zoas not well????

[rdnelson99]

Having been in the electrical industry for 30+ years, I have learned a bit about lighting (although aquarium lighting is a different story). When a manufacturer is making a commodity fixture and price is key, they paint gloss white, when it is a specification grade fixture and high dollar it is always a mirrored finish reflector. Because the T5HO is relatively new and because of the area they are trying to cover, all of the manufacturers have gone to the mirrored reflector even on the commodity fixtures. Tells me that gives them the most punch for the buck.

 

[rdnelson99]

I do think we have veered off subject slightly but the importance of lighting should be expressed! lol

Yup, my apology's to Craig for stealing his thread. I will shut up now.

 

[craig_will2513]

no no mate you all carry on all this is usefull to me. so your saying that my 2 t5 bulbs are not really good enough and i should upgrade.. so what would you guys recomend for a 35g tank.. how many bulbs and what strenght

 

[rdnelson99]

My tank is a 45. Long narrow and tall. The tank itself is 36 inches long but I am using a 48" long fixture for the one I am building. It is what I had on hand so I am making due. LOL But, it has 6 lamps which is what I want. With 6 lamps I should be able to do anything I want as long as I buy good lamps for it. I would say if you are going to upgrade go big. That way you won't limit yourself as far as corals. You may not want a certain coral today but a year from now you might.

As for brands, I personally don't think it matters too much one from the other. Sure there are some cheap ones but the fixture is just the ballasts and the tombstones (plastic things that hold the lamps). The real work is done by the lamps.

LED lights are coming on strong but very expensive. Some are very good and some are trash. I would love to have a good set up but know I can't afford them.

Metal halide does a good job too but there are draw backs. Lots of heat and since you are using one or two lamps only, you can't mix and match the colors to get it the way you want it.

I would say that if you want to really get a good handle on lighting, listen to anything Mr._X posts on this site. He knows it backwards and forwards. Hope that helps.