[sanjaypawar]

Guys!

I just bought a 180gal tank (72x24x24) and some of the equipment. I now need to buy lighting and a sump/refugium. The plan is to build a full fledged Reef enviroment including different variety of Coral. I need a system that includes lunar lighting. How much, which MH lighting brand and from where should I buy? Also, is there a good controller/timmer that I can use to set up the lighting to change over a 24 hour cycle?

Final question about lighting. Can anyone by experience let me know what the power costs for running all the equipment for a 180 gal tank on a monthly basis?

Thanks,
SP

[reefdaddy725]

Well there are many ways to go about this but you need to elaborate a little bit. Are you going to do a retro kit? That means are you going to have a canopy that you install the lighting into or are you going to buy a one piece unit in any event you can go with halides, power compacts, or VHO's. I have a 125gal with 3 x 175 watt halides Usio Bulbs, 2 x 96 watt PC's for actinics and an led lunar string with 54 leds that I dim with the moon cycle. As far as the electric bill I can't really tell you how much it costs to run my tank as I heat a 500 gal hot tub along with all of my aquariums.

[blind1993]

yea well it will be atleast $50 a month

[jtravapd]

i have a 180 gallon, skimmer, 36watt uv, 3 mag drive 1200pumps, 5 maxi jet 900 powerheads, 2 250 watt heaters, a ground probe, and my lighting is really low i got a coral life powercompact lighting system, its like 500 watts total....and my bill is around 60 bucks more a month...

[jvharding]

Shopping Spree with SanJay. So far what we are looking at is the Coralife 72 Inch Aqualight Pro, 3x150W HQI MH Lamp + 4x96W PC + 4x1W Lunar LED These lights may be slightly weak Here is link:

Coralife Aqualight Pro Lighting Fixtures - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store=

This Unit looks good any feedback on these would be greatly appreciated

72" Outer Orbit 3x250 w/ T5 Lamps:

Champion Lighting & Supply :: Lighting :: Metal Halide :: Metal Halide Fixtures :: Outer Orbit HQI Hoods :: 72" Outer Orbit 3x250 w/ T5 Lamps

[blind1993]

i like th eorbit better for jsut no reason.

[jvharding]

The outer orbit looks more attractive because asceeroies included:

Each Outer Orbit HQI/T5HO fixture features PowerPaq 10,000K HQI lamp(s), SlimPaq T5HO Actinic 420nm & 460nm lamps, cooling fans, glass lens, German parabolic Powerwrap & hammertone reflectors, docking mounts, hanging kit and automatic timers. 150 watt fixtures feature internal electronic ballast HQI driving system, 250 watt fixtures feature remote fan-cooled magnetic ballast HQI driving systems.

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by jvharding

The outer orbit looks more attractive because asceeroies included:

Each Outer Orbit HQI/T5HO fixture features PowerPaq 10,000K HQI lamp(s), SlimPaq T5HO Actinic 420nm & 460nm lamps, cooling fans, glass lens, German parabolic Powerwrap & hammertone reflectors, docking mounts, hanging kit and automatic timers. 150 watt fixtures feature internal electronic ballast HQI driving system, 250 watt fixtures feature remote fan-cooled magnetic ballast HQI driving systems.

I like the one on ebay. There are over 200 good reviews about the product there and not one negative review.
Unless there is a fire hazard with a cheaper unit I think we (Jack) should go for it.

Guys, what do you think. Any reason why I should not get that unit.

Sanjay

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by reefdaddy725

Well there are many ways to go about this but you need to elaborate a little bit. Are you going to do a retro kit? That means are you going to have a canopy that you install the lighting into or are you going to buy a one piece unit in any event you can go with halides, power compacts, or VHO's. I have a 125gal with 3 x 175 watt halides Usio Bulbs, 2 x 96 watt PC's for actinics and an led lunar string with 54 leds that I dim with the moon cycle. As far as the electric bill I can't really tell you how much it costs to run my tank as I heat a 500 gal hot tub along with all of my aquariums.

It won't be a retro unit. Ideally I would like to get a single unit that has all the lights.

With your lights, does the system heat too much? What do you think about fire hazard? Is there anything that can be done as additional fire security measures?

[blind1993]

ummm keep a fire hydrent near by and try to keep it about 6 inches away fromt he water surface.

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by sanjaypawar

I like the one on ebay. There are over 200 good reviews about the product there and not one negative review.
Unless there is a fire hazard with a cheaper unit I think we (Jack) should go for it.

Guys, what do you think. Any reason why I should not get that unit.

Sanjay

Please E-Mail link for E-Bay

[e_baer]

jvharding, you should be a salesman for the orbit company.

[blind1993]

yep u should

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by jvharding

The outer orbit looks more attractive because asceeroies included:

Each Outer Orbit HQI/T5HO fixture features PowerPaq 10,000K HQI lamp(s), SlimPaq T5HO Actinic 420nm & 460nm lamps, cooling fans, glass lens, German parabolic Powerwrap & hammertone reflectors, docking mounts, hanging kit and automatic timers. 150 watt fixtures feature internal electronic ballast HQI driving system, 250 watt fixtures feature remote fan-cooled magnetic ballast HQI driving systems.

What was i thinking must of had dyslexic moment!

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by jvharding

Shopping Spree with SanJay. So far what we are looking at is the Coralife 72 Inch Aqualight Pro, 3x150W HQI MH Lamp + 4x96W PC + 4x1W Lunar LED These lights may be slightly weak Here is link:

Coralife Aqualight Pro Lighting Fixtures - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store=

This Unit looks good any feedback on these would be greatly appreciated

72" Outer Orbit 3x250 w/ T5 Lamps:

Champion Lighting & Supply :: Lighting :: Metal Halide :: Metal Halide Fixtures :: Outer Orbit HQI Hoods :: 72" Outer Orbit 3x250 w/ T5 Lamps

Jack:

I think I will go with the orbit light but I want to go with the 3x150 unit and not the 250 unit. I looked up and found that most corals and other livestock that need light need 3 watts per gallon at 760 I will over 4 times. Also have lower wattage will reduce the heat problem.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Sanjay

[mtfabel]

3 watts per gallon is only going to allow you to keep softs and a few LPS. I see that you bought a 180. And if yours is the same as mine then its 24" deep also meaning that you need more light to penetrate to the bottom of the tank. My lighting consists of 3x250w MH and 2x 160w VHO if you add that up and divide by 180 that is exactly 6 watts. 6 watts is bare minimum for SPS and clams.

[blind1993]

yea 3 watts per a gallon is not alot at all.

[jvharding]

This light SanJay will Only give you 4.6 Per gallon and is PC Lighting not T5

Champion Lighting & Supply :: Lighting :: Metal Halide :: Metal Halide Fixtures :: Outer Orbit HQI Hoods :: 72" Outer Orbit 3x150 w/ PC Lamps

The other light Is 6 watts per gallon and is the T5 with 250W MH It's your choice but clams and SPS are going to need the strongest lighting we can give them:



Champion Lighting & Supply :: Lighting :: Metal Halide :: Metal Halide Fixtures :: Outer Orbit HQI Hoods :: 72" Outer Orbit 3x250 w/ T5 Lamps

[blind1993]

yea he is right

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by mtfabel

3 watts per gallon is only going to allow you to keep softs and a few LPS. I see that you bought a 180. And if yours is the same as mine then its 24" deep also meaning that you need more light to penetrate to the bottom of the tank. My lighting consists of 3x250w MH and 2x 160w VHO if you add that up and divide by 180 that is exactly 6 watts. 6 watts is bare minimum for SPS and clams.

mtfabel:

My concern with the high wattage lights is heat and fire hazard. What has your experience been with the heat?:

Sanjay

[mtfabel]

I guess I should give you a little background on my setup so you can understand where my explantion is coming from. My tank has a 12" hood I have my light fixture sitting on top of it. Better yet Ill just show you. The light is the black thing on top with the little sticker on the left hand side. The whole fixture sits right on top of the canopy. I guess I cant make you feel any better about fire hazard except to say that my fixture never gets hot to the touch. As you can see I have a small fan on the right side blowing down in to my hood. That little 7 dollar clip on fan from walmart has made my tank temp drop from 85 during the day to no higher than 82 during the day. That is my story. So moral is that a cheap walmart fan can easily drop a 180 gallon tank temp by 3 degrees. Just imagine what 2 fans would do(if you needed to). I hope this helps you in some way.

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by mtfabel

I guess I should give you a little background on my setup so you can understand where my explantion is coming from. My tank has a 12" hood I have my light fixture sitting on top of it. Better yet Ill just show you. The light is the black thing on top with the little sticker on the left hand side. The whole fixture sits right on top of the canopy. I guess I cant make you feel any better about fire hazard except to say that my fixture never gets hot to the touch. As you can see I have a small fan on the right side blowing down in to my hood. That little 7 dollar clip on fan from walmart has made my tank temp drop from 85 during the day to no higher than 82 during the day. That is my story. So moral is that a cheap walmart fan can easily drop a 180 gallon tank temp by 3 degrees. Just imagine what 2 fans would do(if you needed to). I hope this helps you in some way.

Thanks for the info. That definitely gives me a great perspective (also the picture).

Sanjay

[blind1993]

yea nice pic

[Speedy]

just remember for the aquarium with more height you will need a larger bulb. I think the 250 would be a better choice. I have a 150 gal aquarium and I'm currently looking at lighting also.

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by Speedy

just remember for the aquarium with more height you will need a larger bulb. I think the 250 would be a better choice. I have a 150 gal aquarium and I'm currently looking at lighting also.

You should hold off on the lighting. I still think 250 watts run too hot. The 150Ws with T5 lighting should be alright. I mean there is not much research done about how much difference 1.4watts make. May be you run them a little longer? I am going to try and answer these questions when I have my tank going. But for now I already have bought the 250s. Well........