Lighting Options

[HappyGeorge]

Okay people really need your help this is starting to send me into a head spin now. As you may or may not know I have a Godiva 37x24x24 coming soon (this week hopefully). I also was a silly boy and picked up a 2nd hand 60x24x24 Godiva yesterday (well I picked up one end of it!). The mrs and I have decided to make the 5 footer the marine tank and the 3 footer in to the new home for my Malawi. The problem now is lights......

...........I bought an ATI 6 x 39w unit which would be just fine for a 37" marine and complete luxury for the Malawi's, and I have no other lights. So question is do I just get some new lights for the 5 footer or use the ATI unit plus some extras, I don't know a couple of halide single lights or an LED array as well, and then get a little 2nd hand 3 foot light bar for the Malawi's? Any suggestions very, very gratefully received, sensible ones please as this project is getting very dear and I am working on about £400 for this if at all possible.

 

[woody88]

Why not build yer own mate!.............It would certainly be cheaper to buy the parts from an electrical wholesaler and wire them to lamp holders yourself via ballasts etc. Just get hold of a hood or some sort of metal base to fix it all onto and bingo!

I'm currently working on a small 2 half ft unit for my trop tank as i'm sick of the bleeding 6500k grow lux tube. But i'm planning something different like
GU10 lamps [Halogen and LED] as you can get a wide variety of colours and spectrums. Cheap to run, indivudually switched and dimmable and best of all, no control gear like you get with Halides,T5's etc.

 

[HappyGeorge]

Now that would be a great idea Woody if I was any good with lights, I really haven't got a clue where to start and the lighting options are mind boggling, I also have enough stuff to do just with trying to plumb these tanks and move stuff around, and no chance of any time off as at the moment I am already covering for a colleague and there are only 2 of us out of a tram of 6. I mean for example how many halide lamps do you need for a 60x24x24 tank? and what wattage? Then what is the equivalent in LED's? I think head torches for fish is the way to go.

 

[chr15_8]

Have you opened up the other ati light fitting?

If not could you not take it back and see if the could exchange it if you bought a 54w or a 80w version?

Ive just finished building my suspended light unit with 7x t5, built in moonlights and cooling fans and tbh it was a pain in the #14### to build and get how I wanted it.

Although it has more features than an ati fitting, if I had the option again I think I would go with the ati unit


1 last thing my tank is 59 inch long which meant the ATI fitting hanged over 1 inch in total. So you might want to consider the 54w, ive seen a few 5ft tanks with them over.

Edit

With the halides it depends what you want to keep? but i would imagine you would want 2x 250w. Ive never used halide so cant really comment to much

 

[woody88]

Now that would be a great idea Woody if I was any good with lights, I really haven't got a clue where to start and the lighting options are mind boggling, I also have enough stuff to do just with trying to plumb these tanks and move stuff around, and no chance of any time off as at the moment I am already covering for a colleague and there are only 2 of us out of a tram of 6. I mean for example how many halide lamps do you need for a 60x24x24 tank? and what wattage? Then what is the equivalent in LED's? I think head torches for fish is the way to go.

I dont think LED's could ever compare to halides in terms of light intensity as halides are the closest you will get to natural daylight brightness and strength of the beam through the water.
Obviously the amount of halides depends on the wattage and the height from the water level.

With tropical tanks you can play around more with the lighting and pretty much light it up any way you want without it effecting the fish too much. But with marines obviously you need the right light intensity for corals etc to thrive.

The prob with halides is that they are expensive to run, which is why people usually have T5's setup along side them to gradually bring the brightness up to full intensity and then back down again to simulate a natural day.
T5's are pretty cheap to run [once they've fired up] so could have the T5's come on in the morn and then stay on for around 10 hours with the halides only being on for around 4-5 hrs, in between. Once again to be as close as possible to the shift of intensity of natural daylight.

If I had your tank I would have 2 halides [low wattage] and around 4-6 T5's, suspended or built up about 18" above the top of the water level with the halides on for 5 hrs [less if I could] and the T5's for around 8 - 10 hrs, with moonlight LED strips on overnight with a 3 hour blackout.
Thats just my opinion and what I would do personally, but other people might not agree, but everyone has there own preference on tank lighting so as long as you take into account the cost of the light [to initially buy and run] and the right intensity/spectrum for your tanks inhabitants, and try and find a reasonable balance between them then your on to a winner.

Like I said, to buy the halide units and control gear seperatly wouldnt cost as much as to buy an actual aquarium lighting unit.

You could always buy an external halide fitting and just remove all the gear and fit to a metal base [Earth] then it will all be pre wired ready for you. All you will have to do is connect a 3 core 1.5mm flex to it with a plug on the end with a 3 amp fuse to a plug in timer. Cheap and simple!

............Blimey!..I ramble on!..........and probably none the wiser! lol

 

[HappyGeorge]

Thanks Woody, I was up to speed on most of that but hadn't really considered the cost of running the MH, did find an ATI copy unit on ebay last night T5 6 x 80w, or maybe this 6 x 54w, easier to get bulbs and would definitely sit inside the hood. Looks ok and certainly a darn sight cheaper than an ATI, I am assuming that as the 6 x 39 was sufficient for a 24 high tank that the 6 x 54 will be ok, not worried about the possible lower light at each end as my plan is to have one big rock pile in centre with room all round it. I have already opened the ATI as I needed it for my corals in the bath, what a shame. Still maybe someone would give me a couple of hundred quid for an ATI 6 x 39 with bulbs, thats only had a few hours use, although for that price may as well keep it for my Malawis.

I do have the issue that I really don't want brackets hanging off my wall, and it's going against an old fireplace so the width available for the brackets would be restricted, probably look very odd. I really want a unit to sit below the pelmet level even if I have to build some kind of frame to lift it away from the tank, which may mean I have to go for a smaller unit.

Trouble with a lot of this is that people will swear on forums that you have to have this light or that light and then others are keeping everything under T5's, I really need to do this bit on a budget as the massive blow out on Live Rock and unexpected tank at the weekend has really blown my budget out the water.

Think my wife may be ill though, she says we can use her bonus money to buy the light, she's either over the side, mental or slowly poisoning me.

 

[woody88]

If only everyone was a spark or had some electrical knowledge then all the lighting unit manufacturer would go out of business.
I can't understand how they can charge hundreds for a piece of metal with a couple of ballasts, a switch, and a few lamps. It's ridiculous.
Guarantee they wouldnt cost more than £60 ish to make.

Regarding lighting units mate, wether it's halides, T5s, T8s, LED's etc they gonna sting you on price.
Halides would be the most expensive to run. LED's the cheapest. T5's reasonable.

You don't have to have halides, you can stick with T5's, providing there's enough of them for that particular tank. Looks like either way your gonna have to spend doh so try and get a second hand unit and use that for your malawis and the ati for the marine. You could always upgrade/modify the unit eg higher rating ballast for more tubes/ higher wattage etc to accomodate the tank.

Make your own!................(whisper)...go on,.............try it! Lol

 

[chr15_8]

If only everyone was a spark or had some electrical knowledge then all the lighting unit manufacturer would go out of business.
I can't understand how they can charge hundreds for a piece of metal with a couple of ballasts, a switch, and a few lamps. It's ridiculous.
Guarantee they wouldnt cost more than £60 ish to make.

Regarding lighting units mate, wether it's halides, T5s, T8s, LED's etc they gonna sting you on price.
Halides would be the most expensive to run. LED's the cheapest. T5's reasonable.

You don't have to have halides, you can stick with T5's, providing there's enough of them for that particular tank. Looks like either way your gonna have to spend doh so try and get a second hand unit and use that for your malawis and the ati for the marine. You could always upgrade/modify the unit eg higher rating ballast for more tubes/ higher wattage etc to accomodate the tank.

Make your own!................(whisper)...go on,.............try it! Lol

Dont agree to be honest. I know your talking about Metal's but the same applies as you need a decent reflector and a decent looking shell to house it all in to be able to compare them both.

I built my own unit 5x 54w + 2x 80w

My light unit so far has cost (all approx. i haven't included the moonlight leds as the ati don't have them)

Metal casing - £95 + VAT
Perspex cover - £30 (free delivery as I ordered a lot of other stuff)
Fluorescent fitting wire (white heat resistant)- £8
Lamp holders - £8
3x 54w twin Ballast (bought second hand osram's) - £20
1x 80w twin Osram Ballast - £20
3x Fans - £20
1x Transformer for fans £5
Flex to supply the unit (I used 20m as i have 5x plugs) - £15
Plugs - £4
Hanging kit - £15
Stainless steel screws + other fixings to put together - £5
Reflectors - £97 + postage
£361

So although its just over half the price of an ATI by the time you have sorted out the metal ordered the other bits and put it all together its a lot easier to buy a ready made unit. You've saved about £200 but its a lot of messing about making your own. That's even before the warranty you get with an ATI.

 

[woody88]

If only everyone was a spark or had some electrical knowledge then all the lighting unit manufacturer would go out of business.
I can't understand how they can charge hundreds for a piece of metal with a couple of ballasts, a switch, and a few lamps. It's ridiculous.
Guarantee they wouldnt cost more than £60 ish to make.

Regarding lighting units mate, wether it's halides, T5s, T8s, LED's etc they gonna sting you on price.
Halides would be the most expensive to run. LED's the cheapest. T5's reasonable.

You don't have to have halides, you can stick with T5's, providing there's enough of them for that particular tank. Looks like either way your gonna have to spend doh so try and get a second hand unit and use that for your malawis and the ati for the marine. You could always upgrade/modify the unit eg higher rating ballast for more tubes/ higher wattage etc to accomodate the tank.


Make your own!................(whisper)...go on,.............try it! Lol

Dont agree to be honest. I know your talking about Metal's but the same applies as you need a decent reflector and a decent looking shell to house it all in to be able to compare them both.

I built my own unit 5x 54w + 2x 80w

My light unit so far has cost (all approx. i haven't included the moonlight leds as the ati don't have them)

Metal casing - £95 + VAT
Perspex cover - £30 (free delivery as I ordered a lot of other stuff)
Fluorescent fitting wire (white heat resistant)- £8
Lamp holders - £8
3x 54w twin Ballast (bought second hand osram's) - £20
1x 80w twin Osram Ballast - £20
3x Fans - £20
1x Transformer for fans £5
Flex to supply the unit (I used 20m as i have 5x plugs) - £15
Plugs - £4
Hanging kit - £15
Stainless steel screws + other fixings to put together - £5
Reflectors - £97 + postage
£361

So although its just over half the price of an ATI by the time you have sorted out the metal ordered the other bits and put it all together its a lot easier to buy a ready made unit. You've saved about £200 but its a lot of messing about making your own. That's even before the warranty you get with an ATI.

Blimey mate! where did you shop for those parts. They're expensive. I agree with the metal fabrication and reflector which my idea would be a chrome cookerhood chimney re shaped to make a base along with some perspex to stop splash back.
Like I said tho, as I'm a spark, I have an advantage. I could wire and install the halide/s, T5's, LED's in no time and get the parts [ballasts/ complete ext fittings etc] pretty much next to nothing as my trade account at my wholesalers has a very good discount [plus i know a few of the naughty ones there lol].

It probably would'nt cost me more than £150 max to knock one up tbh and like I said in my previous post. This just my own opinion/preferance.

 

[chr15_8]

Once you add everything up it works out more than you expect. Like the reflectors alone cost almost £100 without postage.

The Arcadia hanging kit is £15 (inc postage).

The fans a xilance red wings. Absolutely silent I could I got them for £6-7 but they wouldn't be as good.

The only electrical things were the Osram ballasts which I know you couldn't get any cheaper (£6 for a twin 54w unit).

Cable I probably could of used different but I bought 100m of heat resistant cable (used approx 65% of the roll)

I didn't really realise how much it would of cost. Didnt take me long either to wire it (also a spark) but its all the other bits you need to do like collecting/finding different bits and pieces.

 

[seffieuk]

Also, how long does it take to get all those bits together, let alone assemble them, so my question is: how much is your time worth?

Seffie x

 

[woody88]

Once you add everything up it works out more than you expect. Like the reflectors alone cost almost £100 without postage.

The Arcadia hanging kit is £15 (inc postage).

The fans a xilance red wings. Absolutely silent I could I got them for £6-7 but they wouldn't be as good.

The only electrical things were the Osram ballasts which I know you couldn't get any cheaper (£6 for a twin 54w unit).

Cable I probably could of used different but I bought 100m of heat resistant cable (used approx 65% of the roll)

I didn't really realise how much it would of cost. Didnt take me long either to wire it (also a spark) but its all the other bits you need to do like collecting/finding different bits and pieces.

Like I said mate, I know a few of the naughty ones at the wholesalers so parts come pretty much next to nothing. I suppose tho ( to avoid any arguing) it depends where u go and who u know to get particular parts and materials.
I, like most people, have my fingers in different pies so I'm lucky I can get certain materials cheaper than most others like I'm sure you are as u are also in the trade.
Personally, some of things you had bought I would rather have made up of other parts or used something cheaper to give the same result but I like my diy! Lol

Also, how long does it take to get all those bits together, let alone assemble them, so my question is: how much is your time worth?

Seffie x

If it's cheaper then as long as it takes! Lol