trying to light my 90g

This whole light buying experience has turned into a PITA... I have a standard 90g (48x18x24) and plan on doing a mixed reef with mostly LPS with a few hardy sps. LEDs just seem too pricey as I don't wanna spend 1500 on a light (Ecotech and Ecoxotic). So my option is halide but I from what i read you shoudl only run them for 4-6 hrs a day. I have my tank on PC now and it runs 3 hours in the am and 5 in the evening (when i'm home) Plus I'd like to have moonlight leds... What's a guy to do????

 

Have you looked into a t5 fixture?Less heat than MH and less costly than led(short term).

 

I had the coralife T5 Ho lunar on my 30g and worked really well. Everyone seems to dis T5 on this size tank. Will it be fine for my applications?

 

It will be more than adequate. A 4X54W unit will handle all of your needs.

 

does your tank have a canopy or is it open on top.

 

open top... even though watts per gallon is a bogus measurement, I know its a guideline. 4 - 54w would equal 2.4 wpg... I thought (once again as a guideline) you wanted 3.0 wpg or more, 5 wpg for sps?

I'd prefer a T5 for the money savings... So if it will be suitable to do a a heavy stocked reef setup I'd be all for it

 

It is not how many watts it is how effective you get to the bottom of the tank.All kinds of things play into that-quility of lights water clarity, reflectors, bulbs... just to name a few.Take a look at the jbj trinity t5 lights.They have everything your looking for but a timer.We use one on a tank at work.It is a nice fixture for the money.

 

Not bad at all. Several companies make T5 setups with lunars. Coralife, Aquaticlife and JBJ (obviously) to name a few. Advtanges of one of the other? I hade the coralife on my t5 ( i actually bought from bioreef) and loved it and currently have a coralife 4 bulb pc on my 90g now..

 

yea deffinately is the main factor a t5 is the way to go. Plus depending on the fixture with some electrical know how (or youtube demos) you can retrofit to other types later by switching ballasts and what have you.

 

I've had coralife stuff before and thought it was just junk.I'm not saying that JBJ is the best by far but for the money and what your looking to do I think it is a good choice.I was going to buy one myself but I'm going to be doing a 90 gallon sps tank-so I need more power.The only thing I would do is wait a few months and get some better bulbs.The bulbs it comes with are ok but there are better ones out there.