Reef lighting suggestions

[bubblewood]

Hi....
I'm currently in work on a 240 gal reef tank. Tank dimensions are 60"x36"25". I'm looking for some input on suggestions for lighting. I really like the metal halide look on corals and fish. Then I'm not against the LED route either. My tank will have LPS & SPS plus any extras.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ssscuz]

i have seen a couple of tanks now with the ATI led/t5 hybrid. the colour you get is quite amazing. by the sounds of it they are easy to program to get what you want aswell.

 

[JillNairn]

I looked at all the different leds, and even though I know there are better leds out there that are more customizable then what I went with, with a tank wider then 30 inches, there are few choices that make it economical money wise.

30 inches is pushing most led units. They seem to mostly be good for a 2ft by 2ft area and start to look like hallos if trying to get much more out of them in wider tanks. I looked at many of the leds offered, but for a wide tank, it would mean I would of had to get extra lighting either by putting two for every two foot of tump space making that atrociously expensive, or adding t5's or led strips or ?? and not having a clean look as well as starting to make it quite expensive.

Then I came across the razors. For the money, the maxspect razors 27inch option is able to handle at least 36inches with no dimmed out areas, and seen a few 4 ft tanks without bracing using them as well even. Personally I think they are good up to about 40 inches from looking at many tanks with the light over them, but the anything longer they start to have very little light on the sides. Anyhow, with the dimensions, may be a good option for you.

 

[ali1]

leds hands down. check some of the sps tanks here with leds. many of the tank of the month owners are using leds.... too many options with leds