Show your lighting Systems

[Krish]

I thought it would be cool if we would post pics of our lighting sytems and state what type you are using on what size tank for those trying to make decisions on what lights to go with for their setups. I think it could be very beneficial for those new to the hobby. I'll go first


This is the lighting I had on my old 75gal using a dual PFO 250w PFO retro kit with 20K XM bulbs. I also used 5 fans (3 sucking air out of the top of the canopy and 2 blowing in cool air across the tank )

















Here's the lighting I had over my 38gal cube which was a PFO 250 watt pendant driven by a PFO ballast and 14K Hamilton bulb (I used 2 fans blowing cool air across the water and had 2 vents at the top of the canopy for exhausting hot air out)

 

[burning2nd]

 

[Krish]

Here's one more for smaller tanks. This is the Current USA 70w HQI MH fixture with 14K powerpaq bulb and 6 moonlights (3 blue and 3 white) over my 24gal Aquapod

 

[The Apprentice]

First Tank lighting for me

Ok Krish this was my first tank lighting set up I wanted to keep "every thing" and back when i set this up I don't remmeber things like spider fixtures & such It was alot$$$ but It has over 2 1/2 years of use no fans have quit or any problems with the Ballast's In this picture you see it with 3 each 250 watt mH HQI ballast with 20 K Raduim Bulbs on the out side with a 10K Ushio in the center It also has 2 each 72" long 160 watt VHO's with Super Actinic Bulb's.
I really like the 95% reflective Reflector focus's light into the tank. this seems to be hold up quite well on my fixture.
This quote from PFO is what sold me: cover shield between the lamp and the aquarium?

"Metal halide lamps produce a large amount of UV and also have a potential of exploding. The single ended metal halide lamps have an outer jacket which eliminates most of the UV. However, they have an inherent risk of exploding and UL requires metal halide lamps to be enclosed. On double ended lamps there is no UV shield. Double ended lamps must have a glass shield or major eye injuries including blindness may occur. "
Anyway here is a picture..Jeff

 

[Krish]

Thanks for chiming in Jon and Jeff. I'm hoping if we get enough pics in here, I could add the link along with a few helpful others to the New to Reefkeeping forum under my sticky

 

[Reefbound]

This is my hanging Nova extreme 8 x 54 unit... Hanging you say,they dont make that...

DIY, buy a Aqualight plus/pro suspension hardware kit and drill two 1/2 inch holes as close to the ends as you can and wala thats it,add the hanging kit and your done.

This light unit is on a 75 gallon reef tank.

 

[sryder]

krish, what did you ever do with that 75 hood? it would look realy nice on my 75.

 

[Krish]

This is my hanging Nova extreme 8 x 54 unit... Hanging you say,they dont make that...

DIY, buy a Aqualight plus/pro suspension hardware kit and drill two 1/2 inch holes as close to the ends as you can and wala thats it,add the hanging kit and your done.

Nice!!! I like how you have it set up!

krish, what did you ever do with that 75 hood? it would look realy nice on my 75.

I sold it with the tank Steve

 

[Reefbound]

Thanks Krish, I got tired of trying to work around that light because it almost covers the top of the tank at 14 inches and the tank is 18 inches. Now you can just prop it out of the way...also one of the easiest DIY project you can do if you have this light and its fully adjustable in hight...

 

[Krish]

Very cool...That should help some people alot!

 

[Sherman]

A great addition to any hanging light is Grip Locks. Very easy to adjust, even one handed.

http://www.griplocksystems.com/

 

[Sherman]

I'm running (2) PFO Mini-Pendants with 150w double ended bulbs over my 38g. The next bulb replacement, I plan on swapping out my Pheonix 14000K bulbs (too blue) for Hamilton 14000K and adding in a 96w Actinic 03 supplement.

And the tank:

 

[Krish]

Thanks for the pics and link Jason

 

[class clown]

Sherman, I know we're supposed to be focusing on your lights (which are nice by the way), but your tank is very eye catching too. Nice work!

 

[mfinn]

I am trying out some new lights for my 20 gallon zoanthid tank.
They are a pair of JBJ K-2 Viper 70watt de 14k bulbs. They are suppose to just clamp on the back of the tank, but I got a little nervous about that much weight and force on the back of a 20 gallon tank, so I made a frame that sits behind the tank that is fastened to the stand. Nothing fancy, just 3/4" x 1-1/2" pieces of wood, a little paint and a few screws.

 

[Krish]

Nice Martin! Thanks for adding in that pic. How do you like the Viper's? I've seen them a few times and they look pretty cool

 

[mfinn]

They are very well built for the price. It's a 14k bulb and I really like it. Similar to the Hamilton 14k
I like the way they can be adjusted for just about any height.
I did have a bad bulb in one, but a email to JBJ and a response back to me the same day had a replacement bulb in my mail box 3 days later.
They make these in the 150 watt flavor also.

 

[coil1002]

Ghetto fantastic

This is my 150 watt ghetto fantastic set up. In the canopy is a 55w o2 cfl.

 

[Krish]

They are very well built for the price. It's a 14k bulb and I really like it. Similar to the Hamilton 14k
I like the way they can be adjusted for just about any height.
I did have a bad bulb in one, but a email to JBJ and a response back to me the same day had a replacement bulb in my mail box 3 days later.
They make these in the 150 watt flavor also.

Nice...Thanks

This is my 150 watt ghetto fantastic set up. In the canopy is a 55w o2 cfl.

Ghetto fabulous!! I'm sure there will be tons of people mounting their lights that way

 

[coil1002]

Well it took care of the heat problem and the behind glass problem and it only cost 10 bux at wally world so between ballast bulb and reflector the set up only cost $80