So I cant make up my mind on Lighting!!!

[cj10488]

Ok so I cant make up my mind on lighting.. The problem I have is I want to have good lights for all sorts of corals and such. Plan on having a carpet and such down the road like 6 months.. When it comes to lighting There is just too many choices.. I want to get lights for my 55gal soon to be reef tank.. I would like something that i am never going to have to replace Except well of course the bulbs.. I have looked into VHO PC and MH.. I just cant decide on which way to go.. I want to spend around 300.00 or so... Please advise as to by best options here Ie: Fixture type and bulbs... I want my tank to look the best that it can and provide any my inhabitants to be extremely happy..


TIA,
James

 

[fishfreek]

Everything you say points to IMO a lighting setup as follows

2 X 175W 10K MH with 1 full lenght VHO actinic bulb.

I would like something that i am never going to have to replace

The above suggestion is based upon the quoted comment. To fit your budget your gonna need to buld your own canopy (wood box with vents) put the lighting together from 'kit' form.

Drop your lighting requirements down some and you could go with 4 X 55/65W PC lighting solution and stay within your budget. With this lighting I would not classify it as "the last lighting solution you will ever need to buy" expecially if you want a lighting setup for even the most light demanding corals.

You could also stay within your budget by doing a retrofit kit of 4 110W VHO bulbs and ballast. Again you will need to build your own canopy for this setup.

 

[triggers]

choose your coral carefully, MH can burn corals that appreciate moderate lighting. I would go with the PC. It doesn't have the most extreme lighting, but its far from the worst, and don't cost a fortune. But if you are going with corals that have to have extreme lighting I would definitely go with MH. It just depends on the corals you want.