....and how about lighting? :)

[sharky222]

Hi everyone,

Your notes of advice on substrate and RO/DI water were so helpful, thought I'd cast this one out there too...

Next step: Lights.

My tank is 81 gallons, dimensions 52x20(tall)x18, and I want to try SPS.

I was about to buy a 4-bulb 48" T5 fixture, but is that enough? Do I need 6 bulbs? Or can I get away with 4 since the tank's rather shallow?

And what about moonlight? How do I do that?

Someday, I might even buy a fish.

[lockrookie]

i would go at least 6 i had 4 on my 90 and hated it. if yu can fit it 8 would be perfectmy tank is long andnarro and i couldnt fit 8

[MrGoodbytes]

I agree. Go with at least six. Not sure about the moonlight myself. I think they sell them as small separate units if you don't get a fixture with any.

I'm with you on the fish lol. I should get one of those things. After some more equipment maybe... :P

[monocus]

you could always make your own moonlights or buy moonlight strips off ebay

[Mrfish55]

I'm trying to talk the local dealer into bringing in a couple of these www.orphek.com less than 1/2 the price of Vertex units and without the fancy gimmics but they look promising, only been able to track down one review so far http://tinyurl.com/OrphekReview

[TheMikey]

I think that AquaticLife makes a 6bulb unit in the sizes you'd be looking for. Full electronic timer and moonlights.

[sharky222]

Wow, the Orphek unit looks nice. Let me know if your LFS gets them in, and how much they are.

Are Aquaticlife lights any good? I think they are the ones that have the 2-bulb fixtures that can be hooked together so you can start small and add on -- a brilliant (so to speak) idea!

[ponokareefer]

Have you given any thought to MH? I was considering switching to T5, but after seeing a T5 tank and not seeing the shimmer, I changed my mind.

[Rbacchiega]

I've got a 75 gallon I'm setting up, and want 6 bulbs...so I'm going with a 48" 2 bulb unit and a 48" 4 bulb unit from Fishneedit.com....still costs less that alot of the 6 bulb units out there and will fit nicely over my 18" wide tank.