Your opinion on lighting...

[Urban.E23]

I have a 54 gallon corner tank I'm setting up for a Reef and fish, mind you I don't want to have to buy lighting again down the road anytime soon lol so I'm looking for something vercitile.. this is what i found on line...

1.Hamilton Technology Bell Pendant Metal Halide, 175 Watt, 14K
http://www.marineandreef.com/Bell_Penda ... a1-14k.htm

2.Orphek PR-25 (12 LEDs) Dimmable LED Pendants
http://www.marinedepot.com/Orphek_PR_25 ... LD-vi.html

3.AquaticLife 24" T5 HO 4 Lamp Fixture w/ Lunar Lights
http://www.marineandreef.com/AquaticLif ... l01035.htm

4.Nova Extreme Pro T5HO
http://www.petmountain.com/product//114 ... -t5ho.html

Thanks for your opinion
Eric

 

[Ben1]

Are you going to run any canopy on the tank?

Most standard canopy's are too short to have MH, since they would hold the bulb right on the water. With a higher canopy, I would go with a reflector like a Lumenbright, and get a Lumatek ballast. I personally love the look of the 14k Pheonix bulbs. With no canopy you might consider a sunlight supply lumenmax 2 if you want mogul or 3 if you want DE. http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supp ... 04328.html and again match it with a good ballast and bulb.

T5 does has some advantages IMO. One they add less heat to the tank, making cooling during summer months less of a factor. They also spread the light over the tank more evenly than halides. Also they really allow you to adjust the color output to your liking with all the assortment of bulks available. The trick with T5 is to have a fixture with single lens reflectors. IME contoured reflectors just don't get it done as well. I have used the current Nova extreme and they were ok. For a high quality, less expensive option you might consider a sunlight Tek T5 hood. I used one for years with much success. The bulbs that come in the novas are junk IMO, and since the Tek does not come with any you can start correctly right away.

I know less about LED's, although they do seem to have come really far lately. The advantages are clear, they last a long time, put out little heat, and from the par readings I have seen can match MH in intensity. I believe Anemonebuff anemonebuff-u3938.html has used many different LED lights. You may want to shoot him a PM and see what he has to say on them.

 

[Urban.E23]

Thanks Again Ben lol