Pumps And Lights What To Get? (question not statement) (1 Viewer)

[Mpolasek]

so ive been planning ahead and i know i will need a new pump system and a light system if i want corals or anemones
im currently looking at this for lights https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GFTQDQK/ref=twister_B00YTXD58I?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
and i have no idea what to get pump wise my current pump is a simple one direction 330 gph and apparently that wont be good for corals
my tank is a 75 gallon and i did plan on maybe some anonemes like bubble tips and coral wise no plans yet although i have always loved those plate corals yet they look hard since in lps so can anyone help

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

I have those lights on a 55 gallon and my experience is they are only good for softies unless right under the surface of the water so probably not good enough for fungia corals. Besides the low light they are pretty cool though, easy to use and have fun settings like lightning storms. If you do get them I'd recommend getting the mount bracket for them, as they are a pain to take on and off if you just have them resting on the rim with the built in arms. I could never get my arm in the tank so had trouble with cleaning etc.

 

[Mpolasek]

do you know if there is a better one than cause i am clueless here like have no idea ive looked on some sites yet since lots are sponsored i dont trust them much

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

It really depends on what all you want to grow, what type of light and how much you want to spend. Current makes other, stronger LEDs but they are bulky if memory serves and not as good as other LED options for the price range. The most common LEDs seem to be the Aquaillumination and Kessil brands. Both produce amazing lights that will grow anything with a lot of control ability, but you'd be looking at a $800ish price tag for new ones for a 75 gallon, perhaps more depending on the dimensions. T5s are the other common option and arn't quite as pricey but have a higher power demand and you need to replace bulbs. The best setups often have a hybrid of the two as both types have their pros and cons. I have two Aquaillumination Hydra 26 (they don't make these anymore, the make hydra 32s instead) on my 75 gallon and I can grow just about anything I want if placed properly. Wish I had a hybrid as the LEDs tend to have lower spread and can cause shadow issues, so I have some dark spots in the tank, whereas the T5s are much more diffused across the area. There are also metal halide lights but I don't see them as often and have little experience with them.

 

[decimal]

The major issue with T5 and MH are

bulbs are expensive

MH produces a lot of heat that needs to be dealt with

The bulbs will expire and change wavelength but still look the same. You don’t notice anything until you have an algae problem that you can’t track down.

pros are... gold standard in visual appeal and coral growth.

the LEDs you're looking at are good for fish and maybe some softies like zoas but I wouldn’t expect much more than that. I bet someone has a 48” t5 mh fixture sitting around they would we willing to sell cheap. but even then you would still have to count on putting in new bulbs. So still not as cheap as $99 but maybe worth exploring If your looking for mixed reef type tank.

 

[Mpolasek]

ok first thank you so much for helping, so would this work ( Amazon.com : AquaIllumination Hydra 64 HD LED Reef Light (White Body) : Pet Supplies ) and anyone know anything about pumps or power heads?
edit
and is there a reason why i should spend 630 on that setup and not just get 2 of these for 440 Amazon.com : Kessil A160WE Controllable LED Aquarium Light, Tuna Blue : Pet Supplies
systems like this have also got good reviews for sps and some lps and look alot cheaper compared to some others in that the manufacturer says i need 2 and its about 170 each or the 300 which can use only one for 60 and 2 for 125 https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Control-Dimmable-Aquarium-Spectrum/dp/B07SMY9KWF/ref=sr_1_81_sspa?keywords=marine+aquarium+light&qid=1583850165&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-81-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE3N0UwR084QzlOTUkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4NTc0MDVBWTZBNzBYTVAwMEMmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDEzMjUxNTFLUkhYTUI4V1k0R0gmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1
keep in mind im not that picky on how the lights look it could be a jungle of cords and lights i would not care i would prefer a cycle but im not going to s[pend a extra 50 bucks for one so for me its not about sleek looks although that would be nice my main goal is that it works for most corals

 

[decimal]

i would look for XR30 radion g4 pro. Excellent light and now that G5 just hit the market, a lot of good used units floating around for relatively little money.
spread on that 64 HD is about 30x30 so for a 48" tank you will probably need 2 to cover the entire tank (or have SPS and high light demanding stock one one side of the tank only)
finally, you will need powerheads inside the tank for flow if you don't already have that covered.
for the return pump, calculate how many times per hour you want to cycle the entire system volume. 12-15 times per hour is more than adequate. maybe even 10 x per hour? idk.. some experts here should chime in. again, a good new return pump is not cheap. keep in mind that if you run external, you get a little hum and need space. if you're in sump you loose the hum and need for space but add heat to the system.

 

[Mpolasek]

ya i dont have a sump something i would like in the far future but as i said i don't care about seeing equipment and sumps could cost with all the gear around 600 and i already have a skimmer and other things i just pout a 330 gph pump in my tank to circulate water and create a good current that can go around the entire tank and combined with my filters spray bar i even have a small spiral in a section of the tank.
cause i read that pumps need 4gph per gallon i look at power heads lith a couple thousand and i just get too confused and shut down and look at cat videos
and the light is out of my price range i get 15 dollars a week on my fish beget thinking about getting a good-paying job but with school and helping in my house i dont have time so 670 is an insane I'm leaning towards this since i can buy one and save up for the next and grow on at least half of the tank ( the other half would just stay on the fish water grow light i got with the tank )

Amazon.com : Kessil A160WE Controllable LED Aquarium Light, Tuna Blue : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com : Kessil A160WE Controllable LED Aquarium Light, Tuna Blue : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

 

[steveb]

You could always get 2 of something like these:

Full spectrum Dimmable 165W led aquarium light for coral reef fish tank lighting | eBay

1 x 165W LED aquarium light. Blue lighting makes the water clear and vivid as the sea water and is suitable for the growth of coral,Polyodon spathala etc. Red lighting promote the growth of fish and make them look more colorful.

www.ebay.com

 

[Luman01]

Kessils are great lights, since you are new I would not touch sps just to make it easier for u. You can find used lights on here and on REEF2REEF. I would put 4 160s on a 75 gall 4ft tank. Those lights are light cannons and focus the lights in one narrow area. So buying one at a time is fine, but don’t be surprised if I only covers a small amount of area. With coral you gotta move slow. I’d say if u want a nem get that first give it a month or so to let it settle down in a spot. As for flow to get the best bang for buck with out spending a lot of cash. Is the jebao crossflows. They are cheap gyres, and even there powerheads are cheap and powerful. Some people have mixed reviews with them. I know a few people who’ve had them for a while. They do the job and are cheap. Def take your time no need to rush.

 

[Mpolasek]

well i looked at low price stuff like this https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...aWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1
which apparently can be used on any coral but my light normally stays on for about 16 hours( i know im trying to fix that ) and i dont want to cook corals since they are expensive i hear

 

[Mpolasek]

also its not that i want sps but the option i want good lights so that in a year or two i can get them corals are still awhile away i need to master intverabreys than anemones than i can try corals
but this is all planning so i can get a tank completely ready for them and light needing stuff also THANKS SO MUCH for the help and pump help (not that i dont want more just thanks)

 

[steveb]

That one will work too. You will need 2 over a 75g/90g tank. The one you posted has dimming which is nice.

The cheaper one I posted is basically on or off. You set the dial for the intensity of the blues and whites but they both come on at the same time.

I use the Mars Aqua 165w ones over my big tank. It has two power cords so I can independently control how long the blues are on and how long the whites are on.

 

[Mpolasek]

anyone know if the kessil A160s have any default night or day schedule or their cords i cant seem to find any info on if they have that as default or if i need to buy a 100 dollar remote to do that stuff
cause im thinking about saving 80 bucks on a jerry-rig set up for them but cant find the connection cords for sale and apparently that's how you can sync your lights
edit
found out without the 100 dollar remote all it really has is manual on and off schedule-wise

 

[Stickboy97]

There are couple of guys here on the forum that thnk black boxes work pretty well....

 

[mbornreefer]

For the keasils to ramp they need the controller or an apex. I have two 360s on my 4x2 and they are great. One more would be ideal. I had some sticks that were growing tell the heater blow and killed them. Have never had them over 75% as luman01 said they are canons even with the wide angel lens. The only brand of light I have ever used and will ever use.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

The jebao crossflows are a good place to start with pumps but they don't last forever. The work well and cover a large area but I had a couple of them die in just a few months. Hard to beat for $100 though. I upgraded to a pair of Tunze 6055s for my 75g when I could afford it and love them. Probably a bit overkill as I run them at 60% on the main power to keep them from blowing stuff all over the tank, but they make some smaller models that would work well I'd think. They arn't as expensive as the Vortech mps but nearly as good and hold up well. Tunze is great and will replace them if they don't last at least a couple years. My only complaint with them is the pulse can be loud sometimes but I hardly notice now. The Maxspect Gyres are also pretty good pretty good if you prefer the long bar style pump like the jebaos. One pump beats the two tunzes for overall water movement for around the same cost, but they are large and I had trouble placing it in my tank and getting the water where I wanted it to go. I've had better luck with multiple smaller pumps vs one large one.

 

[Stickboy97]

Since you are on a tight budget, I would go black box units (ask @Cody oe @reeftopia which ones to buy.

Or watch the for sale section here & the other big forums for used lights. There are lots out there & you can pick them up at decent prices.

Where are you located?

 

[Mpolasek]

garden oaks but as said earlier this is future planning i dont have the cash right now to get alight system but i need to plan on what i want to buy and to save up for

 

[Stickboy97]

What do you have in place now? I was going to give you a small nem to get started.