Lighting the ultimate LPS tank...how would you?

[kev apsley]

If you were given the task of picking the ultimate lighting setup for an LPS only tank (no sps what-so-ever) what type of lighting setup would you choose and why? MH or T-5 or something else. Also, please explain why you would choose that type of lighting! The system would be a standard 125g filled with Favia, Acans, Mics, Scoly's etc.

 

[stunreefer]

Depends how deep it is.....but my first thought would be 175W MH's. I'm a MH man, what can I say? I'm a sucker for glitter lines, and I'm a big diver. Theres nothing more natural than a MH glitter and intensity. Granted you can achieve the same, if not better colors with T5, but I dont care, They look like pastel paintings to me, and blacklights.

Depth is a huge issue though. 12" would be more like a 70w MH. 30" would probably be 250w MH.

 

[kev apsley]

You are right about the glitter lines, I love them too!

 

[Flavum]

+1 for LPS and halides. dont need no stinkin t-5's! woot

 

[Amoore311]

T5's for me.

I prefer the advantages of the various bulb combos I have at my finger tips w/ T5's.

 

[kev apsley]

flavum, great song in your sig by the way....one of my favorites!

 

[Flavum]

Ahh me too kev!
I knew a person with jerry in their avatar would share my taste

 

[johnanddawn]

i've been searching for the same answer
10k 175's with VHO actinic - liked it a lot and corals did just fine, many on the bottom in the sand - but wanted less electric bill

straight VHO - a bit too pink but nice - corals did just fine

i now am trying VHO actinics and T5 whites - i like the color but too early to tell how my corals feel about it - i'm hoping i found "the ultimate" LPS lighting but know there is no such thing - every coral has its own needs and LPS probably vary the most of any group in terms of natural habitat and therefore light/flow/water quality

 

[143gadgets]

3-250w radiums
2- ati b+ bulbs
2- uri vho actinics

Pure LPS bliss!

 

[z's_N_p's]

I would probably go with MH w/ T'5 supplementation...

 

[Chong27]

Why not have the best of both worlds and go with a mh/t5 combo.

 

[reefer1024]

i like MH because of the glitter lines. The only downside is if you only have one bulb corals not directly under the bulb have a lit side and a shady side. I would go with multiple 150s or 250s instead of 175s just because you will have more bulb choices I would also add some T5 or VHO actinic.

You might even do a combination of T5 daylight and actinic along with a bunch of 150w MH so that get the combination of glitter lines and also even light coverage.

And lastly a video for a fellow dead-head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX9Vhv4akxc

 

[kev apsley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12820896#post12820896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer1024

And lastly a video for a fellow dead-head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX9Vhv4akxc

Ahhhhh Thanks for that!

 

[Newreeflady]

I like the 250w MHs. You get more bulb choices with the 250's than with the 175's...

Another +1 for glitter lines. I started with MH and I've seen other tanks without them and, while they are also beautiful and many times more colorful, I could never go without the glitter lines.... I'd probably throw MH over a softy tank, though. lol!

-A

 

[sfsuphysics]

Depends upon the tank. There are MANY LPS corals that do not like bright light at all and will fade, lose colors, etc. However for those that hate light there are probably same if not more who love bright lights.

Depending upon the depth/size of the tank, I'd toss a single MH bulb that's on maybe 5 hours a day, with some Blue Plus T5s or something as suppliment.