Lighting for LPS & SPS combo tank

[jb1972]

I use 3 x 250 w hqi phenoix 14k bulbs only nice blues all alone without t-5 supplement and lps semm to adust fine but also use caves for lower light corals

 

[Sula]

What LPS are big time light lovers?

I have a similar dilemma. I am running 2 X 175 MH plus 2 X 110 watt VHO on a 100 gal. Tank is 20 inches tall. The only LPS that seems to like it up near the top is my wall hammer, that guy just soaks up the light! All other LPS seem happiest at the bottom - Bubble coral, Leptastrea, Blastos, Acans, Lobophyllia, Scolymia, Mycedium.
I have a section near the top that needs more corals. Anyone have ideas for other light-loving LPS or should I be thinking about some SPS for the higher light environment? Of the corals I have listed, are there any that you think could be acclimated slowly to be placed near the top?
Thanks for any advice!

 

[Zoom]

Look at the picture most LPS are under 250W 14K Hamilton bulbs with two 96 W pc on 10 Hours lighting duration. They like the 14K lights i did have them on 10K XM for long time with similar results but I did not like the color of the LPS under that light is much.

Look at this blasto is right under the 14K 250W bulb .

 

[bdare]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11457937#post11457937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zoom
Look at the picture most LPS are under 250W 14K Hamilton bulbs with two 96 W pc on 10 Hours lighting duration. They like the 14K lights i did have them on 10K XM for long time with similar results but I did not like the color of the LPS under that light is much.

Steve,

GREAT looking tank! Thanks so much for sharing! I feel much better seeing that picture. Did yo have to acclimate to get them up there?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Zoom]

GREAT looking tank! Thanks so much for sharing! I feel much better seeing that picture. Did yo have to acclimate to get them up there?

Yes i have a 24" deep tank all the corals staying at the bottom of the tank for two weeks when i first get them and slowly i get them up in two more weeks. most of my corals are old the
blasto is six years old i got it when it was about one inch long

 

[Serioussnaps]

Placement, placement, placement....placement is everything when doing a LPS/sPs combo type tank!

I prefer T5's, but that goes for everything now so my lighting opinion means nothing, but if you know your livestock like you should and have some experience you will be able to make them thrive under any sufficient lighting application with proper placement!

Also, when you consider lighting for this tank...you should consider flow as they work together when trying to properly mix LPS with SPS. flow is actually the hard part. Ask yourself, "how will I keep the lower lit areas with less turbulent flow?" It gets more complicated than that, but I think you also need to strongly consider the flow/lightin relationship if you are going to mix species successsfully.

disclaimer: Size of the tank is crucial as well as a larger tank makes it easier to mix these types of animals and prior to posting this I didn't pay attention to what size the tank is in question

 

[Serioussnaps]

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