Lighting for a 120

[scott058]

Ok I think I know what I want for my new 120 48x24x24 upgrade. I was looking at the maristar hood system with 2x250w de 10k ushio bulbs with 2x54w actinic t5's
It is going to be a mixed reef with a few sps. What do some of you 120 gallon guys/gals think? Thanks for any opinions
-scott

 

[Fragmented 99]

With the 2 250s you shouldnt need the T5. you could probably eliminate the T5 or the second 250

 

[CW from the OC]

Hey Scott,

That will work nicely for some SPS, and you'll need to keep the lower light stuff down low and maybe even in the shade of a rock.

I really like to use actinics with MH, as it brings out the metalic colors and makes all colors pop nicely. Plus, hoepfully your unit lets you switch the actinics on alone, letting you have dawn/dusk. I like to run mny actinics a long time, from 8am to 9pm, and my metal halides only 6 hours.

Overall, I think that is perfect (250 watt HQI mmetal halides with actinic supplementation) for a mixed reef with a few SPS.

 

[scott058]

Thanks CW from the OC I think I will go ahead and get it then and yes it is set up so I can also run the actinics alone

 

[nait002]

I have a 120 48x24x24 mixed reef with softies, sps, and clams. I run dual pfo ballast with 2 ushio 10k bulbs. I have 2-65 watt pc 420 nm actinics and 3-28 watt t5 460 watt actinics. Imo the Ushios are great but I like the sup. from the actinics.

 

[perpetual98]

I just built a new canopy for one of my 120G tanks with the same dimensions. I've got a 4x54W T5 setup on an IceCap 660 and a 2x54W T5 setup on a spec ballast. The single 4x54W T5 setup with the 660 was WAY brighter than my older 2x250W halide and 460W of PC setup could ever hope to be. I added the other 2x54W T5 just cuz I was redoing the canopy and cuz I wanted the dusk/dawn effect. Here's a couple pics...

 

[scott058]

Looks nice, What are you keeping/planning on keeping with it?

 

[perpetual98]

I plan on keeping a little of everything with it, clams, SPS, etc. If the lighting is too bright for anything, I can put it in my other 120.

 

[Yam]

I would go with an Aquamedic 2x250W HQI pendant setup with 14k's.

 

[ctsieber]

my old 120 i ran 2 - 250w 20k EVC retro's. I kept nothing but SPS in that tank, and they grew like weeds.

 

[PITSTOP]

2x250 Double ended MH's 10K AB's plus 2x110 VHO Super Actinic = sweeeeeet SPS lighting - works wonders on my 120 SPS reef, look in my gallery for pics