what kind of lighting do you have?

[Invigor]

I'm just looking for what people are running for lights around here and if you're satisfied. Information I'm seeking are as follows

Size of tank: ex. 105 gal, 60Long x 20Deep x 20tall

Lighting schedule: how long are lights on, do you have a dawn/dusk period or just bathe them with everything you've got?

Light style: normal output flourescent (t8), high output flourescent(t5), very high output (vho t12), power compact flourescent (pc), metal halide (mh).

Light power: 4x40w NO, 2x96 watt PC, 2x250w MH, etc.

If you're running NO: what combination of bulbs do you use? cool white 4100k, actinic, daylight 6500k? what bulbs, where do you get them, and how much?

If you're running HO t5s: what combo of lamps, what ballast, etc?

If you're running VHO: what color temp of bulbs, what ballast(s) do you use?

If you're running PC: 10k,actinic,50/50, diy or "off the shelf" setup?

If you're running MH: what bulb, who makes it, what color temp? what ballasts, how big, style (hqi, eye, pulse, tar)?

And a small opinion of your lighting system. are you happy with it, what do you like about it, what don't you like about it? what would you have instead if you're not happy with it? and how do your corals (given you have them) react to your lighting versus your last setup (again, give you've had a previous)

Thank you for your time.

[shawn lipon]

i run a new Hamilton protostar 48" with 2x 250w hqi 10,000 and actinic t5s.I upgraded all ballasts to electronic.it has the hammertone reflector upgrade.I run the actinics from 11am till 2amThe halides run from 1pm till 10 pm(9 hrs only) there is a 3 hr dawn dusk.i have no moonlights( i like but couldnt get).the hood has 2 fanswhich blast.The bulbs are about 7 in from water.the hood has a uv glass and i also use the glass top of my tank.The light has created absloutely no heat to water.

Ive found that my acropora i had under 2-220w pcs(440w) the ugly brown most turn changed dramaticly when i got new light. tri color is now actually 3 colors white,deep blue tips, neon green polyps and growing. My montipora digita is growing many new arms at a rate of about 1cm/month.My montipora capricornus ,trumpets,mushrooms,star polyps, xenia,etc(and myself) all love the new light .I believe that to not have to worry about having enough light for sps/lps you will want to go with at least 250w hqi .im happy i did!For years i underestimated light value.
Although i have no moonlights i have a nice long am and pm actinic period.The t5s have a nice blue and make my corals glow in the dark.I enjoy my tank just as much in this light.I am more than happy with light.I got it from rick(cmas) for a great price and local.(Ive never seen a decent light for sale inregina before cmas).I would recomend this light to anyone .you are welcome to see my setup just pm

[jasonkozey]

Shawn's setup, John, is definately worth seeing!!! PS thanks for the xenia Shawn it's now doubled in size!

Jason

[shawn lipon]

thanks jasonanytime!!!!!!!!! i mean it if anyone anytime wants to come see the setup great.i was helped by seeing others like rick johnston ,joe,gary,tang,orion basically everyone from the club whos tanks i got to see and their ideas have basically built it.just pm me and you can come.no prob

[Stasher]

I just purchased my new retrofit kit for my 125 today.
My tank is 60long by 24deep. I just upgraded my tank so I only have 4 40w NO bulbs on it right now and desperately needed the upgrade.
I ordered the PFO lighting MH/VHO retrofit kit.
The kit includes full reflector and socket assembly for 2 48" VHOs and 2 250w SE MH. I went with 10K bulbs for the MH and the 110w URI super actinics. The tank will have a total of 720watts of lighting and I can't wait.
It will hopefully be here by the weekend. I will post pictures once I have it installed.

[march]

Bought an off-the-shelf from CMAS. The fixture is a 48" Coralife PC 2x 10k@65W and 2x 6700@65W. We use timers we bought at Walmart and a power bar. The actinics come on 1hr before and go out 1hr after the 10k. Our tank is 48"l x 18"d x 13"w. The lighting seems adequate for our livestock. Everyone is fat and growing. Speaking of lighting, is anyone into moonlight? No not the hand holding romantic kind. I've seem some set-ups on e-bay and something called a Lunar Tracker, suppose to simulate a 29 day lunar cycle. Is moonlight worth it? Afterall, we try to replicate everything else.

Ian

[Invigor]

they're only LED lights..you could probably rig your own setup for cheap from radioshack..I believe there's a store on ebay that sells the LEDs for $3 a piece or something? As for the lunar pattern replica, maybe find an engineer friend to make some hardware/software combo for you ;) or just leave them on all night for 3 weeks and off for a week.

[Music]

I currently run a 250watt 14k Hamilton built, "ReefSun" unit.

This is over my 30gal tank. So 8.3 watts per/gal.

Plus two Hagen "Marine-glo" Actinic. 24watt I think.

So over 9 watts/gal and I don't really have much in there.



Montipora Capricornus? Spelling. Orange frag, and Purple frag

Ricordia- Green and a Purple/Blue one

Green Star Polyps

Green mushroom

Donut Coral- Orange/Pink

That’s it.



Percula clown

Bi-color Blenny

1 Zebra hermit

Sand Sifting star

Assort. Snails



I haven’t been getting anything for it because I’m not sure what to do when I go to school here in September. Going to Siast in Prince Albert. I don't know if I will sell it off or what.