Jim_Leyland
In Memoriam
Do they need mh to grow or can they do ok under PC lights?
Acro Question
- Thread starter Jim_Leyland
- Start date
purplereef
Active member
In my opinion they might do OK for a while but they will slowly decline from lack of light.
Jim_Leyland
In Memoriam
would 2 175's be ok for a 125
serpentman
part time superhero
You will probably be disappointed with the spread as most MH only cover 2 sq. ft. You could use lumenarcs for more spread. However, I would say 3 would be better.
Jim,
It all depends on what you want your tank to be. You could blast them with 3 - 250WMH or just go with 2 -175WMH. The SPS would grow fine directly under the MH's and other corals like Monti's,Hydonphora,LPS's would do great surounding the SPS's.
Throw in a couple of 6ft. compact flour. for the soft corals & you are set.
Dave
It all depends on what you want your tank to be. You could blast them with 3 - 250WMH or just go with 2 -175WMH. The SPS would grow fine directly under the MH's and other corals like Monti's,Hydonphora,LPS's would do great surounding the SPS's.
Throw in a couple of 6ft. compact flour. for the soft corals & you are set.
Dave
Python73
New member
There are lots of different acroporas. Think about deep water acros that are becoming more popular. You think these corals get the equivalent of metal halide lights pounding the hell out of them 8-12 hours a day from 12 inches away? Not even close.
Anyway, you are further ahead picking corals that fit the lights you have than fussing over what light corals will need.
I have grown several different acroporas under PC lights. However, there is a fact you should know about PC lighting: it SUCKS. How does it suck? Thoroughly, in every way sucking is defined. I'm currently growing every coral you can think of SPS-wise under 440 VHOs. I find VHO to be superior in nearly every way to halides. The only thing they can't do is shimmer and heat your house. Are they as intense as halides? Not even close. But they are more than sufficient for most corals in home aquaria.
Two cents from a halide hater. Good luck with your setup.
S !
Anyway, you are further ahead picking corals that fit the lights you have than fussing over what light corals will need.
I have grown several different acroporas under PC lights. However, there is a fact you should know about PC lighting: it SUCKS. How does it suck? Thoroughly, in every way sucking is defined. I'm currently growing every coral you can think of SPS-wise under 440 VHOs. I find VHO to be superior in nearly every way to halides. The only thing they can't do is shimmer and heat your house. Are they as intense as halides? Not even close. But they are more than sufficient for most corals in home aquaria.
Two cents from a halide hater. Good luck with your setup.
S !
Brad Black
In Memoriam
I disagree. You can raise them under most lighting used today but I Think that the pecking order is (for best growth/color):
1)MH (by far for best growth just ask anyone who has used other bulb types)
2) T-5 overdriven/ high quality reflectors (close second to MH)
3) PC (PC's are just T-5's bent over so you can't reflect the light as well as with reg T-5's, so get the T-5's unless space is the problem
4) VHO Anyone who was at the Csea meeting about lighting and has used them will agree and I am one of them.
I have used VHO (good for softies but I found it difficult to keep most SPS). Then I wanted to upgrade, toss up between MH and T-5. I finally went T-5 for economical and heat reasons.
Glad I did because there is no comparison between my old VHO and my new T-5's. The corals open up more, they grow more and faster. I feel like I can keep anything now where as before I was leery to even try.
And then there's the LED's. And those are great if your into way overpaying for lighting. They may be the wave of the future in several or more years when the price comes down out of the stratosphere.
Thats my take.
1)MH (by far for best growth just ask anyone who has used other bulb types)
2) T-5 overdriven/ high quality reflectors (close second to MH)
3) PC (PC's are just T-5's bent over so you can't reflect the light as well as with reg T-5's, so get the T-5's unless space is the problem
4) VHO Anyone who was at the Csea meeting about lighting and has used them will agree and I am one of them.
I have used VHO (good for softies but I found it difficult to keep most SPS). Then I wanted to upgrade, toss up between MH and T-5. I finally went T-5 for economical and heat reasons.
Glad I did because there is no comparison between my old VHO and my new T-5's. The corals open up more, they grow more and faster. I feel like I can keep anything now where as before I was leery to even try.
And then there's the LED's. And those are great if your into way overpaying for lighting. They may be the wave of the future in several or more years when the price comes down out of the stratosphere.
Thats my take.
purplereef
Active member
I have two questions. Why would you mess around with something that may work or it may not? It will cost a hole lot more killing SPS left and right then just getting Metal halides that have been proven to work. Why would you open yourself up to making a costly mistake?
Python73
New member
So... if this question was for me, I'm not sure I understand it. I am not speculating, nor am I messing around with unproven lighting. I have an established reef tank with many SPS corals that are growing and thriving under my 440 VHO setup.
Not sure what is going on in your tanks, but I don't kill corals. Regardless of lighting. I also go ahead and avoid buying colonies when I can get healthy frags from local reefers. So even if I did kill off all sorts of corals under my obviously pitiful VHOs, it wouldn't cost me all that much. Also, I know plenty of people that have killed plenty of corals under those proven halides.
Open minds people. Many ways to skin a cat.
S !
Python73
New member
Brad
I respect your opinion, but wow, you are the first person I've EVER heard that had anything but swearing for PCs. I ran PCs for a couple of years and I still have flashbacks. Couldn't keep anything colored up, terrible intensity, etc.
I agree that T5s are fairly awesome. Just not worth the extra dime for me yet. I have a 24" 4 bulb T5 fixture temping while I order permanent lights and it puts out an amazing amount of light for its size. And all the good benefits of flourescents to boot. Can't go wrong with T5s.
S !
I respect your opinion, but wow, you are the first person I've EVER heard that had anything but swearing for PCs. I ran PCs for a couple of years and I still have flashbacks. Couldn't keep anything colored up, terrible intensity, etc.
I agree that T5s are fairly awesome. Just not worth the extra dime for me yet. I have a 24" 4 bulb T5 fixture temping while I order permanent lights and it puts out an amazing amount of light for its size. And all the good benefits of flourescents to boot. Can't go wrong with T5s.
S !
Brad Black
In Memoriam
Wow I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Didn't mean to open up world war lighting but I do find these little debates entertaining. All things said with all due respect.
I agree with you the PC's they are inferior to T-5's (seems though only because they can't be reflected as well as T-5's) but I think a small step above VHO maybe, I could be wrong. I found that out from my personal experience and that's all I can relay here (used all but MH and I even admit that you can't beat MH for pure growing power). Not taking away from your experiences but I have had not just a little improvement over VHO (with T-5) but major improvement. Actually hard to believe. But to be fair I should add that I added a bit more wattage with 474W T-5 vs. 440w VHO. They were both "overdriven" by IC 660.
And yes you can mix bulb length with the IC 660, I called, they said yes.
As for price, they are pretty close to the same as VHO. Same ballast, and parts (except smaller), bulbs pretty close I have found (price). Oh, except for reflectors, your right there. Happy growing.
I agree with you the PC's they are inferior to T-5's (seems though only because they can't be reflected as well as T-5's) but I think a small step above VHO maybe, I could be wrong. I found that out from my personal experience and that's all I can relay here (used all but MH and I even admit that you can't beat MH for pure growing power). Not taking away from your experiences but I have had not just a little improvement over VHO (with T-5) but major improvement. Actually hard to believe. But to be fair I should add that I added a bit more wattage with 474W T-5 vs. 440w VHO. They were both "overdriven" by IC 660.
And yes you can mix bulb length with the IC 660, I called, they said yes.
As for price, they are pretty close to the same as VHO. Same ballast, and parts (except smaller), bulbs pretty close I have found (price). Oh, except for reflectors, your right there. Happy growing.
Brad Black
In Memoriam
We all deserve a pat on the back for the first lighting war hijak of the year. Congrats to us, sorry JL, hope all our banter helps. Man I love banter.
Jim_Leyland
In Memoriam
I don't mind at all, i like reading what people are using to light their tanks with and what they are keeping. It gives me ideas and the pros and cons.. its all good lol
