Dumb light question
- Thread starter Jag586
- Start date
Since they are halogen I don't know how well they would work. I do know they get very hot.
It doesn't give a k rating on the one I saw, but I don't think it would make the tank look good. I would think if it did work they would be widely used since the bulbs were 7 bucks.
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It doesn't give a k rating on the one I saw, but I don't think it would make the tank look good. I would think if it did work they would be widely used since the bulbs were 7 bucks.
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Doing some more reading, halogens are useless for plants, which means even more useless for a reef.
You have a few options already stated. What are your tank dimensions?
T5s- the lfs owners had 12 bulbs over their 125. You're going to need at least that. Check out prices for 36" bulbs and figure that up for once a year replacement.
LEDs- cheaper in the long run
Halides-cheapish up front, not long term
Solar tubes- not cheap or perfect, but cool.
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You have a few options already stated. What are your tank dimensions?
T5s- the lfs owners had 12 bulbs over their 125. You're going to need at least that. Check out prices for 36" bulbs and figure that up for once a year replacement.
LEDs- cheaper in the long run
Halides-cheapish up front, not long term
Solar tubes- not cheap or perfect, but cool.
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So could I do two rows of 10 x 30 inch t5 I saw them for 12 bucks online so I'm looking at about 240 dollars just in bulbs but id need the ballast too... would led be much more I'm thinking a 5 foot heat sink wouldn't be cheap
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And reflectors and a way to mount all of them.
You don't have to get a 5 ft heat sink, smaller heat sinks with the right optics will work.
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No you don't. You just need to do a little leg work. If I had a canopy and a 200G tank, I would run a combo of T5s and LED. Lighting for a 200G reef is not going to be cheap any way you slice it but you can save a considerable amount by going the DIY route.
Here are some very good quality "ready fit" T5s. You can get them in various lengths. These are install, plug and play but you will need a ballast and bulbs. Note that this is for 2 bulbs and I think you would need 8 to 10 total to provide decent lighting with T5s alone (less if you supplemented with LEDs)
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/t5.../36-2x39w-tek-2-t5-high-output-ready-fit.html
Other option is retrofits. This would light up pretty much the whole tank and provide you with plenty of options for coral placement. You would need to add bulbs and a ballast to this as well.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/t5...-8x39w-tek-2-t5-high-output-retrofit-kit.html
Whether you want to add LEDs and how far you want to go with them (dimmable, versus non-dimmable, etc.) you should call RAPID and tell them what you are trying to do. They can put together a package to get you a price range.
http://www.rapidled.com/
Here are some very good quality "ready fit" T5s. You can get them in various lengths. These are install, plug and play but you will need a ballast and bulbs. Note that this is for 2 bulbs and I think you would need 8 to 10 total to provide decent lighting with T5s alone (less if you supplemented with LEDs)
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/t5.../36-2x39w-tek-2-t5-high-output-ready-fit.html
Other option is retrofits. This would light up pretty much the whole tank and provide you with plenty of options for coral placement. You would need to add bulbs and a ballast to this as well.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/t5...-8x39w-tek-2-t5-high-output-retrofit-kit.html
Whether you want to add LEDs and how far you want to go with them (dimmable, versus non-dimmable, etc.) you should call RAPID and tell them what you are trying to do. They can put together a package to get you a price range.
http://www.rapidled.com/
