lighting a rimless deep blue 57 gallon aquarium

[maxwell]

I have been reading every piece of lighting information i can for about a month and I'm just torn over what to do. Lighting is the last thing i need to do for this aquarium and after doing all kinds of research and reading I would like to get some opinions of what others would do. First, I want to be able to keep anything and not have to worry about lighting. I started out looking at 36 inch metal halide fixtures, then I thought about building an LED arrangement myself...but would like to have dimming capability if i did that and dont know if i'm really up for that kind of build. So then I"ve looked at those aqua illumination fixtures but they are really expensive but just may be what I have to do. So I guess my question here is, given that cost is really not an issue within reason...what would you guys do? Buy a nice metal halide fixture and just bite the bullet on electric bills and bulb replacements...get involved in a somewhat extensive(to me) LED build...or pay for one of the expensive LED fixtures up front(aqua illumination or similiar). Thanks guys for any and all opinions on what you would do. Happy holidays

[kellerexpress]

I would do a nice 36" 6 bulb T5 fixture like an ATI sunpower, you will be able to keep whatever you want. You will even be able to grow sps in the sand bed, those fixtures put out alot of par! YOu will also have less heat than halides.

[maxwell]

Thanks Keller, I really didn't think about a T5 fixture...I figured with most people wanting to be able to keep a mixed reef with just about anything that it would come down to a decision between Halide or LEDs. I kind of thought T5s were on the way out along with PCs now that LED technology is rolling. Man...I still got a lot to learn I guess. Thanks for the reply.

[plainrt]

lol t5s arent going anwhere soon...........

[paneubert]

lol t5s arent going anwhere soon...........

 

Yeah. There are so many bulb combos and bulb manufacturers out there that T-5 is still really nice not just for the output they have but also the many options to tweak the look to be exactly what you need.

[Zo0k365]

I'm sorry to say that I think our trusty old halides are going to be the next to go after pc

[lizardfish]

+1 for the 6 bulb T5, cuz if u want leds later on you can take out 1 bulb and add a strip of DIY 24 royal blue cree leds for shimmer pop and sps color

[Sahin]

I would go with a 6 tube Ati Sunpower. Have a look at my thread, I converted my ATI Sunpower into a hybrid LED/T5 unit:

ATI Sunpower T5/LED Hybrid