Good ligjts for a.reef tank

[J19Reynolds]

What is the best cheapest lights I can get for a reef tank? I like how some have the 2 special lights n can leave on all the time .. This is what I want to buy myself with my income tax please help

 

[Sniperhank]

2 special lights? You mean the moonlight leds? You need to be more specific and what your tank dimensions are. Do you want to have sps? lps? softies? only fish?

 

[J19Reynolds]

Yes the moon lights... I want corals eventually ... Sry this is my first Sw tank I don't know what all is needed for information

 

[Sniperhank]

How tall, wide, long your tank is. What kind of corals do you want to keep?

 

[Saratj1]

I recently bought this Odyssea fixture, and I'm impressed I've read a lot of neg. reviews about these online especially the older models but for the money I'm very pleased with this setup. I only have a couple polyps that hitch hiked on some live rock, and before I got the light they stayed closed for 2wks now after the light they open everyday, also my live rock are starting to flourish with new life and increased growth of existing life, Where before they were declining with a regular 1 18w bulb. I'm sure if you spend $500 you will get a better quality light but for $160, It would be tough to beat this light even buying used stuff. Heck even just the buls would cost $60, and You could upgrade this fixture down the road with better bulbs and ballast and have a top notch light for still less than buying some brands.

Compare to the Hamilton Technology Belize fixture:
2 ft BELIZE SUN MH HQI + High Output T5 + LED Lighting Systems, Hamilton Technology Corp. - SalesAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology


Odyssea Light
Odyssea Metal Halide System

I have a 47g column tank with 40lbs live rock and 40lbs of sand, 1 striped damsel, 2 domino damsels, 2 yellow tail damsels, a Coral banded shrimp and a Condy anemone. The tank has been running for about 5 weeks about 2 weeks with the new light.

I hope my 2cents helps some.

 

[mfdrookie516]

Moved to General Hardware/Equipment Discussion.

 

[J19Reynolds]

How tall, wide, long your tank is. What kind of corals do you want to keep?

It's a 55g it's long... I'd have to measure to get exact... I'm not sure what kind of corals I want.. I know I want an anemone

 

[J19Reynolds]

I recently bought this Odyssea fixture, and I'm impressed I've read a lot of neg. reviews about these online especially the older models but for the money I'm very pleased with this setup. I only have a couple polyps that hitch hiked on some live rock, and before I got the light they stayed closed for 2wks now after the light they open everyday, also my live rock are starting to flourish with new life and increased growth of existing life, Where before they were declining with a regular 1 18w bulb. I'm sure if you spend $500 you will get a better quality light but for $160, It would be tough to beat this light even buying used stuff. Heck even just the buls would cost $60, and You could upgrade this fixture down the road with better bulbs and ballast and have a top notch light for still less than buying some brands.

Compare to the Hamilton Technology Belize fixture:
2 ft BELIZE SUN MH HQI + High Output T5 + LED Lighting Systems, Hamilton Technology Corp. - SalesAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology

Odyssea Light
Odyssea Metal Halide System

I have a 47g column tank with 40lbs live rock and 40lbs of sand, 1 striped damsel, 2 domino damsels, 2 yellow tail damsels, a Coral banded shrimp and a Condy anemone. The tank has been running for about 5 weeks about 2 weeks with the new light.

I hope my 2cents helps some.

Your tank has only been running for 5 weeks and u already have an anemone? I was told not to get one til my tank had been up at least 6 months!! My tank has been running for 6 weeks now... Do u have pictures of your tank w the lighting? If you do would u please share

 

[severum mama]

I recently bought this Odyssea fixture, and I'm impressed I've read a lot of neg. reviews about these online especially the older models but for the money I'm very pleased with this setup. I only have a couple polyps that hitch hiked on some live rock, and before I got the light they stayed closed for 2wks now after the light they open everyday, also my live rock are starting to flourish with new life and increased growth of existing life, Where before they were declining with a regular 1 18w bulb. I'm sure if you spend $500 you will get a better quality light but for $160, It would be tough to beat this light even buying used stuff. Heck even just the buls would cost $60, and You could upgrade this fixture down the road with better bulbs and ballast and have a top notch light for still less than buying some brands.

Compare to the Hamilton Technology Belize fixture:
2 ft BELIZE SUN MH HQI + High Output T5 + LED Lighting Systems, Hamilton Technology Corp. - SalesAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology


Odyssea Light
Odyssea Metal Halide System

I have a 47g column tank with 40lbs live rock and 40lbs of sand, 1 striped damsel, 2 domino damsels, 2 yellow tail damsels, a Coral banded shrimp and a Condy anemone. The tank has been running for about 5 weeks about 2 weeks with the new light.

I hope my 2cents helps some.

I do not dispute that the Odysseas are an excellent value, but I would like to point out that a comparison between an Odyssea fixture and that Hamilton fixture (or Sunlight Supply, etc.) is a real stretch IMO. Yes, you get a lot of bang for the buck with the cheap Chinese fixtures, but there is a reason that people spend the money on the higher priced brands. It's like comparing Maxi Jets to Vortechs IMO.

 

[Saratj1]

Yes, I found out after the fact that I probably should have held off on the anemone, I was leery about purchasing the anemone, but my LFS reassured me that they are Hearty and all so I purchased then later read that they should be in more mature tanks, but mine seems to be doing well.

The reason I compared the two light fixtures is b/c I wanted to illustrate the price difference between two items that are very similar,and I really like this style of light with the MH, T5 actinics, and LED moonlights all in one sleek fixture with fans and ballast I would definatly prefer american made stuff opposed to chinese, but the price difference was just too great, and like I said about possible future upgrades. like an Icecap ballast and some pheonix bulbs.

 

[Ibrahim]

Get 2 120w led fixtures. Their $170 each and are amazing. This would be the best and cheapest upgrade

 

[Saratj1]

View attachment 77979



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Here are some pics, the iPhone auto adjusts the light, so it doesn't give you an idea of how bright it really is.

 

[J19Reynolds]

Yes, I found out after the fact that I probably should have held off on the anemone, I was leery about purchasing the anemone, but my LFS reassured me that they are Hearty and all so I purchased then later read that they should be in more mature tanks, but mine seems to be doing well.

The reason I compared the two light fixtures is b/c I wanted to illustrate the price difference between two items that are very similar,and I really like this style of light with the MH, T5 actinics, and LED moonlights all in one sleek fixture with fans and ballast I would definatly prefer american made stuff opposed to chinese, but the price difference was just too great, and like I said about possible future upgrades. like an Icecap ballast and some pheonix bulbs.

At least your having good luck w yours ... It looks cool and your fish seems to like it too the price is really good I love the moon lights is there a fixture that is just a moonlight? There's nothing wrong w my light now except it's bright bright lol I like the blue moon color a lot

 

[Ibrahim]

At least your having good luck w yours ... It looks cool and your fish seems to like it too the price is really good I love the moon lights is there a fixture that is just a moonlight? There's nothing wrong w my light now except it's bright bright lol I like the blue moon color a lot

You can an LED strip from aquatraders.com

 

[J19Reynolds]

You can an LED strip from aquatraders.com

Awesome Ty

 

[Saratj1]

I'd look at the led's too either the cheap strips as mentioned or maybe some 10w flood lights which are not too expensive either, like $50.
What lights do you have currently?

Here's a pic of my lights controls, so the two switches on the right are the front 2 and back t5 actinics (used in my blue pics above) the left 2 switches are for the moonlight led, and the fans. The switch for the metal halide lamp is on the ballast.


View attachment 78071

 

[carey]

Wow, thats alot of buttons and stuff. lol I have one cord and 3 buttons. and I dont even use my moonlighting button since they don't work.

 

[J19Reynolds]

Ok thanks I'll check more into them too