Lighting Suggestions?

[E.D.E]

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering what lighting system would be best suited for my 180 gallon tank that I'd like to convert to a macroalgae dominated tank, instead of live-rock dominated :lmao: . I'm rather strapped for cash, as I'm only 16. The lights I was considering were the Rapid LED Onyx system (3 of them, to be precise), or a 72" Cebu Sun Metal Halide/ T5 unit.
http://www.rapidled.com/onyx-by-rapid-led/

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=H-ACBS517510

I'm rather new to the whole algae business and everything, although I know the basics. I was reading somewhere that LED's were rather insufficient but the Rapid LED website says it can "grow about anything", and it was easier for me to buy than the halide system, which I'd also need a chiller for. Any suggestions as to what I should light my tank with for the best possible outcome of my macroalgaes? I intend to keep species of halimeda, caulurpa, ochtodes, and various red algaes. I was wondering if sargassum would be a decent algae to use, although I'd probably need the halide system, right? Thanks in advance!!

TL;DR:What should I use to light a 180 gallon macroalgae dominated tank??

 

[mcdonous]

Strapped for cash must mean something different to you then me Those fixtures look expensive to me.

I'm no lighting or algae expert so take what I say with appropriate skepticism. I don't think you need the metal halides. I grow all my algae including all the ones you listed with 4 T5 bulbs. Now my tank is only a 75 but I think several of my algae gets too much light. My rocks go fairly high and the the algae grows up to (and sometimes above) the water line. The ones up high are much much lighter then the ones at the bottom and shaded. They all grow great though. Some of the algae do great even under the overhangs and caves.

If you can suspend the light over the middle of the tank I would go for a 48" 4 or 6 bulb fixture. This of course depends on what else you want in the tank. I think this would be plenty of light for most algae, LPS, and would give you some less intense areas for softies. I don't know about SPS but I wouldn't recommend them with the algae anyway. Saves you a bunch of money and you can always add additional fixtures later and shouldn't need a chiller.

_Steve

 

[E.D.E]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. What you said made a lot of sense. The only thing I was wondering about was the whole "3-4 watts per gallon rule", and 180 gallons equates to 720 watts, which would mean a lot of t-5's. That's all, but still, what you said makes a lot of sense now that i hear it coming from another person, haha.

What kinds of algae do you have??

 

[dputt88]

you can try a custom layout with Reef Breeders, they're pretty affordable and they are a great product.

 

[mcdonous]

My tank details can be found in my thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2259908

-Steve

 

[SantaMonica]

You could always use LED grow lights, if you did not need to look at the tank

 

[li_newb]

at superbrightleds.com you can find waterproof high output leds that are super cheap compared to what ive seen and if your comfortable setting it up yourself