Lighting for SPS

[StefanHayek]

Hey,

I have a coralife professional retrofit fixture (3 150 hqi bulbsand 4-54 watt pcs). I am running them on a 125 (7ft long).

Can I keep most sps? or should I upgrade the pcs to t5s?

I am really looking to establish an sps dominated tank, and I have been told that 150w hqi's are not powerful enough to keep acros and such.

Any opionions?


Stefan

 

[StefanHayek]

not a single opinion?

 

[Rhodesholar]

I will chime in. I think people are afraid to say something because once they do some one jumps in to contradict them so no one wants to be first

IMO, in that big of a tank that will not be enough light. I run 2 150watt 10k hqi on my 72 and it is at the bottom end of light for my SPS. They grow, but the color could be better. I would be better served with 250 watts. You should start at 250. It has more to do with depth then anything. 150 watts will not penetrate deeper then say 18in with enough PAR to do anything. Put that same light in 6inches depth and call it a day, no problem.

Ok, now everyone else chime in and tell me how wrong I am

 

[cward]

You might be able to keep SPS with 150's, but in my experience, most SPS really do better under 250's or 400's. The tank depth really is the deciding factor. For a 24"+deep tank, I would use 250's or 400's. I used to keep SPS in my 120g tank with 175w SE bulbs, but my corals started to really thrive when I switched to 400's.

 

[cward]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9695164#post9695164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rhodesholar
Ok, now everyone else chime in and tell me how wrong I am

You are soo wrong, I can't believe you said that:lol:

I think you hit the nail on the head Rhodesholar.

 

[Rhodesholar]

Yea, so many opinions on a topic that really has no absoloutes.

Now what I am waiting for is some one to say they have been doing it with a 60watt incadescent light bulb.

 

[StefanHayek]

Thanks for the response guys.

I figured that the lighting was a bit weak.

Do you think if I managed to retrofit 400w of t5 in there that there would be much benefit?

Or should I stick with the prospect of getting some 400 W MHs?


Thanks,
Stefan

 

[klam114]

For SPS dominated tank, the more light the better. If you electricity rate isn't too bad, go with 3x 400w MH and just keep your PC lighting as supplements if you want.

 

[Tang Salad]

Hey there-

I'll chime in. I have two of the 2 foot Coralife 150 HQI fixtures and keep SPS successfully.

The trick is just to put the most light-demanding corals near the top. 150s won't penetrate as deep as 250s.

The K value of the MH bulbs is also a consideration. Generally speaking 6500-14,000 K provide more PAR, and are therefore better if you fear the MHs are underpowered.

BTW, I've been very happy with the C'life fixtures. Very well-made and quite slick looking.

 

[grigsy]

I would jump up to 400 watt if you are looking to do SPS.

 

[StefanHayek]

Do you think that there is much of a difference between the fact that they are hqi and not SE?

I was under the assumption that hqi blubs put out more light.

 

[skey44]

remember par has everything to do with this and there are 175 watt mogul base bulbs that kick 250 watt heinie(sp?). 250's do not necessarily put out more light... my 150 watt phoenix is pretty pathetic but the 250 hqi is a decent performer for a blue bulb... all the testing has been done on different ballasts with different brand bulbs and each watt configuration. sanjay's sight is worth 100's of these opinions. Color wise go with what you like... par wise go with more. Look at the 175 watt iwasaki 15k on ice cap e ballast, man! lots o par/watt and reportedly brilliant color rendering.... there are options there too. the deliberation is endless... imo-just go with high par (more for deeper tanks) and good color. you could stick where you are(you could move to higher par 150hqi bulbs) and successfully keep sps too without a doubt in my mind, but more might be a little better. I keep acros and they do pretty well with my single 150w halide over a 37 cube, but i want more

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

With a 7ft long tank you could probably get by keeping SPS with 3 x 150HWI, due the the tank being pretty shallow.

I would however, go with 3 x 250W fixtures, just to save yourself from having to upgrade in the future.

As far as HQI and SE, there is much debate, but I will tell you I like SE bulbs better than DE. I have had both, and like the SE bulbs better, I see better growth from the same wattage and kelvin. I think it is all a matter of opinion as to which people like more.