180 Gal lighting advice

[Glenn E King]

I am setting up a 180 Gal in my family room. I would like adequate light but also want to minimize noise and don't want a canopy.
Dr Foster and Smith has a lighting sale

I intend a mixed reef and would like as much flexibility as to coral types and clams as possible.

Outer orbit pro 762 watt 3-150 MH, 8- 39 T5s, 24 moon lights$879.00
Outer orbit pro 1062 watt 3-250MH, 8-39 T5s, 24 moonlights $1062.00
Aqua Pro 834 watt 3-150MH,4 -96 ,4 moonlights $986.00
Aqua Pro 1134 Watts 3-250MH, 4-96, 4 moonlights $1262.00
Outer orbit 834watts 3-150MH, 4-96, 8 moonlights $849.00
Aqualight 942 watts 3-150MH, 2-96 $1104 ( mogul base lamps )

Any opinions?

 

[RayD]

Depending on the type of corals you're looking to keep I wouldn't do 150's in a 180g / 24" deep setup. Clams won't do that good for you. I'd hit the 250's.

 

[Arthur1]

Ok did a quick search for you since you like the t5 actinics..
Hamilton triple 250s with 2, 80 watt T5s 899.99
you can get either 10ks or 14ks
All enclosed, works very well and is a "name brand" lighting system

 

[Glenn E King]

Vendor?

Thanks

Vendor?

 

[Chris Lengyel]

Outer orbit pro 1062 watt 3-250MH, 8-39 T5s, 24 moonlights $1062.00

This is probably your best bet, but you will have to keep clams and SPS corals in the top 1/3rd of the water column. In my 180, I had the stock All Glass oak hood and installed 3 - 250w ushios with parabolic reflectors and 4 - 55watt actinic power compacts.

If you step up to 400s you can keep anything anywhere, plus I think clams look better on/near the bottom. Plus you get a better viewing angle.

 

[dakar652]

there's a guy with 1 400 watt retro kit in hartford right now...not enough for the WHOLE tank persay, but 1 400 watt in the middle and 2 150/250's one on either side would give you the BEST light. but then...you'd have to hang these if you don't want a hood...ugh...i guess there's no simple solution other than buying a really expensive strip light.

 

[SteveDola]

This is probably your best bet, but you will have to keep clams and SPS corals in the top 1/3rd of the water column. In my 180, I had the stock All Glass oak hood and installed 3 - 250w ushios with parabolic reflectors and 4 - 55watt actinic power compacts.

If you step up to 400s you can keep anything anywhere, plus I think clams look better on/near the bottom. Plus you get a better viewing angle.

he wouldnt have anyproblem keeping clams on the sand bed if he ran 3x250 with 8 T5s. plenty of light for any coral. imo a set up like that would be ideal. ive never owned or researched outer orbit so I cant speak to their craftmanship. Ive heard and read good things about Geismann however they will prolly be more cashola. when buying a light always look at the reflectors used and ballasts.

 

[RayD]

he wouldnt have anyproblem keeping clams on the sand bed if he ran 3x250 with 8 T5s. plenty of light for any coral. imo a set up like that would be ideal. ive never owned or researched outer orbit so I cant speak to their craftmanship. Ive heard and read good things about Geismann however they will prolly be more cashola. when buying a light always look at the reflectors used and ballasts.

I can speak on the Geisemann as I own one and we sell them at the store. Excellent product! Very expensive but outstanding ballasts and an outstanding light.

There's alot to be said about the quality of the ballast. I wasn't crazy about the Hamiltons which I ran for a couple of years.

 

[SteveDola]

yeh i didnt like hamiltons that much either. Id go with a PFO before them again.

 

[Dragon2115]

While Geisemann is a great light, I own the 230 Eco (Basic fixture with three 250W 14k MH), their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. I've called about a buzzing lamp in the fixture, left a message with them, and haven't been able to get a response from them. On the positive side the fixture does seem to produce quite a lot of light while only using a very small reflector. I have it hanging about 9 inches above the water of a 180 and it's impressive how well it lights up the bottom. I should get on the list for the light meter again and see how it's performing in comparison to the retro pendants on my other tanks. That would give me some hard numbers to go by.

 

[okuma2977]

i bought the coarallife aqua light 3x250w hqi -4x96w power compact and 4x1w led blue light its great no probs at all........ i have a 210g reef in progress