[Speedy]

FYI I ended up going with the H4 Solaris for my 150. Great light penetration with the tall tank. Love it!

[NYreefNoob]

ok my turn, with a tank that size go ahead and spend the mmoney, either the orbit or coralife have a nice mh set-up. if you plan to keep clam's or even think there's a possibility that you might do some sps down the road then get the 3 250 mh set-up with a tank height you have and then another 6-10" of light's off the water you really will need atleast the 250w. spend the money on proper equipment and spend once. the 4 main thing's in keeping a healthy and successful reef is. #1 waterflow #2 tank maintnance. weekly water change's and keeping level stable. #3 skimmer, and last but not least lighting. i wasted i dont know how much money not wanting to spend the little extra for good equipmentand ended up buying sub-par stuff to only end up buying the right stuff later. i personally like t5's but i also dont have the tank height you do. my tank run's me about a $100 a month or a little more. as for a controller for light's ect. neptune has a really nice set-up. invest in a phosban reactor and a few other thing's. initial money should be spent on equipment and once you have a proper set-up then spend on coral's. this is a hobby of patience. here's a few shot's of my tank. here's a link to my tank blog copy and paste this link

my new 62 - Page 6 - Manhattan Reefs

[blu23girl]

I'm looking at a similar size tank, and wondering what you decided on the sump/refugium?

[sanjaypawar]

I have a big sump that holds the filter bag, live rocks, protein skimmer and feeds the UV sterlizer as well. Try to get as big a sump as space and money will allow because that gives you more evaporation margin besides holding everything in one place.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I hope this isnt the same light fixture from e bay that has an entire thread on a forum somewhere devoted to making the thing work right.

[sanjaypawar]

Noooop. This is as good as it gets.....At least that's what I would like to think. But the ebay unit should be alright as well and its at half the price.

[NYreefNoob]

it's like comparing apples to apples if it's half the price it's half the light if it isnt the same brand. and as for a uv light, i really dont recommend them. it kill's all bacteria which is what a reef tank thrive's on. proper maintanance and equipment take the need for a uv away

[sanjaypawar]

Thanks for the UV comment. I am just using UV like sunlight. So I have it running during the day and it turns off during night when the pods and other little organisms are active.

[Br14n55reef]

if your running a 180 id guess you have a sump? if so buy your self a 1/4 hp chiller no temp worries then..it's run's loud but if your spending 1200$$ on light's and thous on fish/coral's/live rock you might as well invest in a chiller. http://dr fosterandsmith.com they carry lighting and chiller's check it out.
Good luck

[sanjaypawar]

Brian:

I would like to get a chiller too. Its not the money. Its the noise levels that bother me. I mean with the return pump and chiller going at the same time Its gotta get a bit too loud. But I'll think about it. I think I'll have to get one because high water temperature is spurring algae growth which I wanna stop.