Lighting oops?

R

rl225

Fish R Cool M'Kay
A close friend and I are both setting up reef tanks for the first time ever. While I am reading this site hours per day in an attempt to do my living creatures justice and try not to kill them, he relies 100% on what the LFS tells him.

We both have 7' long tanks that are 30" deep. While mine is 24" front to back, his is 18" front to back. (72x24x30Tall, 72x18x30Tall).

I'm doing a lot of research before buying ANYTHING.. We both want mostly SPS, and the LFS sold him an ATI 8x80 60" light. Will he be able to keep SPS and clams on the sand? That's what the LFS tells him. I love the look of T5s more than all other lights (save the shimmer effect, that's really awesome with MH, LED is a little too much for me though).

I don't want to start a lighting debate... but if he can't grow what he wants I'd like to tell him so he can return the lights.

Asked him to join here and read up, his response, "They're just fish and coral, the lfs will tell me what to buy. It's not rocket science dude." (bad mind set IMO)
 
T5s will be fine. Just keep the SPS up high. But clams will be a no on the sand. They require alot of light.

And youre friend is on his way to a rude awakening. I say if someone doesnt wanna listen, let them learn...the hard way
 
I disagree you could put a squammy or gigas on the bottom just fine. Perhaps even a deresa, keep crocea up at the top. SPS will thrive so long as you keep the bulbs changed and the water stable. From what I've seen and read the ATI are serious T5s, just my .02.
 
If it's an ATI fixture...then yes...he will be able to grow any SPS or clams on the sand bed. Those are the top of the top when it comes to T5. Tell him to be careful though...if he wants to grow them on the sand bed, that would imply that his light will be between 4" and 8" off the water...at that low level the corals at the TOP of the tank will be bleaching and dead.

Ask me how I know... ;) I've had my ATI PM 14" off the surface and still grown SPS frags on the sand. (22" tall roughly to the surface...plus the 14" between the surface and the light)
 
after seeing the fixture in person and seeing the light and color it puts out, WOW.. I'm in love. This light is impressive. ATI made a very well made product here. It's very thin as well.. :beer:
 
I debated replying, but RC is all about helping each other out especially newbies.

That being said factor in start up cost, and daily/annual costs to operate lights. If making the lighting decision comes down only to getting reproducible result ( which is a good basis for lighting decision) then go halides or T5.
However, if you are looking at the long term sustainability of this hobby and where you will likely end up if your still doing this in 2-5 years, consider LED.
Yes it's still an emerging technology, yes it can be a bit more difficult to acclimate your corals. Yes it will cost you 10-50% more up front. But you will not be reaching bulbs every 6 months and you can get comparable results to T5/MH.
Now for those who are going to be inclined to jump all over this comment. I don't wish to debate MH/T5 results compared to LED here. My point is to merely say that MH/T5 is much easier to reproduce excellent SPS color and growth compared to LED options, but when done right LED will give comparable results at a longer term reduced cost of operation.
If I were a newbie I would want to factor this in my decision making.
 
cediss said:
I debated replying, but RC is all about helping each other out especially newbies.

That being said factor in start up cost, and daily/annual costs to operate lights. If making the lighting decision comes down only to getting reproducible result ( which is a good basis for lighting decision) then go halides or T5.
However, if you are looking at the long term sustainability of this hobby and where you will likely end up if your still doing this in 2-5 years, consider LED.
Yes it's still an emerging technology, yes it can be a bit more difficult to acclimate your corals. Yes it will cost you 10-50% more up front. But you will not be reaching bulbs every 6 months and you can get comparable results to T5/MH.
Now for those who are going to be inclined to jump all over this comment. I don't wish to debate MH/T5 results compared to LED here. My point is to merely say that MH/T5 is much easier to reproduce excellent SPS color and growth compared to LED options, but when done right LED will give comparable results at a longer term reduced cost of operation.
If I were a newbie I would want to factor this in my decision making.
Click to expand...

This was a really interesting opinion to read and for my build as a pretty new reef enthusiast I'm glad I switched from the led I had to MH. I know im guaranteed good results with it. I've heard both good and bad for led. Mostly good. Just cuz some go to cheap and see bad results from led. I like my anemones and they seem to like the mh better as well.


Sent from Qbabys Tapatalk.
 
For the money you can't go wrong with ATI. I'm selling my radion because I love the look/color of these T5's with a reefbrite attached. This is all opinion though of course, I think I'm going to wait awhile before splurging on LEd's again and put my money back into some nice new sps for now :). Just figure out whats important to you. Remember, no one cares about what lighting you have (latest and greatest led's or "old school" mh/t5's, it's the ability to sustain thriving livestock that counts.
 
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