Need help on lighting/

B

BigMonkeyBoy

I have a question to ask to the lighting gurus. I have these lights currently and would like to move to the halides but I want to know if the 54k jump is worth the price? I want to stay with the slim line unit because i have a matching canopy.

72" CORALIFE LUNAR AQUALIGHT w/six 3/4 watt moon lights

Item Description
Product Information: Lunar Aqualight Deluxe Series - Double Linear Strip Two 96 watt 10,000K and two 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue square pin base compact fluorescent lamps Six 3/4 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED lamps Three on/off switches with three 8-foot power cords for separate timers Built-in ballasts Two cooling fans Sleek aluminum housing Highly-polished reflector Acrylic lens cover Our state-of-the-art Lunar Aqualight compact fluorescent light fixtures incorporate the Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED 470nm light which creates rhythmic glitter and shimmering effects while promoting spawning cycles in corals and reef life. Backed by the proven quality of the Aqualight product line, these superb lighting fixtures allow you to Capture the Sun and now...the Moon.

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72" CORALIFE AQUALIGHT PRO

Item Description
Aqualight Pro - Professional Series Three 150 watt 10,000K double-ended HQI metal halide lamps Four 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue square-pin compact fluorescent lamps Four 1 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps Three external HQI metal halide ballasts with on/off switches, 12-foot lamp cords and 6-foot power cords Two on/off switches and two 12-foot power cords (one for two True Actinic 03 Blue compact fluorescent lamps and one for two Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps) Sleek, anodized black-aluminum housing Highly-polished reflectors Built-in cooling fan Acrylic compact fluorescent and glass lens covers Mounting Legs included Our revolutionary Aqualight ProTM light fixtures combine 10,000K HQI Double-Ended Metal Halide Lamps with True Actinic 03 Blue Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED lights in an ultra-sleek, fan-cooled unit that is only 2.75" high. The 10,000K HQI Metal Halide lamps provide high-intensity, purified super-daylight that simulates the midday sun. True Actinic 03 Blue lamps provide a blue light in the 420nm range that simulates the blue hue of deeper water. The Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED 470nm lights create rhythmic glittering and shimmering effects while promoting spawning cycles in corals and reef life. Backed by the proven quality of the Aqualight product line, these superb lighting fixtures allow you to Capture the Sun and now...the Moon.
 
It appears to me that you will jump quite a bit more in wattage, if I'm understanding your post.

You have a fixture now with four 36" PC bulbs now, and are looking at a new fixture that has four 36" PC bulbs as well as three 150w MH bulbs. So you'll be adding 450w of lighting to your current setup.

I'm sure it will look great, and using MH allows you more options when it comes to livestock. 150w MH aren't great for taller tanks, but if your tank is shallower or if you have a 4" DSB, it may work out just fine. Light-demanding livestock would need to be in the upper section of the tank.
 
Mark P. I think we have the identical setup. Right now I am running the 4 96W PC's. I am upgrading to the Outer Orbit lights (3 150WMH and 4 96W PC).

All on a 150 Oceanic RR. I have been wondering the same thing as well. But from lokking around at other tanks I think the the upgrade will be worth it, at least IMO. There are a things that I would like to keep that I can't currently due to the lights or I have to have everything at the top. At least with the new light I can have a greater choice of placement in the tank as well as being able to keep more than just mushrooms and other softies.

[edited: The number of MH should have been 3]
 
Here is another option for you to consider. I have a 72" Maristar fixture with 3 150 watt mhs and 4 39 watt T5s with handing kit for sale. Maristar fixtures are known to have one of the best reflectors in the business. This fixture is still new in the box. I have the 250 watt version on my 210 tank. I will not list the price in this post since this is not the Sale forum. I will be listing it shortly in the proper forum. Let me know if you would be interested.

Here is a link to more info on the fixture, http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aquarium/products/lighting_fixture-combo.shtml.

Here is a pic of my 250 fixture after just being set on top of my tank using the stands.

maristarontank.jpg
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Tremelle thanks for the offer and I see a great DEAL. But I can not use your unit. The Maristar is 4.75 tall and the Coralife is only 2.75 tall and I have a total of 3 inchs to work with so your unit will not work out.

Thanks again though.
 
If your tank is 26" tall, and you subtract a couple of inches at the top and the 4" of DSB, you are lighting 20" of water. I think that will work out okay. I believe you'll be able to put SPS and clams midway and up, but I don't think they'd do too well on the substrate.
 
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