Help I'm new

J

jUlitOc13

New member
Hi everyone I'm new 2 this I just got a 65 gallon tank w no lights what u guys would recommend me 2 use something good but not 2 xpensive I want to add some corals thx in advance!
 
Depends on whats expensive and whats not expensive ..

if you are thinking $200 is ok but $300 is expensive then id say dare and jump for $300 it would help you in long term :)
 
I'll put dimension on my tank a lil later rite now I'm at work! What do I look on the lights how do u call them I don't know anything abt them sorry guys!
 
Looks like metal halide light. They get very hot and will raise the temp. On a 49inch tank you will prob need at least two LED fixtures if you go with LED. How much are you trying to spend on lighting..
 
Welcome to the site.

When looking for a light, the best thing to do is to come up with a dollar amount of the most you want to spend and then start looking. The best advice I can give you is to buy something that's commonly used by folks in the hobby. Looks at some build threads that are the size tank you have and also contain the same types of corals you want to keep. See what kind of lighting they're using and go from there.

One other piece of advice, which pretty much everyone on here has experienced at one time or another is to buy it once. What I mean by that is to make sure that if say a pump costs $100 but you find one that may not be as good for $60, save another $40 and buy the $100 one. I've spent so much money on things because they were "cheaper" and ended up getting the higher end piece of equipment a few months later because it broke or never worked right.

Good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to search and if you can't find your answer go ahead and start a thread. There are plenty of knowledgeable folks on here that can help.
 
that tank actually sounds sounds more like a 75, right? a 65 is usually a 36" tank. never seen a 49... but anyway I would agree and say what is your budget for the lighting? There are some other things to be considering as well, what type of filtration do you plan on running? what kind of corals do you plan on owning? this hobby can get expensive quick, and it really never lets up.
 
What's wrong with that light?

Get a fan to blow over the sump, and for a few bucks you got some of the best lighting out there, not to mention we live in Chicago, unless you keep your house at 80 in the winter, but even so one MH that's either 250 or 150 won't kill your tank or raise it too much. I don't see the problem with that light?
 
I for sure agree with Gary, I would have been glad to start out with that fixture. But, if I had only a few dollars to spend I would definitely look hard at a four bulb T5 ho unit from aquatraders.com made by odyssea. On my last setup, which was a 75 I had a 48" four bulb unit positioned about 4 or 5" above the water line and it grew soft coral and basic LPS at what I think was a decent rate, and T5 gives awesome coloration. I can tell you this, my first tank was as DIY as possible so I know I is possible to do this on a tight budget but it can be done.

Is your tank reef ready?
 
Gary said:
What's wrong with that light?

Get a fan to blow over the sump, and for a few bucks you got some of the best lighting out there, not to mention we live in Chicago, unless you keep your house at 80 in the winter, but even so one MH that's either 250 or 150 won't kill your tank or raise it too much. I don't see the problem with that light?
Click to expand...
+1

Get a fan and run the halide. I've got a 250w halide sitting about 10" above my 29 and i have no heat problems or problems with my coral.
 
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Halides work but are expensive.

Qualiry LEDs are less expensive in the Long Run

Chinese LEDs Work but good luck two years later.

The Bottom Line is Reef Keeping is not cheap and those that go the cheap route... wind up spending more in the long run.

Bill
 
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