40 gal w/sump

[Bergy]

the goal here is the 'efficiency' of the type of light fixture..

efficiency as measured by lumens per watt of electricity...

Power compacts are the least efficient... lots of electricity, not lots of lumens...

Metal halide is prety much top of the list as far as efficiency, but t5 is REALLY close... and yes, this will be debated by half of everyone...

the issue with halide is that they xmit a lot of thier heat through radiant heat... and t5 are a bit cooler...

so there is the pro and con...

both fixtures are heavily overpriced for our hobby...

[KYLE.801]

Do you have a link of something you could recommend me?

[KYLE.801]

what about something like this?  Am I getting in the right direction?  http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=AK01035&child=AK01036&utm_source=mdcsegooglebase2&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=mdcsegooglebase2&utm_content=AK01036

sorry for such a long link hehehe

[RandyFolds]

I would shoot for more lamps...at least 6x39w. I am telling you...go on the hunt for used gear. Type reef or aquarium or halide into your city's craigslist. You will find something if you are patient. Your other light would be fine in the meantime. Just don't stock anything light-hungry until you are ready.

[KYLE.801]

will do, thanks guys!

[psykokid]

Power compacts were the in thing 5 years or so ago. Now t5's seem to be the hot commodity. With a good reflector T5's will beat a similar power compact as far as light output per watt. Power compacts run hotter and use up more electricity. Halides run hottest and use more juice where t5's are on the other end of the spectrum running cooler and using less electricity.

that being said here's some pictures, because we all like pictures here:

Just 14K 250W Metal Halides:



14K Metal Halides + T5 Current USA 460nm Blue bulb:



Just t5 Blue Bulb:



The t5 supplementing at this time make it just appear a little more blue than with the halides alone, some of the corals fluoresce a bit more.

[Bergy]

not enuf mushrooms!!!!

[Learner]

Love the blue..... 8)
Tania.

[KYLE.801]

k guys I found a guy who is parting out his tank and he has 2x175w mh in a canopy fitted for my same size of tank.  What if i pick that up?  that would be good right plus they are already built in the canopy....let me know what you think.  oh and on the pics yeah you can see a difference t5's obviously look much better. I offered him 250.00 for lights and hood is that a good deal? 

[RandyFolds]

Good deal compared to new...ask how old the bulbs are. If they are more than like 8 months, figure you are dropping another $100 to replace the bulbs.

[psykokid]

x2 on how much run time are on the bulbs. How much was he asking for the canopy + halides? Depending on what kind of ballasts (magnetic or electronic) and bulbs (10K, 14/15K or 20K) and how old the bulbs are 250 could be fair. As the hard work of everything already being in the hood is done that makes sense. I was going to put 2 175's in mine, but i had a 250 watt ballast fall in my lap (ouch) so i decided to stick with one bulb.

[KYLE.801]

he replaced the bulbs in Feb so im going to see if he will actually go lower since the bulbs will need to be replaced.  He may want to sell just the lights with out the canopy cause he was saying someone might want the tank stand and canopy so if that is the case im going to ask if he will go even lower than 200.00 for just the lights.  Ill let you guys know!

[KYLE.801]

Ok guys so he is going to sell me just the lights because the other person wants the set up so im getting just the lights for 180.00.  Not bad I dont think!

[RandyFolds]

Nice.

[KYLE.801]

alright its a done deal I'm going to pick up the lights tomorrow.  Also I talked to my friend working on my tank he said it should be drilled this week.  Im getting pretty excited to get my tank home so I can paint the back black and see how im going to rig these lights since I dont have a canopy.  The stand also needs repainting which isnt that big of a deal just some stuff to keep me busy till I get some more money for the rest of the stuff hehe  ;).  My wife was like this better keep you happy for awhile and I was like hmm happy yes but content never! do I still want a bigger tank? of course!  but this is going to have to do for a bit.  Also pretty excited because our local forum here in Utah put together a reef tour for this coming weekend and there are some people here that have some pretty amazing tanks one person even has a 330 gal ray tank and another person if not the same( i cant remember) is putting together a 600 gal acrylic ray tank!!  So im pretty excited to go see some tanks and talk to some other hobbyists.  As always ill keep you guys updated and see if i cant get some sweet pics of the setups I see.