Need help with lighting (upgrade?)

I currently have a 75 gallon (48-inches long) with a 48-inch Orbit Extreme Compact Fluorescent Lunar Light Fixture (4-130 watt), I am in the market for two things: a bigger tank, something over 100-gallons and possibly still 48-inches long; a 125-gallon; or something along those lines. I currently have some LPS, Toadstool Leather, Carpet Anemone, Mushrooms, Ricordias, and Zoas. I have started fragging some of these and would eventually like to get into SPS.

With all this in mind, what are some lighting options? I haven't really thought of a budget per say, but I don't want to break the bank or the electric bill. Suggestions for the best product for the money and my intentions will do. I do want something that will replicate the day and night time enviroment that I can also put on a timer. I like the fact that the set up I have has the fans and everything in one unit.

As far as tanks, I want more [fish] swimming room and space for corals. I have been looking at a 120 gallon that is 24x48x24, which is deeper than the 18-inches I have now.

Any suggestions would be great. I am not that good at the DIY because projects always get started and never finished......

 

if you go with the 120 gallon tank (The tank i was considering at first but my parents said it was too big) 2X 250 or maybe1X 400 watt halide would work great!

 

125 is nice the only draw back to mine is that the megaflows(2) take up alot of room in the tank. You may want to go with a single megaflow or perhaps a 180 gallon tank instead!
LED's are very economical as far as electric bills are concerned, however the initial cost is extreme since they are in their infancy stage. Halides, which I love are electricity hogs, however, you can keep anything under them. I keep my lights on for just 6-8 hours to cut down on the electric bill and with good results. Talking many stony lps+sps and 5 tridacna clams!
Then there are the T5's and the power compact lighting fixtures that many reefers have had success with.
Remember that lighting is only a part of the overall picture however!!!!!!! You can have 400watt DE HQI halides on your tank but if you have an excess amount of DOM, Gelbstoff, turbidity, salt creep, microalgae etc., you will not be able to wreep the benefits offered by these lights, conversely, if you have pristine water with none or very low amounts of those negative variables mentioned above and are using just T5's or power compacts, your livestock will in essence receive more intense lighting in terms of PAR and PUR.

 

For space sake, I have been looking really hard at 120 Gal (48x24x25) or a 125 Tall (60x18x25).

I found this tank for sale: 120 GALLON AQUARIUM 48X24X24 PRE-DRILLED COMES WITH 50LBS OF REEF SAND, STAND AND CANOPY, SUMP OR WET-DRY YOUR CHOICE WITH A MAG 1200 PUMP, A REDSEA SKIMMER RATED FOR UP TO 250 GALLONS, ALSO TWO 54 WATT T5 LIGHTING RETRO FIT

I want to know if this lighting will support corals with the tank's depth? Also, what exactly does retro fit mean? I am thinking that means mounted inside the canopy versus sitting on top of the tank. At any rate, this guy is selling it for $450.00. Sounded like a steal to me........maybe?

 

Id take it, and get the sump not the Wet/Dry. That will not be enough for corals, so you could use those for actinics and get a 400 watt halide as your main light.

 

Oh yeah, retrofitting is basically putting your own lights in a canopy instaead of buying a fixture. Buying a ballast and socket, wiring it up, and putting it in your canopy is basically what a retro is.

 

How do you go about making a retro fit? I mean I have seen things that say choose this and that, reflector, etc. I have not a clue how to determine how to make sure I have the right thing. I have also heard that these are cheaper than buying a light fixture and since I'll soon have a canopy it wouldn't really matter how it looked as long as it isn't a fire hazard, lol.

 

retrofitting a hood is easy, pm me with some specification of your hood as far as the height,width and depth. the pics are from a 110 bow front retro that i made: 3-250 w hqi mh, 4-96 w pc actinic, 6-1 w moon lights, two exhaust fans. 1134 watts total not including the moon lights. and no fire.