need help chooseing light.

Hey guys looking to buy a light to support coral, and a bubble tip anemone.

I would also check out aquatraders.com I use 2 of their 4 bulb T5 fixtures over my 65 and grows everything. SPS, LPS, softies, RBA,s. I like how I can change the bulbs to get cool color and growth as well as it using a lot less power than my old MH's.

The lower in number you go the more yellow the higher you go the more white/blue. Personally I use 6 actinics and 2 10Ks in my setup. I like the color it gives and gets good growth too. Its really preference. Some say the lower you go the faster growth but worse color you get out of corals. I dont know for sure since I have never gone below 10K. I love these fixtures and you can always switch out the bulbs to what you want.

They both have their advantages. With T5 you can tweek the colors more and MH tend to penetrate the water better and get deeper. Personally I would put 2 of those over my tank but one should support softies and a bubble tip well.

On a 120 gallon tank you will need at least 6 bulbs and it better be a whole lot better than Aquatraders. I would want an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower over a 120, especially if you want an anemone. They require a lot of light.

I hate to say it but $200 isn't going to cut it for a 120 unless you find something for a steal in the used section.

I would plan on at least $500 for lighting a 120. If that can't be done, get a smaller tank.

Ryan Thompson wrote: On a 120 gallon tank you will need at least 6 bulbs and it better be a whole lot better than Aquatraders. I would want an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower over a 120, especially if you want an anemone. They require a lot of light. I hate to say it but $200 isn't going to cut it for a 120 unless you find something for a steal in the used section. I would plan on at least $500 for lighting a 120. If that can't be done, get a smaller tank.

Just curious, when was the last time you used an aquatraders light?

If I were you and $200 was my budget on lights I'd either save up for a super nice T5 setup or try to find a retro metal halide on the board. You could get a pair of 250 W MH retros for around $200 used and grow anything you want.

You can also get the aquatrader t5 but I do recommend the 6 bulb over the 4 - just remember you'll want to trade out for some quality bulbs ASAP in order to grow anything so factor that cost in. I prefer ATI bulbs. The default bulbs are garbage. Lots of people on this board have used Aquatraders light fixtures for many years with no problems so I'd say go for it if that's all you can use for the budget. Are they cheaper then ATI fixtures? Of course they are - you're only paying $200 bones for them. Will they work to grow SPS and anemones Yup. Lots of examples on this board of people doing just that!

Here is something worth noting that Justin(jwoo) brought up.

Aquatraders 6 bulb unit is around $200. Add another $150 in new bulbs. So you are at $350 for that unit. It probably doesn't have active cooling either so you will be replacing bulbs every 6-8 months.

A brand new Tek fixture is $415 with bulbs of your choice. Plan another $25-50 for a way to mount the fixture and you are about $100 more than the Aquatraders unit. Yet, you have a known winner and the BEST customer service in the industry in Reefgeek.

Will you really give that up for $100? In this hobby?

Madreefer,

A 6 bulb Aquatraders fixture is no where near that close in performance to a 6 bulb ATI. Try 50% less performance using the same wattage or close to it.

This is the order of the best performers on the market that I can find. Some fixtures don't have readings for them.

ATI Powermodule
ATI Sunpower (within 2-5% of the Powermodule)
Aquactinics Constellation (no longer made)
Tek Elite (about 25% behind an ATI)
Aquatic Life (switched to ATI bulbs)
Tek (about 30% behind ATI and you need an external fan to help cool things down)
Current USA


Everything else cheap (way at the bottom)

Lighting is one area we can't afford to skimp on. I am not saying to go out and buy the most expensive thing you can find but going cheap will bite you in the butt one day. I know, I have been there.

These are live animals in our care and they deserve more than "just good enough."


Edited by Ryan Thompson - October 12 2011 at 10:37pm

I don't replace the bulbs, the bulbs work fine so those numbers don't add up for me. And I've ran bulbs for 2 years and still going, no algae or problems like so many claim. And I don't believe the 50%.

You don't have to believe me if you don't want to. Show me the PAR numbers where an Aquatraders setup is keeping up with other units. I will wait patiently.

PS - I will be waiting a long time. I've seen numbers for an Aquatraders T5 setup. It is 50% behind the ATIs.