Lighting Setup?

[Darth_Pleco]

Hey all,

I am currently working on setting up a 55 gallon reef tank. I plan on keeping some bubble tip anemones and a few basic corals with live rock for now.

Ive been researching lighting for a few days to figure out which setup would be most beneficial. I want to be able to do a 24 hour light cycle.

Should I do Halide with T5? LED with T5? Or is a full spectrum LED set up enough by itself? I currently have a dual T5 with a 10k and Actinic bulbs that was used when I had Axolotls in the tank, im thinking it would be easier to supplement this fixture but im not super attached to that idea yet.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Coelli]

T5 + LED are becoming the popular and recommended setup. I'm running two Kessils and since adding 4x24w T5 3 weeks ago my tank has basically exploded.

Also, I love your username. So awesome.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You ask an impossible question. They all work and they all have their proponents. I've had all 3 types on my 4 tanks. I now have leds and may well add a t5 to the DT's just to reduce shadows at midday bright. I do a 5 hour sunrise, 3 hour midday and 6 hour sunset and would run the t5 for 5 hours with the midday leds.

 

[Darth_Pleco]

True, the question does seem impossible. I should be a little more clear I just want to make sure I'm not making a bad lighting choice for corals and anemones.

Thanks for the input. I thing I'm going to add a set of led to compliment my t5 for the night/sunrise/sunset cycle. I have not found a reason yet to do MH.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I had t5 and went to MH with t5 and then to all led. I'm MUCH happier with the leds. I'm considering adding a couple of t5 for midday coverage just to reduce the shadows. But I'll probably wait to see what the new fixture coming from Phillips will be. They 'claim' it will be a 'new' design for aquarium led fixtures. Lots of hype and marketing BS, we'll see just how special it is when it debuts.