Lighting Choices Final Choice Need Help

Okay I have a 55 gal aquarium and it is 12 inches wide. Here are the choices of light's. I want to be able to put anything on bottom and it thrive under the new light's. It is 19 inches to the substrate. Some of the light's are 15 wide but there should be at least an inch to an inch and a 1/2 from the outside bulb edge to the edge of the fixture on both sides making them a close fit to the 12 inch with just a small bit of overhang....

Outer Orbit
48" 2x150 HQI watt Actinic 2x54w 460nm 2x54w 420nm monlight 9/9

unknown brand
2-250 HQI 4-54w Actinics 6 moonlight

unknown brand
2-250 with 12 moonlight no actinic under 200.00 (make actinics fixture)

Nova Extreme Pro 6x54watt actinic

 

are you willing to spend that much for an outer orbit fixture!? they have quite the hefty price tag!! you could try and do a retrofit!! but i would def go with the outer orbit fixture if i were you...i'd get one myself if i had the money!!

 

shipped to your door cut and dried under 400.00..

 

i would go with the outer orbit.

 

get it...and then, post pics!

 

I will say before we can answer your question about which direction to go, we need to know what corals you want to keep.

But without that info, I would suggest the Nova Extreme Pro, only 324 total watts verse over 400 or 500 on the other fixtures and it should give you as much usable light as the 500 watt fixture in your tank.

Kim

 

I would go with the 150W x2. Seems to me that 10W per gallon with the 250W x2 unbranded is just unnecessary.

And there are those who will argue that too much light will actually inhibit growth. Then again, I know someone with 13W per gallon and their tank is doing great. Two camps on this one. But there have been studies to support the former as well.....so I would err on the side of paranoia and do 300W plus actinics.

And at least you have a branded product.

 

under $400.00 How ? Thats less then factory cost to dealers becarful .

 

With the 2 150s and actinics could I do a clam. Or would it require 2 250. Tangster The light's I believe are refurbished with only a 90 day warranty. But even if I have problem's I can fix it. So it seems a good deal but I am like John said, a bit afraid of over kill and no growth. What do you think Tangster. 250 or 150..or the 6 bulb tek? And what is your url Tangster, I might just get the 2 250s with the moonlight and build my actinics..maybe cheaper?

 

Mission runs 2 x 250 over a 55, I also plan on doing that when I upgrade my lighting in the summer.