Starting with the basics for my 72 gal reef tank.

[Katchupoy]

what is the size of 72 bow?

anyway... i think u are better off with vho's
but if you decided to go with pc's... get the aqualight
here... http://www.foryourfish.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/FYF-L-CFH3.htm?sid=1cdAk00mp2yG7lg-37104512941.d1
You don't need any hood with these... and probably you can add one more if you need be... back to back configuration...

and if youre going with retrokits go here....
http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm

try to compare prices... i've done these research last year so maybe there are sites out there that has better prices... but these sites are already proven.

if you go with any of these... you can easily adapt these to your future metal halide plan... good luck...

most combo's lights i see are MH+VHO's... so its up to you....

 

[Beeba]

My tank is 48" wide.

You said you would use VHO but you don't explain what the VHO will do tha the pc won't. The link you sent for the aqualight is the one the pet store told me I should get. The VHO/MH combos are great but I have a whole tank to set up and I need to watch the costs where I can. I guess I could always change my lighting options and sell what I have if it doesn't work for me.

 

[esmith]

Hello Beeba, I just wanted to chime in and let you know that if you should decide to go with the PC's, buying the retros from AH Supply is the best price. I have their 3 55watt retro and it's well worth the price, and the cheapest one I could find that sold the kit with the parabolic refletors, the only thing you'll have to order additionally are the light bulbs as they are not included.

In my opinion I would opt for the halides if you have the choice, you won't be regreting not having the capabilities to keep anything you want in the future.

HTH,

Eliyah

 

[reedman]

Beeba,

you aren't going to like the answer, but if you are on a budget and you want to set the tank up for long term success, save up for the equipment you will need in the long term. Buying something to get by until you can get want you really will need will only cost you more money.

This is a very exprensive hobby and there is no way around it. You save a few bucks here and there, but the initial cost is high to get setup for sucess.

All is not lost though. Look at it this way, you will need to get your live rock in your tank and cycle. This does not require the high lighting (more time to save up). You could also go with uncured live rock (less $$$) and let it cure and the tank cycle (even more time to save up and a few extra $$ to go toward good lighting). It wil take you a while to get the tank aquascaped the way you like it.

You can start with LPS/soft coral with VHO or PC, but plan now for the upgrade to MH. You will want MH eventually. Almost everyone does. By plan for it, I mean get a VHO or PC setup that can be mounted in a canopy with the MH, otherwise you will have to sell your lighting (for less than you paid) and buy a new setup for more $$$.

When choosing between PC and VHO you want to check on how often the bulbs need to be changed, how much they cost, how readily available they are, if they look the way you want them to look. You may want to look at the Icecap electronic ballast. I believe it will run VHO or PC, you just need to change the end caps. That way you could change later if you wanted without a large investment.

Good luck, keep patient and think of the advice you are getting as freinds trying to save you $$ and heartache that we have all gone through.

-Reed

 

[Katchupoy]

Beeba, I apologize if I got you confused...

difference between PC and VHO...

Well, it goes down to taste...

PC = - Some said they are brighter cpmpared to VHO's.
- Some said they brake more easily compared to VHO's
- If you want a descent look without building a hood... You can go with aqualight. Very nice casing.
- 2x96 is enough for you to start. Specially during curing times... You don't need that much lighting. Actinics can help.
- Softies and less demanding lps can be kept under 2x96.
- This can also be used for future upgrade such as MH. Dont need to sell. You will need this equipment to facilitate actinic supplementation.


VHO - been used and tested by many aquarist.
- they said that the actinics of VHO's cannot be equalled by PC's
- I think they are cheaper in terms of bulbs
- more expensive compared to PC's
- you can experiment with 3 different bulbs for color rendition... namely, Aquasun (redish/pinkish), Actinics (deep blue), and Daylight (50/50)
- You can also use this for future upgrade on MH so you dont have to sell equipment.
- like PC's you can keep a lot of less demanding softies and LPS.

Remember, either option, you are in good direction because you can use these for future upgrade. And like me, I've used my NO fluorescent bulbs for 1 year before I upgraded to MH. At least, within these period you can tell if you still want to continue the hobby or quit the hobby, because of who knows that you might face... maybe failures or the mere dedication in terms of time maintaining it.

You have to give yourself a chance to adapt to a very demanding and expensive hobby. And if you reach that one year breakin, you will now enter the period or point of no return. No turning back because you already give too much attention, time, and money to the hobby...

So start it right and light... if you want to quit after several months, thats fine... no major investments yet... And then you decide...

So here are the lists...

1) Tank and Cabinet(you already have)
2) Skimmer (the best you can afford...) Why? this one you use for the rest of your reefs life... resale value of this is high so theres no problem on selling it used.
3) Salt
4) RO/DI (very important and easily overlooked)
5) Liverock and baserock. (multiply no of gallons to 2....so 150 lbs - suggested)
6) Maxijet Pumps...(these are incredible small pumps...)
7) Heater... (min two 200 watt)... they said go with titanium (nothing to break)
8) Patience (lots of it....)

Optional
9) Sumps/refugium - so you can maximize volume of water capacity
- you can also put misc. equipment here such as heaters, etc.
10) Big Pump - to drive the water from the sump to main tank (also the 11) quietest you can find )
12) wavetimers - (for more diverse water movement)
13) Top-off system (for replacement of water evaporation)
13a) Temperature controllers - such as Ranco. two stage to control the heater on the lower side and fans on the higher side.

Point of No - Return
14) Calcium Reactors - for calcium supplementation
15) Aquacontrollers - for monitoring and controlling of different devices such as PH, ORP, Temp, Fans, lights, and many other gizmos...
16) Metal Halide lighting - at least two 250 watt 10k ushios (depend on owners taste for color temperature.)
17) Second tank for propagation....