Setting up a new tank should I upgrade lights???

[welsher7]

I've been out of the reefing hobby for some time now and I'm finally getting back in with a new 120g, 48x24 foot print, that I'm ordering next week. I have a couple different lighting options from older tanks. I want to use a 48" 4x 54w tek fixture with 2 ATI coral+ and 2 ATI blue+ and 2or 4 full spectrum rapid led par38 bulbs. Do you think i would have enough lighting to run a mixed reef? This setup would be the cheapest to run, but I also have two 250w DE aquamedic pendants and two 250w SE lumen bright mini pendants. But I think I would rather upgrade than run either MH setup.

What do you think????

 

[jda]

There is nothing that is an upgrade over either of those MH pendants. They will produce the absolute best light that you can get.

The TEK is not a great fixture, but could work fine depending on what you want to keep. Maybe selling all of it and getting a 6 or 8 bulb ATI might be good. What do you want to keep? ...it can matter.

 

[welsher7]

There is nothing that is an upgrade over either of those MH pendants. They will produce the absolute best light that you can get.

The TEK is not a great fixture, but could work fine depending on what you want to keep. Maybe selling all of it and getting a 6 or 8 bulb ATI might be good. What do you want to keep? ...it can matter.

I'm planning a mixed reef, sps/lps/softies/bta, I was hoping I could get away with the tek and par38 bulbs but if that won't be enough than it maybe time to reevaluate my options.

I agree I love the look and power of MH, but don't like costs of running them. I used to run DE Phoenix 14k bulbs that had much longer life span than similar bulbs. Do they even still make Phoenix bulbs????? Maybe it's time to look at LEDs or should I just stick with MH. [emoji848][emoji848][emoji848][emoji848]




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[jda]

Yes, they still make Phoenix 14k. I still use them for two years, or more sometimes. The TEK would probably be OK for most of your list except for maybe some higher-light acropora and if you wanted some clams - give it a shot and you can always change later if you don't like it.

When factoring in your costs, I would cap the LED life at 4 or 5 years before they need replacement. There are not too many people using fixtures longer than that and the older fixtures are not even bringing $50 used anymore.

Also, you might be able to use 150W 14K phoenix which is still a great source of light and about the same costs as using a few panels and some T5s, but I guess that you would have to sell your stuff and buy new stuff. This is a great under-used setup that most don't even know about or will not consider.

 

[welsher7]

Maybe I'll just stick with the MH pendants. All my other equipment is from that same vintage so it will be an old school build I guess.


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