LPS under 250 watt halides

[DownwardDawg]

I'm doing tons of reading/research before I start my 125 this summer. I'm torn on the lighting. Actually, I'm obsessed with trying to pick the correct lighting. I've narrowed it down (I think) to MH or AI SOL LED's. I want a mixed reef, but I really love LPS more so than SPS. If I place three 250 watt halides over this tank plus some LED or T5 actinics, will I have lighting for LPS to THRIVE?
Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Dubbin1]

Thats PLENTY of light for ANYTHING you would want to keep.

 

[ehren78]

You'd be good with just T5 like Ati Powermodule/Sunpower or the like. Yeah MH helps them to thrive bigtime! If you want to supplement with Actinic I would suggest a couple ReefBrite strips.

But forget all that I also have AI Sol Blue on my tank adding another module as soon as AI builds it for me (imo some Near White DIY leds would help with better color). At first the LPS were distressed but within 2 weeks they pulled thru and are all back to normal. Do it right the first time or you'll end up like me, buying PC then T5 then Halide and now LED! Lots of money down the drain. 1 module will easily cover 18" good, My tank is 22"x22" and 27" deep and it doesn't cover all the corals on the sides but it is only 10" above the water level too.

 

[DownwardDawg]

Lol. Yeah, I have pc on my 20 and a halide on my 29. Its either halide or led. I love shimmer. I was worrying about too much light though.

 

[hpfunk]

I've narrowed it down (I think) to MH or AI SOL LED's. If I place three 250 watt halides over this tank plus some LED or T5 actinics, will I have lighting for LPS to THRIVE?
Thanks for any and all advice.

I have three 12000K 250w MH hanging 12" above a 24" deep tank, in addition I use blue LED stunner strips to supplement. I have a one year old mixed reef but have been concentrating on LPS as well as SPS frags lately.

I was worried it was to much light for some of my acans, scolys, and chalices, but I have only lost one out of 50+ lps pieces and it was because a lobo colony fell on an 5 head acan frag and ate it up.

Check out the tank at http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1995666&page=2. I don't have enough experience to compare the two options, but I know my set up allows me to keep any "light requirement" piece that I want.

Hope this was a little help... Good luck with the new set up.

 

[droth335]

I have 3 250W 10K MH + 4x80W T5 actinics over my 210 mixed reef and it is plenty of light. If you are going with a LPS dominate tank T5's would be a good alternative I think and just keep your SPS higher in the tank.

 

[DownwardDawg]

Thanks for all the input so far.

hpfunk, great looking tank!!!! I was (and still am) considering same type lighting setup. I had my eye on those stunner strips for actinics if I use the halides. I like the reefbrite strips too, just more expensive.
Such a major decision!!!