Lights for a 180, Halides, T5's or LED's? opinions

[LeslieS88]

I'm torn on what lights to use for a 180 mixed reef. I want good growth out of my corals. I have a radion on 40 breeder and not all that thrilled with the growth on corals.

Looking for suggestions on what lights everyone with large tanks use? Whats my best route.

Thanks!

 

[Loserland]

I have all radions over mine and if I could go back would do a radion T5 combo. 4 radions instead of 8 and 8 4 foot T5's

 

[savethereef]

I use hydras

 

[Mael]

How long is this 180 tank in length? You will probably need 3 LED units to cover it, I will get flak for this but I like the Cheaper full spectrum led units off amazon and ebay, I am running 1 aquamanna over a 46g tank and love it, the corals practically glow under the lights and the growth is about the same as my T5HO unit if not a tiny bit better, but I need a longer time to really judge that.

The other thing about the std 165watt ebay units is if you need more light spread you can pull the 90* lenses and the natural spread of the leds is 120*, this is what I did to make sure the corners got enough light.

This is all my opinion and IME, others will definitely say the only way is MH or T5 or both, and for them that may be the case.

 

[Nicmar]

It depends how much you want to spend on lights.
20K MH with royal blue LED and T5 would be great for growth and colour.
But for me I am on a budget so I would go LED with T5.

Those aquamanna LED mentioned should do the trick and use T5.
I use DIY LED which is more expensive but very quiet.
If I were to do it again I would just buy those ebay ones as they look tidy and are full spectrum. Just add 4 T5s and it will be a great setup for not much money. Bulb replacement will be cheaper than full T5.

 

[blackthunda77]

Im running 2 x 250 MH (radiums) with 2 48" strips of LED (royal blue, for the added pop and atinic effect). This is the set up im most happy with. Tried 100% LEDs but it wasnt doing it for me. Or my corals.

 

[SloppyJ]

For a tank that size, it would be easy to get a good deal on a MH/T5 combo. That's what I would do.

 

[Cougarman]

Metal halide/ T5 combo is proven. So many amazing tanks with this configuration. Plug and play really.
I'm using 100% LEDs. AI hydra 52s. Happy with results so far but so much tweaking involved. Almost too much control.

 

[drej424]

I tried some inexpensive LEDs on my 150. It was fine for soft corals but not for sps. I went back to MH everything is doing better. I just ordered some Kessils to try them. Now that summer is coming, the MH throw off so much heat. I'm hoping a better quality LED fixture will work out.

 

[campos]

I use hydras

are you growing SPS? What are your settings?

 

[zoomonster]

I agonized over it but in the end I went back to what I know and trust for this build... Hamilton MH/T5 with LED moonlights. A 72" ready to go with bulbs for about 1k +- options. I also was looking at the Lumenbright but its pretty wide because of the reflectors and only has 2 T5's + about $800 more. I did really like the all in one ballast box the LB uses with a single cable from the box. Hamilton Belize sun was considered too... Nice looking fixture but here again only 2 T5's and HQI bulbs. If I was willing to spend a ridiculous 4k I would have gotten the Giesemann MH/T5/Moonlight. Nice fixture with lots of bells and whistles but not for 4k.

As far as LED's go I'll just say it was going to be 3 x Hydra 52's + tank mounting hardware and a Apex WXM.