40g Lighting questions

4 bulbs is minimum IMO. If you want to grow SPS the easiest, get a 6 bulb fixture w/ individual reflectors. You'll have better color combination options that way as well.

 

Where can I find a six bulb fixture that won't break the bank

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Stay with 4 bulbs it is more than enough IME. I have 4 bulbs on my 75 that I keep 28" above the sand to keep from bleaching the corals.

 

current usa nova extreme pro has a 6 bulb fixture, individual reflectors, that won't break the bank like a Tek would. they sell for $300 new, and you can find them used for $100-$150 usually.

Current USA Nova Extreme Pro T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 6X39 Watt, 36 inch

and if you're worried about too much light (you don't hear that very often), just run 4 bulbs and not 6. why not have more than you need, than less? plus 6 bulbs allows a better color combination selection than only 4.

 

Well i was looking at mh fixture on ebay that has 4 t5 and nightime leds for 180. That sounds really good but I'm not sure on the quality

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Right now im trying to decide between
36" T5 Lighting HO Aquarium Light Hood Cichlid Saltwater 156W LED Lunar 3 ft. | eBay
and
36" Metal Halide Light T5 Lighting Reef Marine Coral 406W LED Leg Fan Odyssea | eBay / 36' METAL HALIDE 250 4X 39 T5 HO AQUARIUM LIGHT MOONLIGHTS LUNARS HOOD NEW | eBay
any tips, advise?

 

Bumb

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This is not a hobby where you can always cut corners and buy the cheap item. I would never own an Odyssea product in my life.

Go to RC WTB forums. People sell 36" fixture for $100-$200 shipped regularly. Or go to www.salt-city.org the Kansas reef club boards. They sell them too. Also check craigslist too.

There are excellent MH+T5 36" fixtures if you don't want to go with a 6 bulb T5 fixture. Current USA makes a few models. Honestly, there are certain areas where I would never recommend cutting corners, and lighting is one of them.

 

-1, I totally disagree. I own an Oyssea fixture, in fact an Odyssea MH + T5 fixture. They are great the problem most people have with Odyssea was fixed more than 1.5 - 2 years ago. They are great lamps. I too purchased mine on eBay.

I would go with this one: 36" Metal Halide Light T5 Lighting Reef Marine Coral 406W LED Leg Fan Odyssea | eBay
I say this because the fixture is one unit, although the fans are seperate and attach to the top of the fixture. The lighting system all all in one fixture not three seperate ones. PLus it is an Odyssea and I think for the price they are your best choice. If you want to spend more than get yourself an expensive LED fixture.

 

You are welcome to disagree all you want. However, there is a reason why almost no major retailer sells them. There is also a reason why no TOTM on any site has ever been lit with an Odyssea fixture.

For $200, you can do a lot better than that ebay fixture over a 40g tank.