails, glass shrimp and a sea urchin. I would like to be able to get more into corals in the future, but only as money allows. Not in any rush. The tank has been up and running for over 2 years. Thanks for any help you can throw my way. __________________ Marlin: Okay, a mollusk walks up to this sea cucumber, well he doesn't actually walk, he's just there, and he turns to the sea cucumber, and... Well, wait, there's a mollusk and a sea cucumber and... Chum: You know for a clown fish, he's not that funny.

04-09-2006, 09:16 AM	#3
Ayesha97 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 295	thanks for the link. Thats the exact one that I was looking at last night. Good to know that I was right on target __________________ Marlin: Okay, a mollusk walks up to this sea cucumber, well he doesn't actually walk, he's just there, and he turns to the sea cucumber, and... Well, wait, there's a mollusk and a sea cucumber and... Chum: You know for a clown fish, he's not that funny.

04-09-2006, 09:56 AM	#4
Macrosill Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 282 Images: 4	I like www.ahsupply.com . I have bought from them. They are retro kits and you will need a hood to put the system in or build your own. Very reasonable prices and fast shipping. I have a twin 65 watt 6700k kit on my 55 gal planted right now. I will definitely be putting one of their kits on my reef. The manufactured systems are very nice but pricey as well. Keep in mind that you will also need actinic lighting as well. This can be done with seperate bulbs. I have also seen it done with 50/50 bulbs as well. __________________ Good Luck, Brian

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04-09-2006, 05:12 AM	#2
ColdFish Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 173	Hi Ayesha97 Yes they are the same thing. I'm a big fan of the Coralife Aqualights. This one would get you 130 watts and you can do a lot with 6.5 watts/gallon http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345 Not sure if this is the best price you can get on it or not. You might want to take a look on eBay to get an idea.