Need lighting advice

OK I am going around about this in my head and need advice. I just set-up my 90 gallon tank and do want to keep corals. I am using my old PC 36" light centered right now and when I increased my usage my white 10,000 bulb died. My Actinic bulb is pretty old also. So do I buy 2 new bulbs for the fixture for about $50 or do I buy this fixture below. Eventually I would like to build a hood and retro fit t5s with lunars.

If I got this fixture what corals could I keep? Thanks!

SolarMax 48" 2 x T5 Aquarium Lunar Strip Light Fixture - eBay (item 290423510030 end time May-09-10 19:08:14 PDT)

 

Your PC puts out more light than the unit you linked to. I would replace the PC bulbs and use the extra cash to purchase your upgrade sooner.

 

yeah but does he mean runnning both fixture together?

 

No I actually meant spending the money on 1 or the other to get me running for now. I guess if the my PC fixture is giving me more now it makes sense to buy the bulbs for it. I don't like a number of thing about it though like the fact that it does have 2 LED's lunars but only 1 power cord with 2 switches so I can't use a times to run them both. I really want 3 cords 1 for daylight, 1 for Actinic's, and 1 for lunars.

 

Not sure how you know that, since I don't see the make of the PC unit. Assuming it is a 2-bulb PC unit, it would put out significantly less light than a 2 bulb T5 HO unit with proper reflectors.

Having said this, neither of these options will provide enough light for corals IMO (although you could probably have mushrooms or zoas under either, frankly). I would not waste $50 on new PCs. Nor would I waste money on a 2-bulb T5 fixture you will stop using in a few months. Get at least 4x54W T5 (or better yet 6x54W T5) - see if you can find a used fixture on Craigs list or at your LFS or online.

My own personal experience (if that should be of any value to you) - I bought a cheap Odyssea PC fixture to start, thinking it would suffice for a while - wasted $150 on it (shipped). Then moved up to a cheap Marineland T5 fixture - wasted another $250 on it. Then bought a better Tek unit. If I had saved the money from the Odyssea and Marineland, I could have bought a terrific fixture from the start rather than wasting my money.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Your opinion is a value to me. It's funny you should mention the Odysea fixture because that is what I have. It supports 2 96W PC bulbs. I have had it for at least 5 years on my 36" 46 gallon Bow front that was a FOWLR tank so it was good enough. You have put me back to square one. I really wanted to build my own hood and retrofit the lighting but that is just honestly not going to happen quick because of time constraints. I am back to square one.

 

Does this fall into the too cheap to by category or does anyone have this fixture?

48'' T 5 HO aquarium hood 4x54 watt 3 cords MOON LIGHT - eBay (item 230465165935 end time Apr-24-10 14:17:03 PDT)

 

that one is going to be alot better then your PC fixture,216w is good for most LPS and softies, maybe some SPS but i would take that one if i were you.

 

Totally agree, I've spent much more money in the long run then if I would have just gotten a good fixture to begin with.

As for the 4x54w fixture you posted, it would be better then what you have, but for a 90, it's not much. You could keep soft corals, zoas, leathers, xenia etc. maybe lps higher and I would say no sps, clams etc. I don't know what your money situation is, but it may be better to get by with your Pcs for now, save up and then get a decent 6 bulb fixture.

 

Thanks again for the advice. I am getting a strong sense that there is really no middle ground. That being said I think I will spend the money to replace 1 bulb on my PC fixture while I at least add fish to the tank. As it is now it's only blue lol. I will start my hood planning and keep an eye out for a good deal on some retro fit ballasts. They run about $130 for 2 * 54 from what I have seen so at least new that option isn't really cheaper if I get 2 of 3 of them. Maybe I will find something used.