planning lighting for my new tank, advice anyone?

Build you own Aquarium has thier own site, http://buildyouraquarium.com]buildyouraquarium.com And most of the stuff they sell comes right off the Catalina site, but Build your own's prices are a little bit cheaper. I am using 2 of thier 47(48") retrofits and except for the bulbs they aren't to bad.

 

Thanks Gazog! I checked their website and the fixture was $50 more but still reasonable. I know that Current and Coralife and Tec to name a few are good fixtures but I can't justify the price differential. I'll take my chances. The fixture is made in America and comes with a 5 year warranty on the ballast. I attached pictures of my project. The first picture shows the 8x54W T5 retrofit and I added my 175W Metal Halide. I will pull it out if I don't need it later. I've had to paint the stand and canopy and cut away for the overflows. All Glass 120 gal tanks have the overflows 7" in from the end. It took a while at first to accept that but after I thought about it, it saves not having to view the pipes from the sides which can take away from the view but then again that's my opinion. I got this 8 socket power strip from Drs Foster and Smith that I screwed to the inside wall so I can easily get at the plugs and not worry about water dripping into a socket.

 

thanx marlin those are nice looking lights, and the price is right. but think that 8 bulbs might be to many for my little 75. but its good to know that i would be able to fit that. and i have found a couple places that sell 54w 36" T5. but i am now thinking that 39w with HO should be plenty. the other problem is that i want 3 different lighting cycles dusk/dawn, daylight, then strong mid day. and that only has two cords.

these were some of the kits i was looking at, but the dont come with bulbs. but have awsome refelctors.
Retrofit Kits > Lighting > Saltwater Aquarium Supplies
but for only 6 bulbs i would be over 300. but that three cords...

 

I've seen 36" T5's at 39 watt, 48" T5's at 54 watt and 72" T5's at 80 watt. Check a little further into it and let me know if you find where it says 36" T5's 54 watts. I don't think so. For $349 this is still the best buy and never worry about too much T5 lighting.
Buildyouraquarium - 35'' 8X 39 T5 Retro Brand New w/ Bulbs Moon Aquarium

 

gieseman makes them. and like the price on that 8x39w. but it only has two switches, and i want 3 switches for 3 different lighting times

 

quick update...i email the guys at buildyouraquarium.com about adding a another cord to give me three controls on the light. they said that they would set it up however i wanted with out any extra charge. so problem solved. THANX guys

 

Great to hear! Go man go!
The 8x39 is so sweet and your a done deal with lights and no chiller required.
I use a Dual Timer that I got from Drs Foster and Smith.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578 3733 11379&pcatid=11379
Be careful not to turn the dials counter clockwise. If you want to run a 24/7 it's easy with this timer and I would save this thread. There are three colored sockets and one white socket. The light unit has three cords.
The blue actinic cord plugs into the blue socket.
The moonlights plug into the black. These are controled by the top timer. I set and this is a personal preference for the Actinics to come on at 11 am and go off at 8 pm. The moons will automatically come on when the actinics go off.
The yellow socket is for the Daylights. So just set it for whatever hours you want all the lights to come on. Maybe 12 pm to 7 pm. Now set the 2 timers to the correct time now by matching the time with the arrows and your done. Tada! Oh, the white socket is constant power for anything else. Write to JBL390@aol.com for any other info.

 

so knowing that i can set up three lighting times. what do you think of this as a plan for bulb congfiguration. there is 8 bulbs this is from front to back...
1st actinic
2rd 14k
3rd 10k
4th 14k
5th actinic
6th 10k
7th 14k
8th actinic

where all the actinics turn on together, then the 14ks and then the 10ks with the shorts time of being on