Lighting choice

[A Reef Scene]

If you had to choose lighting what would it be.
3X96 watt PC
4 three foot vho
4 to 6 T5 lights

 

[Jeff]

For corals? What kind if so?

 

[A Reef Scene]

Sorry, yes there will be mostly sps corals and the tank will be 36x24x18

 

[runningnreefing]

If you had to choose lighting what would it be.
3X96 watt PC
4 three foot vho
4 to 6 T5 lights

Go with the T5 lights.

 

[cet98]

I'd vote for either a 6-8 (10 if ur budget allows) bulb T5 unit or a 250W MH/T5 combo unit

 

[JNye]

6 bulb T5 hands down

 

[A Reef Scene]

Are the PC and the vho just outdated or are the t5 lights that much better?

 

[FiReBReTHa]

combo ftw

MH /t5

 

[twinspots_goby]

If budgt allows, LED would be the best. Just don't use PC or VHO if plan to keep sps.

 

[dwilly]

From your choices I'd say the 6 T5's w/ individual reflectors would be the best choice for sps.

 

[spoofer]

T5's hand down..... MH/T5 combo is nice too

 

[poidog81]

I like the MH / T5 combos the best.

 

[JMalone81]

I would go with mh over t5 any day but a combo of both would be best.

 

[saleenpwr88]

MH/VHO combo is much better than MH/T5 IMO...with MH/T5 I could barely notice the T5s because the MH was much more powerful.

 

[mnestroy]

MH/VHO combo is much better than MH/T5 IMO...with MH/T5 I could barely notice the T5s because the MH was much more powerful.

Yah go with MH and if yoiu have room supliment with VHO's.. Best option out there.

 

[mystery_reef]

t5's or mh, up to you, you can successfully keep sps with either one.

 

[A Reef Scene]

i'm trying not to use a chiller to keep the electric bill down.

 

[mnestroy]

i'm trying not to use a chiller to keep the electric bill down.

I have 2 250watts over my 90 and I never need a chiller, I have the opposite problem, right now I have 2 - 300W heaters that kick on farely often to keep the water at 79.

In the summer the heaters dont kick on but at night, and durring the day I have a clip on fan above my sump that keeps my water below 81.

 

[A Reef Scene]

Can I use my extra Power compact ballast to light the t5's.

 

[wld1783]

i'm trying not to use a chiller to keep the electric bill down.

I just finished a 48 LED retro from http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-25/48-Premium-LED-Do-dsh-It-dsh-Yourself/Detail.

WOW. The Lux is twice my 400 watt radiums and the amp draw is 1.4.

A six bulb T5 will cost you 120 a year just in bulb replacement.

Id go with a DYI LED two bulb T5 combo. I'm switching over my whole system. Its a 4-5 year payback.

Bill