....and how about lighting? :)
 

Hi everyone,

Your notes of advice on substrate and RO/DI water were so helpful, thought I'd cast this one out there too...

Next step: Lights.

My tank is 81 gallons, dimensions 52x20(tall)x18, and I want to try SPS.

I was about to buy a 4-bulb 48" T5 fixture, but is that enough? Do I need 6 bulbs? Or can I get away with 4 since the tank's rather shallow?

And what about moonlight? How do I do that?

Someday, I might even buy a fish.

i would go at least 6 i had 4 on my 90 and hated it. if yu can fit it 8 would be perfectmy tank is long andnarro and i couldnt fit 8

I agree. Go with at least six. Not sure about the moonlight myself. I think they sell them as small separate units if you don't get a fixture with any.

I'm with you on the fish lol. I should get one of those things. After some more equipment maybe... :P

moonlights
 

you could always make your own moonlights or buy moonlight strips off ebay

I'm trying to talk the local dealer into bringing in a couple of these www.orphek.com less than 1/2 the price of Vertex units and without the fancy gimmics but they look promising, only been able to track down one review so far http://tinyurl.com/OrphekReview

I think that AquaticLife makes a 6bulb unit in the sizes you'd be looking for. Full electronic timer and moonlights.

Wow, the Orphek unit looks nice. Let me know if your LFS gets them in, and how much they are.

Are Aquaticlife lights any good? I think they are the ones that have the 2-bulb fixtures that can be hooked together so you can start small and add on -- a brilliant (so to speak) idea!

Have you given any thought to MH? I was considering switching to T5, but after seeing a T5 tank and not seeing the shimmer, I changed my mind.

I've got a 75 gallon I'm setting up, and want 6 bulbs...so I'm going with a 48" 2 bulb unit and a 48" 4 bulb unit from Fishneedit.com....still costs less that alot of the 6 bulb units out there and will fit nicely over my 18" wide tank.