Yet another Lighting Question

[darkdep]

Ok, so I, like seemingly everyone else, is getting bitten by the saltwater bug.  I'm thinking of setting up a nano-reef in my currently unoccupied 20gallon.  

Right now I'm planning the lights.  I've decided to go the CF route, and am just curious as to which way to go.

I'm DIYboy, so I'm going to buy the parts seperately and assemble myself.  I'm looking at AH Supply's 55watt Bright Kit (http://ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm) which comes with everything including a kickbutt reflector.  If I understand it correctly, 55w bulbs are 21.5" long, which should be right for my tank (24" long).  

This is a new thing for me, so I'm probably only going to plan for "easy" corals for this tank.  So, my Q's are:

1) Should I go with the 1x55w setup or the 2x55w setup?
2) If I go 1x55w, will the 50-50 bulb type give me enough of everything?  
3) If I go 2x55w, do I want 2 50-50 bulbs or some other config?
4) Is there a local source for these components that will let me avoid ordering from the states, with comparable or better prices?
5) Is there anything I'm forgetting to take into account?

Thanks guys for any help you can give.

[BigDaddy]

Coralife has a quad tube 96 watt 50/50 bulb.  It's a square pin design.. but if you can get the end cap for it... that would probably rock over a 20 gallon.  And if memory serves its only 18 inches.

[DARKPHREAK]

I suggest getting the biggest and highest wattage now so you can use the light over the bigger tank when you get it in a few months. Wish we didnt spend $$$ on equipement for our smaller tank when we decided to go big full reef.

[darkdep]

BD:  That sounds like a great bulb.  Where can you buy such a beast?  I've heard you mention Buchanan Lighting several times...can you buy this stuff there?

[BigDaddy]

Nah... that ones a specialty bulb.  The regular light stores won't carry it (or any of the square pin arrangement bulbs for that matter).

You'll have to bit the bullet for LFS cost on the bulb.

[darkdep]

No!  No LFS Lighting!  I swore I'd never do that again!  

[BigDaddy]

Just the bulb... just the bulb.....

[darkdep]

But, can you get the rest of the components local?  Is price good?

[BigDaddy]

You can get the same ballast you would for the 2 * 55 setup.  Aquaria Canada has the workhorse 7, the same ballast that AH Supply uses.

End caps, well buchannan.

And you can order just the reflector from AH.

[redbelly]

The workhorse 7 is a wonderfull balast. I have it powering 4 50W cf's over my piranha tank.
this balast would be good in the future too, so its a wise investment.

[redbelly]

end caps were $5-6 each when i picked them up at buchannan about a month ago.

Whats AH Supply??

[darkdep]

They sell a good priced kit for building PC setups.  www.ahsupply.com.

Ok, I've decided against the quad bulb, it's just too pricey.  

What's a Workhorse 7 priced like?  

Redbelly:  Any bulb recommendations?  (for a 20gal nano)

[redbelly]

For a 20g you can easily get away with just 2 bulbs, but i tend to lean on the side of overkill:) i would go with more though:)


The workhorse 7 prices in at around $60.
Now cf's bulbs go for i think $30 for the 10K from buchanan and cheaper for a lower K temp. They seem to increase the price a bit when they know its for aquarium. and you will want an acinic, which they can also get. dpatte however has some bulbs for $15. i should be picking a couple up from him when he gets back, and if you go with cf's i would suggest you do the same as thats a great price.

[darkdep]

Sweet.

Any chance that Buchanan sells Reflectors of any type?

[darkdep]

Ok, how about this for a Q...

In Freshwater, you can rate light roughly as low, medium, high, based on WPG as a reference (with 1WPG being low, 2WPG being medium, and 3WPG being high...roughly).

Can anyone suggest a similar scale for SW, assuming you're trying to keep corals?  For example, I see some corals listed as needing "medium to high" light, some needing "low to medium" light...but I have no idea how to figure out what "low" or "medium" or "high" light is for sw...

[gvv]

Look here:
http://aquariacanada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9233