BEST lighting setup for ~$250
 

I was looking at upgrading my lighting for my 20H. I currently have 65W of PC lighting. It is enough, but I would like more light. For around a budget of ~$250, what is the best lighting i could get? i was thinking maybe a 2x65watt Aqualight from J&L's or a CSL 2X65W with Moonlite.
They are both around $250 with the CSL being more expensive.
Does anyone have some good suggestions?
Thank you

had to make a similar decision when i was looking for lights. i went with the csl, since the fit and finish seems better, and it matches my setup (everything's black). you also get a bigger fan (80mm i think) compared to two dinky ones, the legs are included, and of course, you get the moonlights too.

how much did you gets yours for and where did you buy it?
how do you like it?

I run a single Aqualight on my 15 gallon nano, and a 2x96W Aqualight on my 50. Except for replacing the 36" Actinic with a CSL actinic, I am very happy with both. :biggrin:

What did you not like about the actinic that came with the aqualight?
Where did you find the best prices for the lights? local? online?
thanks

I just don't like any of Coralife's actinics, and that includes the 50/50. They seem to have no punch (par?) I just like the 96W actinic from CSL better. You can buy the lights at J&L, or MOPS. J&L's prices are considerably better. :biggrin:

Why not get a
Halide ballast (175 W) PFO from J/l $110.00
Halide bulb Venkiw 10K $40 ish
and a socket and reflector setup. From J/L $75.00

Should come to $225 + tax and shipping. All you would have to do is make a box for a hood to fit on the tank?

If i went with MH, wont i need actinic supplementation as well? which would add to the cost...
thx!

Nope, you don't "nee" actinic. It only serves to supplement blue when someone feels there bulbs aren't blue enough. But certainly not needed.

but it is usually desired to have actinic supplementation tho right? how blue is just a 10k bulb?
what about a VHO setup with a WH7 and 2 URI bulbs?

I have not been impressed with the blue of actinic bulbs either. I had the coralife single linear with the 50/50 bulbs not impressed with blue. I replaced it with a Hamilton retofit with 4 bulbs 2 10,000k and 2 7,000 actinic the actinic 03 might be better but. I have found no need for the blue. Doh I should have went with the metal halide like canadian man said.
Two 250 metal halide would have been sweet on my 45g
Any how when I get new bulbs it will be four, 10,000k instead of two of each.

so u have PC lighting now? and so, i am guessing the lower the color temperature (7000k) the more blue it is? and higher temp, the whiter it is?
thx

Not exactly its more complicated then that 6000 and 10000 is more like the briteness. 10,000 is suppose to simulate daylight a 6,500 would be less of the spectrum. Now different colours will peak at different k.
Ahh I think I confused myself.
Yes I went with Pc bulbs.
Maybe someone else has a simpler explanation. I was just saying I think theres no reoson for blue. Some species where suppose to need the blue but now they say its not needed
Anyhow a nice white in my opinion is better than the whit with blue tinge in my opinion.

so would you recommend a MH setup?

If I had to do it all over again I think that I would It cost me $400 for my hamilton retrofit kit which consists of 4 55w pc bulbs, reflector and ballasts in a box. It is 220w of light for $400 the metal halide canada man pointed out is $250 for 250w of light. A metal halide 10,000k bulb should be a nice bright white light which I like. I could have got two 250 w metal halide for same price haha 500w on my 45g tank fish could get sunburn.
I f you went with the MH you could sell the light you have and get a moonlight and be good. 250w on a 20 would be more than 10w a gallon.
I would like a moonlight that might be neat hmm.

any one have a used 175W MH setup for sale????

Sorry, that first part is not really correct, but rather that starting all over again, there have been a number of threads before, which explained "K", and "par" etc. Maybe look through the archives. :biggrin: