New Lights For 55 Gallon.

CAVINCA · 05-21-2008, 02:07 PM

Well nikki was right... the 55 gallon quarantine tank didnt last long :smck:
Mom has fallen in love with reefs and i would like to help her into the hobby.
My tank quickly turned into HER tank so... yeah. it currently has about 10-15 watts of old corroded lights on it. Im mainly looking for something thats not gonna double the electric bill. Im gonna make this a low light/ softy tank.

here are two fixtures im ponderin upon... opinions welcome, as well as suggestions.

48 inch Current USA SunDial T5 HO 4x54W w/ Timers & LED more expensive less advertised wattage.

48" 4x65 watt Coralife Lunar Aqualights Compact Fluorescent Strip Lights right now 50 dollars cheaper, and more advertised wattage.

up to 300 dollar price range

Make with the Replies!!!

nikkipigtails · 05-21-2008, 02:18 PM

I don't know much about lights but I can tell you that I have a Coralife 96 watt 50/50 on Olivia's tank and have never had a problem with it. The tank is a 47 tall and softies grow fine even in the bottom of the tank.

Octoman · 05-21-2008, 02:46 PM

My opinion is to go with the T5's. I replaced 4 96w pc's (386W) with 3 80W T5's (240W) and the T5's put out more even light and it appears to be more intense with deeper penetration (on a 150g at school). I think the T5's will give you the most pop over that tank. I also have 3 54W T5's on my 55 and I am very pleased with the amount of light. I've got a fourth one, but I'm not using it right now.

With T5's, the individual reflectors make all the difference. They allow very efficient reflection of light from each bulb down into the tank.

Triggerjay · 05-21-2008, 09:19 PM

I agree with Octoman... T-5.

Jason

AQTCJAK · 05-21-2008, 09:24 PM

OPt for T5's

CAVINCA · 05-22-2008, 08:19 AM

done... T5's it is.

saltysupply · 05-22-2008, 02:48 PM

check out the sunlight supply tek lights

05-21-2008, 02:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
CAVINCA Achilles Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 898 View Gallery Karma Komment	New Lights For 55 Gallon. Well nikki was right... the 55 gallon quarantine tank didnt last long :smck: Mom has fallen in love with reefs and i would like to help her into the hobby. My tank quickly turned into HER tank so... yeah. it currently has about 10-15 watts of old corroded lights on it. Im mainly looking for something thats not gonna double the electric bill. Im gonna make this a low light/ softy tank. here are two fixtures im ponderin upon... opinions welcome, as well as suggestions. 48 inch Current USA SunDial T5 HO 4x54W w/ Timers & LED more expensive less advertised wattage. 48" 4x65 watt Coralife Lunar Aqualights Compact Fluorescent Strip Lights right now 50 dollars cheaper, and more advertised wattage. up to 300 dollar price range Make with the Replies!!! __________________ Chronicle Marina del Filon de los Carlos (CLOSED) Carl's 55 Gallon Underwater Inn CARL

05-21-2008, 02:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,032 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New Lights For 55 Gallon. I don't know much about lights but I can tell you that I have a Coralife 96 watt 50/50 on Olivia's tank and have never had a problem with it. The tank is a 47 tall and softies grow fine even in the bottom of the tank. __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

05-21-2008, 02:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Octoman Pumpkin Pie! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,853 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New Lights For 55 Gallon. My opinion is to go with the T5's. I replaced 4 96w pc's (386W) with 3 80W T5's (240W) and the T5's put out more even light and it appears to be more intense with deeper penetration (on a 150g at school). I think the T5's will give you the most pop over that tank. I also have 3 54W T5's on my 55 and I am very pleased with the amount of light. I've got a fourth one, but I'm not using it right now. With T5's, the individual reflectors make all the difference. They allow very efficient reflection of light from each bulb down into the tank. __________________ Mark My tank thread... Octoman's 55 gallons of euphoria Tank build... 55 Construction

05-21-2008, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Triggerjay Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 2,070 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: New Lights For 55 Gallon. I agree with Octoman... T-5. Jason __________________ The start of my journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...xperience.html My current journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ld-thread.html My clownfish breeding log: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ne-fishes.html

05-21-2008, 09:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,262 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: New Lights For 55 Gallon. OPt for T5's __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

05-22-2008, 08:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
CAVINCA Achilles Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 898 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New Lights For 55 Gallon. done... T5's it is. __________________ Chronicle Marina del Filon de los Carlos (CLOSED) Carl's 55 Gallon Underwater Inn CARL

05-22-2008, 02:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
saltysupply Scopas Tang Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 437 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New Lights For 55 Gallon. check out the sunlight supply tek lights __________________ Salty Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies Bubble King Protein Skimmers Zeovit

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)