I am going to get my new tank going soon but im not sure what lights i should get. My tank will be 72" long by 36" wide by 25"tall (maybe 96" long if i find some extra $$) i will have all sorts of corals in there and some fish. What lights should i get? i was thinking about getting the LED lights (forgot the name) but they are a little $$. I'm not real good with the lighting part of the tank so any advice would help. Thanks
Need some Lighting Advise Please
- Thread starter PJsStuff
- Start date
ReefingBuddha
New member
If you choose to take the leap to LED you will have to do it against the advice of most of the reefers out there. I have made the jump and don't think I will go back unless something very disturbing comes out, outside of the price tag. I personally am very happy with my fixture thus far. Just my opinion.
Tell us more. Are you going to need high power lights for SPS? or are you shooting for mostly LPS corals.
Tell us more. Are you going to need high power lights for SPS? or are you shooting for mostly LPS corals.
yaktop
New member
I am currently working on a 480 gallon tank. I decided to go with t-5 lighting for several reason. Heat heat heat--The t-5 don't hardly produce any heat compared to metal halides.
Also t-5 produce about 10 percent more useable light per watt that MH. The also last longer than MH and power compacts. If you really want to ramp them up you can buy a ice cap fixture or use thier ballast and over drive the t-5 to from 54 watts to about 80-85.
I will be using two 4 ft 8 bulb fixtures and 2 4 ft 4 bulb fixtures-- that is a total of 1296 watts over a 8 ft tank!!! Without using the icecap ballast and overdriving the bulbs.
Aslo the par value is higher for MH lights but it is concentrated in a small are. With the t-5 the par value is spread evenly across the tank and I will have much fewer dead light spots. Think about it--3 400 watt bulbs centered over the tank or bulbs from front to back and end to end. Which gives you better coverage with fewer dead spot. Total wattage and par is about the same.
Hope this helps,
Ken
I would probably go with 3 250watt. 2 XM 10K with 1 XM 20K in the middle. I am looking at getting this exact setup. I like the Icecap electronic ballasts with the lumenarc II or III reflectors. You will also need to supplement with actinic. I am going to use 4 actinic Power Compact bulbs, however most usually setup two 72" VHO bulbs, one in front and one in back.
Hope that helps...
Hope that helps...
yaktop
New member
glad to hear. I am just setting up my 270 and was going to use 2 250 mh w. lumenarcs as a trial with a light rail that slowing rolls both reflectors back and forth over the length of the 6 ft tank. I was thinking it probably wasnt enough and would then try 400W before I added a third lumenarc. maybe know I'm not so skeptical. got a pic of your tank?
extinguishfire
New member
Black71gp, do you have a full tank shot pic? I am doing 2 x 250w lumenarc mh's and some t5 supplements. I wanted to see how it came out on your tank with two mhs.
