Best Lights for $600

[Tremelle]

I am looking to upgrade the lights on my 105 gallon tank. I have $600 to spend on lights. I had thought about buying the new Custom Sealife 48 4X65W POWERCOMPACT/MOON-LITE HOOD for $265. I then thought I may out grow it's capabilities. So I am asking what would you buy with $600 for lights. I do not have a hood on my tank. Right now I have 80 watts of light on the tank. The tank is 48"L x 18"W x 28"H, with a 5" dsb.

The inhabitants are a Regal Angel, a Goldflake Angel, a Flame Angel, 2 Neon Gobies, and 2 Redhead Gobies. I have numerous mushrooms, and 2 featherdusters. Due to the Angels, I will not be able to keep many corals. With that in mind, would you buy lights more than the CSLs I mentioned earlier?

 

[fishfanatic2]

I would get an actinic/halide combo if you NEED to spend 600. However, find out the lighting requirements of the corals you will keep, and base it on that and save a few bucks.

 

[Tremelle]

The livestock I have limits what I can keep. I have thought about keeping some ricordia, in addition to some additional mushrooms. I prefer the look of pretty fish over the look of corals.

 

[Anonymous]

With mushrooms, you'll be just fine with PC's or VHO, I think VHO on a electronic ballast is proabably cheaper longterm, the pc & vho bulbs both last about the same amount of time, and the pc bulbs cost quite a bit more

 

[Anonymous]

If you want to some day do SPS, I'd go with a dual 250 or 400 watt HQI ballast and run 20,000K radiums. If you don't like the color, you can augment with either 10,000K PCs or if you want it bluer, use actinic.

The radiums do not run as hot as most MHs. They are number 1 when it comes to getting all corals to color-up, especially acros.

A cheaper alternative to Radim bulbs are the new XM/XDE bulbs. I'm running them now and really like the color.

 

[reefann]

400 watt HQI ballast and run 20,000K radiums. If you don't like the color, you can augment with either 10,000K PCs or if you want it bluer, use actinic.

WOW adding actinics to a 20,000k radium thats to blue for me.
if you do not want SPS and CLAMS PC's or VHO will do fine for you.
Just remember it is better to get the good lights now then kick yourself later.
JJ
BTW clams and SPS are possible under PC but it would look dumb in anything over 30g
HTH
_________________
BMW F650CS

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, have you seen what the 400 watt radiums look like? They are very crisp, bright white. On my 110g I run two 400w radiums, one 400w 10K ushio and two 110 watt VHO super actinics, and the tank still as a warm color.

The 250s do look pretty crisp white/blue, so they don't need actinic augmentation. I have two 250w XMs on a 90g and plan to ad vho actinics to simulate a deeper water look.

 

[Anonymous]

I ran 400w radiums, and I did not like them at all.

They also made some SPS colors look nice, and others did not, going back to iwasaki's, the ones that had poor color came right back.

IMO radiums are WAY too blue, and I had horrible growth rates with them.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed, radiums or 20K bulbs work best when mixed with a lower kelvin bulb. I would imagine a radium/iwasaki blend might prove interesting. But the bulbs would have to be mounted for-aft and pretty close together so that the color didn't stratify.

 

[tkramer17]

FOr 600 dollars you can get a nice pc/halide combo @ www.petsupplieliquidator.com, they will customize the hood to fit your tank sixe as long as its only within a few inches, they can also add feet or hooks so you can suspend it, the 600 dollar setup comes with 2 150 hqi's @ 10000k, 2 55 watt pc actinics, and 2 36 watts pc 10000k shippin isn't too much either, from california to chicago it was about 40 bucks

 

[Anonymous]

If your not lookin for corals and such save some money go to Marinedepot.com and purchase yourself the custom sealife 48" 4 x 96 watt (384 watts)power compact setup. It's only 12" wide and will run the length of your tank. Plus it'll give you plenty of light for what you want to do plus some play room, and the best part they're on sale right now for $400.00 bucks. That gives you $200.00 clams for some little fishes to occupy your tank or what have you.

 

[Anonymous]

sorry that was the retro fit($400.00), the Full hood is $480.00 bucks.

 

[Anonymous]

go for halides, you won't regret the capability it gives you. anything else is rookie...

 

[reefsRcool]

have you looked at the guisemann nova II pendants? i just love mine