Lighting help for a newb please
- Thread starter LSBoogie
- Start date
Thank you very much for taking the time for this. I truly appreciate it. Advise will not be ignored..delayed maybe...but not ignored.
twerlinich
New member
More Light on Lighting Needed
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Sorry all, but the more I read about lighting for a reef tank, the more confused I get. There are so many unfamiliar terms (eg: What is "PAR" and why is it important?) and so many lighting options! Yep, I'm a newbie at least with regard to lights. Can anyone point me to a single source of information that will help me to better understand this science and enable me to make some enlightened (pun intended) decisions regarding what I need for my 120 gal mixed reef tank? Many thanks.
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Sorry all, but the more I read about lighting for a reef tank, the more confused I get. There are so many unfamiliar terms (eg: What is "PAR" and why is it important?) and so many lighting options! Yep, I'm a newbie at least with regard to lights. Can anyone point me to a single source of information that will help me to better understand this science and enable me to make some enlightened (pun intended) decisions regarding what I need for my 120 gal mixed reef tank? Many thanks.
This was the exact same dilema I was/am in. SOOOOOOOooooo many difference of opinions and SOOOOOOooooo many options. Just when you think you figured it out, BAM, you find out about some non mainstream company thats better then the rest...sigh... Obviously I can't help but, I would say on a tank that size you will probably get pointed to Metal Halides due to tank depth.
In the lighting section there is a sticky about MH Q and A. Biggest thing to worry about with those lights is the heat. I guess if it weren't for that everyone, including myself, would have them.
Chiefsurfer
New member
to twerlinich and LSboogie. PAR is an acronym for something. I forget WHAT it stands for(maybe in the acronym section) but it refers to the amount of AVAILABLE light that can be used by corals for photosynthesis. (maybe Photosynthetically Available Radiation?) PUR is actually what you need to be concerned with(its something like Photosynthetically Usable Radiation), but in most cases PAR is a good enough measurement to make an educated decision on what you want lightwise. It is a nice gauge.
T5's have become very popular of late for 3 main reasons. 1, Cost. MH's use a LOT of energy, compared to t5's to light a similarly sized and stocked tank. 2, Heat. MH's do produce a LOT of heat, and while most can use small fans of some sort, in the right conditions, you may need some method of chilling your tank, which means more energy and more cost. 3, bulb lifespand and cost. T5HO(regular-driven) bulbs last a long time. I forget the exact times of comparative but I will give you an IDEA. PC bulbs may last 6-9 months. MH last 9-12 months. T5HO bulbs last 12-18 months. This is dependant on heat, ballasts, etc, but it gives you an idea. Also, between MH bulbs, PC bulbs, and t5 bulbs, t5's are the cheapest to buy new.
There are DEFINITELY things that MH do that T5's just can't accomplish. Won't go into that because most-likely you won't need it. MH's biggest thing is it's penetration of PAR into deep tanks vs. t5's.
Really it is too overwhelming to go too far into lighitng. It took me like 6 months of pretty hard reading to figure it out myself.
T5's have become very popular of late for 3 main reasons. 1, Cost. MH's use a LOT of energy, compared to t5's to light a similarly sized and stocked tank. 2, Heat. MH's do produce a LOT of heat, and while most can use small fans of some sort, in the right conditions, you may need some method of chilling your tank, which means more energy and more cost. 3, bulb lifespand and cost. T5HO(regular-driven) bulbs last a long time. I forget the exact times of comparative but I will give you an IDEA. PC bulbs may last 6-9 months. MH last 9-12 months. T5HO bulbs last 12-18 months. This is dependant on heat, ballasts, etc, but it gives you an idea. Also, between MH bulbs, PC bulbs, and t5 bulbs, t5's are the cheapest to buy new.
There are DEFINITELY things that MH do that T5's just can't accomplish. Won't go into that because most-likely you won't need it. MH's biggest thing is it's penetration of PAR into deep tanks vs. t5's.
Really it is too overwhelming to go too far into lighitng. It took me like 6 months of pretty hard reading to figure it out myself.
I helped narrow down my search a wee bit by simply searching random salt water forums for my tank size (being that mine is "odd", I also searched for similar size). Looked at their pictures and what they were growing. The ones I liked I read their equipment lists.
I know its not as detailed as figuring out all the scientific reasons one light is better then any other but it helped me figure out what the guys with the tanks that I would like to have were running.
For mine I found t5s extrememly popular. MH 2nd and on some extremem builds. PCs almost never.
I know its not as detailed as figuring out all the scientific reasons one light is better then any other but it helped me figure out what the guys with the tanks that I would like to have were running.
For mine I found t5s extrememly popular. MH 2nd and on some extremem builds. PCs almost never.
