Dustin Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 got the tank now trying to figure out lighting hoping to keep it rlatively cheap so used stuff would b good but t5, MH, LED i know t5 will penetrate shallower and led r expensive but mh are bulky and hot and expensive so what r some suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Mh is probably not a good option for a 40b, unless you put one that can cover more than 2 feet. Most of them cover well about 2 feet. You could also have heat issues if you don't have a cooling system for it. T5 are a good option. It is not true that they penetrate less deeply. You have to get a good unit with individual (good quality) reflector and active cooling. It will perform like a mh. Probably more because you can opt for one with 36 inches bulbs. Led's are a good option, as you said they can be expensive. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 that helps for sure ive seen some glo t5 retrofit kits for 50 bucks a piece would that b effective if i got some reflectors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Post a link of the fixture. I doubt you can find something good with $50, but you never know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titus'reef Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I know the fixture you are talking about. They are bulky and if you would like to add more lights than there will be room issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titus'reef Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 never mind. i miss red the post. i taught you are talking about the fixture. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 http://www.opentip.com/Pet-Supplies/Hagen-Glo-Retrofit-High-Output-Electronic-Fluorescent-Lighting-System-p-1545823.html i i think this is the 48" but they also sell a 36" its a little lower wattage i belive also tat2d gave me an idea yesterday i mentioned emily and i were looking for lighting and he suggested setting the tanks up side by side on the same stand and running mh over the pair is that something that would b achievable with two mh and possibly some t5's i have clays setup in my mind he has an mh on either end of his 210 and runs like 8 t5's between them also i have a hundred gallon tank thats all scratched up i may use as a sump and it would fit perfectly under the two 40bs any opinions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 How about 3 or 4 par38 LED bulbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 im not sure what par 38 bulbs r and would that b instead of the rest of the lighting or an addition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Googs Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Posted the same question about the par38 in the potential group buy...I'm interested to see if anybody has done that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 i looked up par38 leds the cheapest ones are $34 and the aquarium one i saw was $119 at that price i may aswell have upinder build me an adjustible led fixture haha which im not completely against if im gonna b spending the same money on something else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tat2d Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 i belive also tat2d gave me an idea yesterday i mentioned emily and i were looking for lighting and he suggested setting the tanks up side by side on the same stand and running mh over the pair is that something that would b achievable with two mh and possibly some t5's i have clays setup in my mind he has an mh on either end of his 210 and runs like 8 t5's between them also i have a hundred gallon tank thats all scratched up i may use as a sump and it would fit perfectly under the two 40bs any opinions my apologies, Dustin. I forgot the 40 b is 3 feet long. 2 halides probably wouldn't be your best bet. If you have to start from scratch, I think t-5s would be the most cost effective and efficient way to go. You can grow pretty much anything under em, and not nearly the power and heat issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 ok sounds good right now i have 3x 48" 2 bulb t5 fixtures and emily has the fixture with 4x 48" t5's and the 2 metal halides in the middle (we both had 48" tanks in mind when buying lights) would some combination of these b ok im thinking of building a canopy that fits over both tanks but idk maybe itll b easier to just do seperate lighting over each and use a smaller sump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I run a 6 bulb t5ho tek sytem and couldnt be happier an get phenomenal growth on top of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 my only snag at this point with the lighting is everything i have is too long and shorter stuff is hard to find used it seems like so buying new im thinking if i go that route im gonna do a diy led if its gonna end up being around the same i like the look Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwenReefin Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I have a single hqi mh and two 36" t5's over a 40b and it gets great coverage and growth. I run a single computer fan on the top, temp hasn't fluxed so far. Weather has sucked though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyInside Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 This light fixture seems to work well and is on the cheaper side as it goes for brand new http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife_Lunar_Aqualight_T5_Lamp_High_Output_Fixture_24_Inch_T5_Fluorescent_Light_Fixtures-Coralife-ES08604-FILTFIT54U-vi.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 ive been researching it for a couple days and for less than 300 i could build a dimmable LED fixture so unless some one wants to sell me a good lighting setup for cheap i think im gonna go with LED's i now just need to save some money up i appreciate everyones input and advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 ive been researching it for a couple days and for less than 300 i could build a dimmable LED fixture so unless some one wants to sell me a good lighting setup for cheap i think im gonna go with LED's i now just need to save some money up i appreciate everyones input and advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwheeler Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I am running two GLO ballast with 4 36" t-5 over my 50 which has the same footprint as a 40b just a little deeper. I like them and my coral do to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 thanks wheeler perhaps i will buy a couple retro kits to hold me over i still have a few months probably before i can get it up and running so i have time to think about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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