55g lighting, need some advice

crmaykish · 02/05/2007, 01:39 PM

I am fairly new to the hobby and I have a 55g reef tank. I would like to eventually get some nice corals and maybe a clam. What exactly do I need as far as lighting? My tank is 48" long and currently has two 50/50 bulbs on it. I have heard Metal Halide, T-5, PC fixtures and moonlights. I don't really know the difference. If you could give me some options along with the limitations that go along with each one, that would be great. I don't want to spend alot of money, but I don't want to have to upgrade in the future.

Thanks.

GSMguy · 02/05/2007, 01:52 PM

Well if you dont want to upgrade later you should go for a 48inch t5 HO with individual reflectors like the Ati unit from reefgeek or the 48inch aquatinics fixture T5 is definetly the best choice for fexibility color and cost of running

GSMguy · 02/05/2007, 01:53 PM

To Reef Central

crmaykish · 02/05/2007, 02:55 PM

Thanks.

That's the advice I was given somewhere else and it's good to get it confirmed.

02/05/2007, 01:39 PM	#1
crmaykish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Central NY Posts: 2	55g lighting, need some advice I am fairly new to the hobby and I have a 55g reef tank. I would like to eventually get some nice corals and maybe a clam. What exactly do I need as far as lighting? My tank is 48" long and currently has two 50/50 bulbs on it. I have heard Metal Halide, T-5, PC fixtures and moonlights. I don't really know the difference. If you could give me some options along with the limitations that go along with each one, that would be great. I don't want to spend alot of money, but I don't want to have to upgrade in the future. Thanks.

02/05/2007, 01:52 PM	#2
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Well if you dont want to upgrade later you should go for a 48inch t5 HO with individual reflectors like the Ati unit from reefgeek or the 48inch aquatinics fixture T5 is definetly the best choice for fexibility color and cost of running __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

02/05/2007, 01:53 PM	#3
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	*To Reef Central* __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

02/05/2007, 02:55 PM	#4
crmaykish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Central NY Posts: 2	Thanks. That's the advice I was given somewhere else and it's good to get it confirmed.