175w Iwasaki for SPS?

[huskysglare1]

Has anyone kept SPS under 175w Iwasaki? how's the growth rate compare to 250 or 400?

 

[cccapt]

Deja vu

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1680415

 

[huskysglare1]

just wanted to get more opinions so that i can decide which path to go. 1k worth of lighting isn't cheap for me. also, many people doesn't go outside of a specific forum.

 

[Marklu]

I use them on my 75 and they work wonderfully. Often times I actually feel they're too much for some of my corals, especially since my tank is very nutrient limited. Just keep in mind they're very white and need actinic supplementation. I use ati blue+ and the color is really great.

 

[huskysglare1]

how's the growth? also, are they white or yellow? white is ok. i just don't like yellow.

 

[stanlalee]

I would stop sweating it. 175w will grow SPS fine. here are some before after on 175w AB 13k just to make you feel better about 175w.

milli and ora staghorn

3 months later

wild valida

6 months later

all three not much after

crocea clam

 

[Fished up]

I have been very happy with them during the last three years after trying a variety of other 175wt bulbs. They are very white as somone already mentioned. They are high quality bulbs that seem to "hold" their color better than most and IMO look great with actinic supplementation. The photo shows them with two 96wt PC actinics over my 90 gal.

 

[Fished up]

 

[huskysglare1]

very nice tankfished up

 

[mylittlejade]

I love them, they are white but no yellow. I will stick with these bulbs for a while. Just make sure you acclimate your corals slowly to the, they will bleach them.

 

[huskysglare1]

bump

 

[pIankton]

I'm looking to get into these bulbs myself as soon as my old bulbs lose their lifespan. My boss uses one on his small bow and it's got great output and color. He's running it on an Icecap ballast though.

 

[Fished up]

Thanks Husky,

I think you will be happy with the growth you get with them if you choose to go that route. The blue Acro on the right was a 2.5 inch frag about 18 months ago. Granted, lighting is only one part of the growth equation, but it is extremely important.