newbie needs advise about lighting

[ashidiq]

i need advise for my new 3feet tank for depth 2 feet. i am a student still saving hard for a good chiller so MH is out of question... can any pro please advise me a type of lighting suitable for a mixed reef but no sps ...

[ben]

T5

[alanseah]

hmm if going for LPS then T5 will be gd..

go for at least 3x 3ft T5.. then get a few fan to cool it down...

then at most u have to top water up..

if not go get a auto water top up device...

[Terryz_]

T5 would be the best choice other than MH...

[ashidiq]

oh thanks to both pro but how much is a T5 ? is it a have to buy the casing and the tube seperately ? i am currently using PL for my 2 feet ..... but from my reading i believe i can;t use PL again right ?

[hazkha]

how much does a T5 cosT?

[ashidiq]

yah a burning question in me too..

[freewill]

now that one of our sponsor Glare, is bringing in some good priced T5 tubes, you can consider DIY!

especially if it can fit directly into your hood... (DIY your hood also lah... pay a visit to Ikea, you should be able to find some planks there suitable to make as your hood)

To DIY:

1) Buy the e-ballast, you can try OSRAM, im using it currently... i was realised there's a website selling ... (however, have not called them to confirm the pricing.)

@ <$50

2) Buy endcaps (non-waterproof), tube holders(you may not need this), wiring from Sinter (SL Tower) not forgetting the 3-pin plug and 3-wire cable.

<$10

3) Buy tubes (Glare is offering a simply irresistable price!) and reflectors (think you can get arcadia ones, from Reb*rn)

Tubes: im getting the 24W (blue + white) $45

Reflectors: not sure how much, ~$30 per pair??? my guess...

4) Just hook up the wires to and from the ballast to your endcaps, just follow the wiring diagram, even a do-do, like me, can do it...

F.O.C

Previously, i realised that the pricing for DIY T5 is not really that much of a difference compared to buying a retrofit set...

However, now with the new T5 tube pricing from Glare, its really worth the DIY!

Note: i've not tested the tubes yet... but should be getting them sometime this coming week to test test... (am doing up my 2nd set of T5)

hope this helps...

[ashidiq]

freewill tanks a million for taking the effort to type so long .... keke thanks ... BTW hoe much does a retrofit set cost ? but use T5 need chiller ? i heard that i generates quite a lage amount of heat ...

[freewill]

freewill tanks a million for taking the effort to type so long .... keke thanks ... BTW hoe much does a retrofit set cost ? but use T5 need chiller ? i heard that i generates quite a lage amount of heat ...

eh, im using 2x24W now, not using chiller.

light is approx 5" above water surface...

retrofit set... you can check out eAN, sponsor website (online shopfront)

www.eaquanature.com

you should be able to find the pricing there... Or you can PM Edmund, im sure he will help you with more details...

[ashidiq]

u have to hang the light or comes with stand ? oic ..... thanks a million...then the tube must be one blue one white ?

[freewill]

u have to hang the light or comes with stand ? oic ..... thanks a million...then the tube must be one blue one white ?

if you DIY, then you must find something to hold the ballast, and tubes (of coz)... im using wooden planks as i DIYed my hood. Will be redoing my hood again, when i buy the 2nd set of T5... will show you some pix or you wanna join me to DIY? haha

if retrofit, you have to find a way to hang it (how to??? i also dunno, coz i got no $$ to buy retrofit... hahaha)

btw: the heat generated by T5 is lower than PL (for sure!) and is surely brighter.

tube: one blue and one white??? eh... not say 'must' lah... just that actinic blue brings out "COLOUR" in your corals and what have you...

it does make some 'visual difference'... however, its not a must (i may be wrong...)

[ashidiq]

i am interested to join u for DIY but u must teach ... and budget how much...???

[freewill]

i am interested to join u for DIY but u must teach ... and budget how much...???

teach??? just sharing of information lah... not teach. that's what SRC is for, previously, another member also took time to show me how to wire up the ballast. another even drew technical drawing for me! that's how sincere some of the ppl here are...

estimated budget is in the previous post already.. but this is only for the lightings! excluding hood... ~$120 +/- depends on what reflectors you want.

but you must ask Glare for his pricing of the 3' T5 tubes.

Doing the hood is the most troublesome part... i know where to buy planks, but its the cutting and drilling that's the problem, as i do not have the right tools.

When i drop by Reb*rn, will help you find the price for T5 reflectors (or maybe can go hardware shop find industrial light reflectors, lagi cheaper! but dunno how effective lah)

PM me your contact info... we'll try to arrange something next week.

Right now, i need to stop being lazy and start buying the parts... maybe if you keen, we go parts-a-shopping together!

btw: have you measured your tank?? you will need to know how big it is, to do up the hood... yours is 3' right?

eh, mine is a very rought end-product (not professional like some of the members here), maybe i should take some pictures of my existing hood first, at least you have some expectation level... haha

[ashidiq]

haha dun worry man ....looks doesn't always matter what matter the most is that it is good ! haha i have faith in u

[FuEl]

You might want to consider 2 x 150W or 1 x 250W MH...if they are D.I.Yed, they might actually cost cheaper and pack more punch compared to 3X39W T5 tubes (not forgetting the costs of the ballasts).

Most people would use MH for tanks that are 2 or more feet in height.

2 x 150W are not as hot as you imagine..esp if you elevate them some distance from the water surface, and provide a small clip on fan to blow the heat from the MH away from the tank.

You can consider that. I know of people running 150W MHs on their tanks without a chiller.