lighting for sps

[tigersnatchamps]

hey guys,

thought i would switch over to the newbee forum and ask a questions relative to lighting. i have a new 95 gal uro, four months established, doing well with 90 lbs of live rock xenias, mushrooms, bubble aneme, stocked with nine assorted small livestock fish. everything seems to going well, great purple alge growth, some areas getting close to quarter size. sump is 35 gallons with pro clear skimmer and refugium. would like to add some t5 lighting withheintentions of adding sps corals. i've heard a lot of different opinions about this (can't do without MH's) will work with t5's each t5 has to have it's own reflector, etc... I have decided 80% sure to add a single 36" t5 with a quality reflector at a cost of just under a hundred bucks. any thoughts????

 

[Akaash]

What's your current lighting system?

 

[beaupierce]

ya that could work.. why not go with the MH's though? You will save yourself a bunch of headaches that way. Also SPS aren't cheap, so to skimp on lighting will only hurt you in the end.
2 250's will do the trick

 

[Ziggy953]

I like the power of the MH. I have dual 175s on my tank and I have explosive growth in my SPS corals. T5s will work but I think the growth will be slower.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11682072#post11682072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ziggy953
I like the power of the MH. I have dual 175s on my tank and I have explosive growth in my SPS corals. T5s will work but I think the growth will be slower.

for the vibrant colours too---I think you need the metal halides