Need some ideas for lighting a five foot tank...

mr_alberta · #1 12-23-2010, 05:52 AM

You could always get a 5' Tek Light......

Dez · #2 12-23-2010, 05:55 AM

I have a 5' tank. I light it with 3 halides and 80 watt t5s. Works well.

The Grizz · #3 12-23-2010, 06:56 AM

Not to rain on your upgrade parade but who ever told you this hobby was cheap needs a kick in the nuts.

It is far from cheap but there are was of doing thing a little less expensive. I have been looking at getting some new MH / T5 lights and was told about this online store from a few members that have purchased from them. Worth a look at least.

www.aquatraders.com

hlywd · #4 12-23-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dez

I have a 5' tank. I light it with 3 halides and 80 watt t5s. Works well.

Do u have any pics of the setup? What brands did you go with, if you don't mind me asking? Also, how deep is your tank, and do you have any heat issues?

reefwars · #5 12-23-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlywd

Do u have any pics of the setup? What brands did you go with, if you don't mind me asking? Also, how deep is your tank, and do you have any heat issues?

All the info you could ever want on dez's tank is on the home page as his tank is tank of the month

globaldesigns · #6 12-23-2010, 04:07 PM

Look at the Hamilton Belize Fixture. I have the five foot model myself. It is a wicked fixture. Top quality as hamilton does, and very sexy looking.

I had JL bring mine in from the US, and I had it in about 7 business days, and it was only about $1080 for the fixture, bulbs, shipping (EVERYTHING IN). I got to choose the bulbs and the ballasts, I went with the 250W ballasts. Also comes with the legs or hanging kit.

Basically, it was a monster package and I didn't need to buy anything else. I would highly recommend this.

Here is the link to what I got: http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/it...g-Systems-1723

sphelps · #7 12-23-2010, 05:18 PM

A four foot fixture will work fine, if possible get one with halides that can be moved, that way you can spread them apart a little more to cover the tank more evenly. I ran a 4 foot on on a 54" tank and loved it, 3" more on each side won't make much difference.

Dez · #8 12-23-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlywd

Do u have any pics of the setup? What brands did you go with, if you don't mind me asking? Also, how deep is your tank, and do you have any heat issues?

Here's a link to the beginning of my lighting set up in my tank journal. If you keep reading on you'll see that I modified it from 48" to 60" later on and changed the middle light to a 250 watt. Gives you an idea. I have a full sps tank now, for more info you can also look at the Tank of the Month link. I have sps growing sitting on the sand bed and it's a 24" tank. Hope this helps.

hlywd · #9 12-23-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_alberta

You could always get a 5' Tek Light......

Is this a brand of light? What kind of light is it?

mr_alberta · #10 12-23-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlywd

Is this a brand of light? What kind of light is it?

A Tek light is a model of T5 fixtures made by Sunlight Supply.