best lighting for soft coral :) ???

[harmichael]

Hi everyone!

I recently started up my saltwater aquarium, which has just finished cycling. It is still a very young system, but I have an aspiration to eventually grow soft coral (but, I am making sure to be patient and to take things slow). I am currently looking to install a sump to promote more stability. But, my real question is on lighting. My friend has an SPS tank and I know he has very intense lighting (MH), and I was wondering if I needed the same amount of intensity (from his urging). If some soft coral dudes can give me recommendations on good lighting fixtures (I have heard that Tek and Icecap are good), I would be most appreciative. Also, do you guys use MH and/or T5s? I am willing to invest a lot in good lighting, so money is not an object here.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[gflat65]

I am one that thinks T5's are an all around good choice, especially for beginners. If you get decent reflectors and bulbs, you can keep just about anything. I run a (4) bulb 3' Tek lighting fixture over a 75 and have very good luck with softies and LPS, as well as the few SPS that are in there. I may upgrade to a 4' at some point to better light the entire tank, but am getting good results with what I have.

I run MH and VHO's ((4) actinics) over my display (largely SPS), but run T5's on my wife's softie tank, my frag tank, and several other various tanks in the system. FWIW, I've seen my share of T5 SPS tanks and have been thoroughly impressed.

As for ballasts, Advance (I think most tek lighting uses Advance) and Ice cap are good choices. The Ice Caps will overdrive the bulbs, requiring more frequent replacement (and probably too much for softies, depending on the depth of the tank). My 660's will run up to (4) 3' T5's, but I think the 430 will only do (2). Can't remember what the max is for T5's on Ice Cap 660's, but I think I'm near it those numbers (may be able to go to 4-4' bulbs?).

Ice Cap has currently suspended operations in an attempt to regroup financially, but hopefully, they'll be back in business soon.

Good T5 reflectors are a must. Those that are designed to envelope a single bulb and come from higher reflective aluminum are best. If piecing a system together, the three piece waterproof endcaps with standoffs are another good thing to use.

 

[harmichael]

I was looking at Tek lighting fixtures...would a fixture like this be ok for softies?

http://www.marinedepot.com/48_inch_6x54W_Sunlight_Supply_Tek_Light_High_Output_Fluorescent_Lighting_Fixture_48_Inch_T5_Fluorescent_Light_Fixtures-Sunlight_Supply_Inc-SL2111-FILTFIT58U-SL2119-vi.html

Either the 6 or 8 bulb.

Or something like this:

http://www.blueworldaquariums.com/proddetail.php?prod=220404

 

[The Donald]

Gflat65...can you post a FTS of your 75 gallon with the 3 foot fixture over it...I'm looking to do the same thing and would love to see the look

thanks

 

[jwoyshnar]

My favorite is a combo of t5 and t12 vho's. You can't beat the color of t12 super actinics with soft corals.

 

[Rudolph]

I had compac's (4 x 65) over a 75G and recently went to T5's (4 x 54)......my zoas, ricorida shrooms and other softies as well as some LFS really responded and look fantastic....would like to get add two more lamps down the road....

 

[bee505]

I really enjoyed my pc lighting over my softy tank. I think T-5 is a good choice if you do decide to dump some sps corals later on.

 

[RyanSweatt2004]

halides all the way, I have 2- 250 14k halides over my 75 with 35 species of soft corals growing like mad. My largest toadstool has even stretched up to the light to the point that its touching the surface and still growing.

 

[fishcraze_1]

halides all the way, I have 2- 250 14k halides over my 75 with 35 species of soft corals growing like mad. My largest toadstool has even stretched up to the light to the point that its touching the surface and still growing.

would like to see a picture of your tank, sounds awesome