90 gal.tank needs light - Aquarium Advice

junkfood john · 05-03-2008, 02:10 PM

Bought the filter. Now I need light for my tank. Can anyone direct me in the right direction .I have a 90 gal. tank I'm setting up for FW but in the future SW. I would like a light unit with enough watts that would work both for FW and SW. I can change bulbs when I switch to SW if I have to. It also needs to work from a timer. I would like to know how much lighting I need, can I do it with a two bulb unit, What kind of bulbs I need, and where to find the best quality and price. I'm also looking at a led moon light for accent if anyone knows abought these. Thanks John

neilanh · 05-03-2008, 02:28 PM

I'd recommend a 6 bulb T5 fixture. I think that would work for SW, and would definately be adequate for FW with 2 or 4 lights running.

junkfood john · 05-04-2008, 08:49 AM

The T5 6 bulb is a little out of my price range. any other suggestions? Thanks, John

cmor1701d · 05-04-2008, 10:54 AM

I agree with Neilan. You can normal output flourescent for now and buy the T5 later. Many fixtures come with LED moonlights today or you can buy them seperately online. All fixtures can be controlled by a timer. I use outdoor timers from Lowes.

**Ziggy953** · 05-04-2008, 01:09 PM

Are you a handy person? If you are then you can purchase DIY kits for a fraction of the cost for complete fixtures. Building a canopy isn't that tough and doesn't have to be very fancy. TEK has 48" 2x54w T5 kits for about $100. You could pick one up and then add to it until you have the amount of light you are looking for. If you want to go with MH then I strongly suggest DIY. Ballast, sockets, reflectors and bulbs are much cheaper then buying a fixture.

junkfood john · 05-05-2008, 08:49 AM

Can anyone tell me the diffrence between a T5 and T6 light ficture. Thanks John

**roka64** · 05-05-2008, 11:01 AM

It's the size of the bulb, I believe.

cmor1701d · 05-05-2008, 12:36 PM

The T# refers to the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch. A T5 is 5/8 of an inch where a T6 is 3/4"; a T8 is 1" and a T12 is 1½" in diameter.

junkfood john · 05-05-2008, 07:48 PM

Is one unit better than the other. I see that the T6 unit is cheaper than the T5

**roka64** · 05-05-2008, 08:40 PM

Do you have a link so we can see what you are comparing?

05-03-2008, 02:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
junkfood john Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Duluth Mn. Posts: 19	90 gal.tank needs light Bought the filter. Now I need light for my tank. Can anyone direct me in the right direction .I have a 90 gal. tank I'm setting up for FW but in the future SW. I would like a light unit with enough watts that would work both for FW and SW. I can change bulbs when I switch to SW if I have to. It also needs to work from a timer. I would like to know how much lighting I need, can I do it with a two bulb unit, What kind of bulbs I need, and where to find the best quality and price. I'm also looking at a led moon light for accent if anyone knows abought these. Thanks John

05-03-2008, 02:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
neilanh MTS Advocate Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 2,555 Images: 15	I'd recommend a 6 bulb T5 fixture. I think that would work for SW, and would definately be adequate for FW with 2 or 4 lights running. __________________ ~Neilan In the DC Metro Area? Check out GWAPA Look, I have a My Info Page! Where's yours? Useful Links: Vote for AA, Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling, Articles, Acronym List

05-04-2008, 10:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,507 Images: 43	I agree with Neilan. You can normal output flourescent for now and buy the T5 later. Many fixtures come with LED moonlights today or you can buy them seperately online. All fixtures can be controlled by a timer. I use outdoor timers from Lowes. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

05-04-2008, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,056 Images: 5	Are you a handy person? If you are then you can purchase DIY kits for a fraction of the cost for complete fixtures. Building a canopy isn't that tough and doesn't have to be very fancy. TEK has 48" 2x54w T5 kits for about $100. You could pick one up and then add to it until you have the amount of light you are looking for. If you want to go with MH then I strongly suggest DIY. Ballast, sockets, reflectors and bulbs are much cheaper then buying a fixture. __________________ Happy Reefing! *120 Build in progress 6/18/08* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

05-05-2008, 11:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,576 Images: 12	It's the size of the bulb, I believe. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

05-04-2008, 08:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
junkfood john Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Duluth Mn. Posts: 19	The T5 6 bulb is a little out of my price range. any other suggestions? Thanks, John

05-05-2008, 08:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
junkfood john Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Duluth Mn. Posts: 19	Can anyone tell me the diffrence between a T5 and T6 light ficture. Thanks John

05-05-2008, 12:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,507 Images: 43	The T# refers to the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch. A T5 is 5/8 of an inch where a T6 is 3/4"; a T8 is 1" and a T12 is 1½" in diameter. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

05-05-2008, 07:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
junkfood john Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Duluth Mn. Posts: 19	Is one unit better than the other. I see that the T6 unit is cheaper than the T5

05-05-2008, 08:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,576 Images: 12	Do you have a link so we can see what you are comparing? __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

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