Lighting for 120

[tom obrecht]

I think I know what the outcome to this question will be but I wanted to see what the pro's of sps say. I'm in the process of setting up a standard 120 gallon display (48x24x24) and have already decided what I'm using as far as lighting goes. I've had numerous tanks in the past with halides and vho's with success so I plan on sticking with that combo. My question concerns the wattage and temperature of the bulbs. I have 2 175/250 watt Sunlight Supply Galaxy electronic ballasts hooked to 2 Lumen Max 2 Reflectors. 2 VHO actinic bulbs will supplement the halides. The 2 questions I have is should I go 175 or 250 watts in bulb selection and what bulbs would be suggested? I'm leaning towards the 250 20k Radiums but am curious what others think since I have never been a hardcore successful sps keeper. To start I would like to try some of the easier sps species along with chalices and perhaps a few lps and in time hopefully develop the skills to keep some of the more challenging varieties. I don't however want to keep switching bulbs to see what does the best for the corals. I'm not switching to LEDS so I just need proven MH info to start me out in the right direction! Thanks in advance!

 

[jroovers]

You'll be fine with two 250 watt bulbs plus PC's. My tank is the exact same size as yours and I used to run two 250's plus four T5's over it (I've since switched to four T5's and two strips of LED's). In terms of what bulbs, I guess that depends on the look you like. The radiums will do the job, hopefully you are planning on keeping your SPS near the top of the scape and your chalices and LPS near the bottom... you may need to even shade your chalices down on the sand bed or bottom, two 250's is great for the SPS but might be too much for some chalices.

 

[Ross33]

Radiums for sure!

 

[tom obrecht]

Do you think 175 watters would work? I have no problem running the 250's but if I can still grow sps and be friendlier to lower light corals like chalices and other lps corals that would be ideal. I just see so many great sps tanks here blasting their tanks with tons of par. Thoughts?

 

[jda]

Mogul 250W Radiums are great bulbs. You could try some 14-15K bulbs since you are lucky/smart to have the VHO still around to get the pop of the Super Actinic which has since been unmatched in the hobby, but the Radiums are a sure thing IMO in the best-of-breed range.

I have 2 super high end chalices in my 120G 4x2x2 SPS tank with 3x250W 14K Phoenix HQI (more light than a 250W Mogul Radium) and they do quite well in the sand and about half way up - this is where I have them and they grow like crazy with great colors... they might be able to even handle more light, but I would not know. ...and the same with a few acans, gold torch and orange hammer which is the limited amount of non-SPS that I keep in my "mixed" tank. It is going to break my heart one day to chisel them out of my tank... all are lit with 250W HQI and don't appear to mind "too much" light from a high quality light source void of garbage spectrum.

 

[jda]

I just see so many great sps tanks here blasting their tanks with tons of par. Thoughts?

You need to look beyond PAR into quality of spectrum, IMO. There is no such thing as too much par from a high quality source where you need less light from a source that gives off garbage spectrum. The sun rocks out over 1300 par in an outside tank when we lived in Kansas City and I can run 2 fixtures accounting for 6x250W HQI over my standard 120G and everything just thrives at around 1000 PAR. However, the sun and my HQI are a high quality light source that also have good quantity.

 

[tom obrecht]

Since I'm using actinic vhos will the 20k radius be too blue in everyone's opinion? I personally don't care for the real blue look that many 20k bulbs put out but for coloration of corals will it be the best option?

 

[jroovers]

Since I'm using actinic vhos will the 20k radius be too blue in everyone's opinion? I personally don't care for the real blue look that many 20k bulbs put out but for coloration of corals will it be the best option?

I guess that is sort of subjective... I used to run actinic T5 bulbs with 2 x 250 watt 12k Reeflux bulbs and liked the look... others prefer the bluer look. That said, I don't think you'll be lacking for light.

 

[jda]

I don't see the need to supplement either SE 20K Radiums or DE 14K Phoenix, but each will vary... I just save the wattage and bulb cost. However, Super Actinic VHOs are very special, so a nice 14-15K bulb and the VHOs might be pretty nice, but I have none to recommend since I have not used any in so long, I am way out of touch.

 

[Nanook]

Since I'm using actinic vhos will the 20k radius be too blue in everyone's opinion? I personally don't care for the real blue look that many 20k bulbs put out but for coloration of corals will it be the best option?

I run 250 watt Radium and Phoenix (close to the same bulb) with VHO actinics and the tanks are not too blue, IMO.

 

[Jeremy B.]

What Dave said above! Those lamps with VHO actinics is certainly not too blue, and the VHO's give an awesome added color pop to everything in the tank.

 

[tom obrecht]

So I think I will try the Radium 20K with the actinics. Thanks all!