Do I need to upgrade my lighting?

[fishysteve]

I have a 120 (48 x 24 x 24 ) with mainly SPS, LPS, and clams. I have great color and growth I think with my current lighting, but I think I should have more wattage. Right now I have two 150 w HQI Ushio 10000K, one 96 watt 10000K PC, one 96 watt actinic, one 28 watt 10000K T5, and one 28 watt Actinic T5. The PC's are in a double fixture and so are the T5's. I think I should have at least 250 watt halides for the size and depth of my tank. If I upgrade to 250's could I lose the SPS coloring that I have and like. Or will it only get better? The pictures in my gallery don't seem to show the true intensity of my lighting, camera problem I guess. It is a lot brighter in person. Or, should I just keep what I already have?

 

[fishysteve]

Wow, no opinions.

 

[nmprisons]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Why would you upgrade your lighting if you already have "great color and growth" ... it just seems silly to me.

 

[Racso]

agreed. I could say, "YOU NEED 250WATT HALIDES, YOU HAVE SPS BLAH BLAH BLAH"

but it would be a total waste of money. IMO, if you have ANY growth at all, then you have enough lighting (minimal maybe, but enough). The only reason I can see getting higher lighting would be to increase growth.

Someone may argue that changing to a different light source (ie, something a little more compact or all in one) would save money, but you/someone would have to price compair and do some research on that.

but to quote nmprisons, if it aint broke...

 

[davocean]

I do agree w/ the "if it aint broke"
If you're looking to throw some $ away, you could swap the PC's for T-5's to be more efficient.
My tank is 180 (72x24x24) and since I'm mixed reef w/ nems on bottom, sps will be top half, therefore going w/ 3x150MH and T-5's combo.
I'm trying to run w/out chiller, so don't think I want 250's

 

[tcmfish]

I run 250's on my 75 and no problems with temp and no chiller. I also have a big sump and refugium (100 gal. sump 15 gal. refugium) so things stay pretty constant.

 

[skeeter-doc]

yeah, as above, I would not change anything

 

[raddogz]

This is up for grabs...

I am with the if ain't broke don't fix it camp...

however....

I would rather replace two metal halide bulbs once a year then individually replace all those bulbs in a two year time frame (assuming that you are running the pc's and t-5's longer than a year or so).

I believe you have 452 watts between all those lights. A pair of 250w MH would be at 500w which is a little more wattage than you have now.

I am running a pair a 250w MH over my 120g. I will be replacing out my de pendants with Lumenarc Mini's for better light spread and intensity.

 

[davocean]

RADDOGZ idea does make sense, and is simple and gives more watts.
Harder to adjust the perfect color like you can w/ T-5's.
Think I'd go 14k if that route.
But again man, when I get success;
DON'T TOUCH IT!!!!