SPS growth with various lighting

[erid]

Question for seasoned SPS keepers. (I'd like to become one, lol!)

If I am correct in saying, the general rule of thumb for SPS is a Min of 5 Watts per gallon.


I've seen fast growing beautiful tanks using VHO (4-110 watt = 440 Watts only 4.8 Watts per gallon on a 90Gal), & T-5 (65Watt bulbs x6 = 390 Watts 4.3 Watts per gallon on a 90 Gal).

I realize the the lighting is evenly distributed in the tank with tube lighting, but why do SPS tend to grow better with lower wattage tube lighting, than lower wattage halide/compact fixtures that may produce 6.2 watts per gallon (in my case 560 Watts)

What's your opinion? Does it come down to PAR? Or do you think it's Water Quality?

Thanks,

Erik

 

[MyMonkey]

PAR.

 

[silvers]

water quality, stability #1

 

[glxtrix]

Water quality and proper lighting. You can have amazing lights but not work well for you.

 

[useskaforevil]

watts per gallon means nothing.

 

[B.C.theReefer]

Personally I have never known SPS to do better under VHO or T5s than they do under halides. The kelvin value of the lighting also plays a large part. Another thing to consider is what your definition of 'better' growth is. More color or faster? And of course water quality should be monitored and maintained at all times. Not just nitrates either. Calcium, ph, alkalinity, and temp. must be kept at the correct levels. Don't forget about water movement. That plays just as important of a role as all the other factors. If any one of these things changes, so does the coral.

 

[snorvich]

Water quality, tank stability in its water quality, flow, and lighting. All are necessary and none by themselves is sufficient.

 

[scott11]

what factors determine color. I have a few frags in a new tank, they seem to be growing, but have little color. I have them about 8-12 inches from the lights, (lights are about 4" above water). 150w ushio 10k- and t5 antinics.

 

[erid]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Here's the deal,
I have an Current Outer orbit system with 2-150 Watt 14K HQI, and 2-130 Watt Dual Actinic PCs (560 Watts per gallon).

We all learn allot about this hobby from our experience, exposure to other hobbyists, and research.

All the guys with 400 Watt do great with SPS for color and growth; with 250 Watt I've seen the same.

But in the lower wattage HQI/PC or T-5 setups it remains a mystery to me if you can be successful in growing "colorful" SPS colonies that can grow 7-10 times its size in a year’s time like I've seen with the others.

Anyone using similar lighting out there? Let's see some pics!

 

[TKByrnes]

I have the same lighting on my 90 and I get 1/4 inch out of my sps every 2-3 weeks and 3-4 new zoa polyps a week. I think I have found the happy medium with lighting and nutrients in my tank.

 

[erid]

Cool!
I just restarted my tank (due to a February away from home for a week crash. It's all cycled and ready to stock.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
AK 9.8 Dkh
Ph 8.4
Gravity 1.0625
Cal 450
Mg (A little high) @ 1500 I use coralife salt
Phos show 0 according to chemical tests but I know better this time around. Using Phospan reactor
Temp 78 degrees

I'm using two part, and when needed I use Turbo Cal.

Current consists of a Hydor 3 and a modified maxi jet 600 with "the kit for 1600 Gph (awesome invention).

I plan to stock all "nice" SPS frags first. Want to get them growing right away.

 

[sirreal63]

Don't fall into the wattage, watt per gal trap. WPG is useless, PAR is what you need to focus on with lights, water clarity and DOC's and flow requirements are equally important.

I run 150 watt lights and have the 250's in the closet. Depending on your tank's height you may not need higher wattage bulbs. If you want to run lower par bulbs such as 20K you may need higher wattage to compensate. If you want to run 10K high par bulbs you won't need higher wattage lights.

On my old 125 I ran 150 watt 10K XDE's and had no problems with keeping clams on the sandbed and sps frags there too. Funny thing is the sps grew better under the 150's than they did under the 250's.

My little 58 has dual 150's and it is doing great. Now if I were to put 20K bulbs over it then it would not support sps on the sand bed. Low par bulbs and poor water quality only compound the problem of light intensity.

My old 125, clams on the sand grew at a very fast rate as did the sps. This is the left side of the 6' tank.

This is the right side,

Center section which was lit by a 250 watt 10K XDE and the corals grew slower under this bulb than they did under the 150's

End shot....note the corals that are larger are on the ends under the 150's. All were started as frags.

Don't fall into the trap of wattage...you can be as successful with lower wattage as you can with higher wattage. Selection of the equipment is important. Keeping adequate par is what is important along with water quality.

 

[erid]

Very Nice. Thanks for sharing your tank shots.
How old has this tank been running?

Erik

 

[sirreal63]

This tank is no longer running. I took it down last August before I moved back to Austin. Taking it down was one of the hardest things I have done. The LAIII mini's are currently over a 58 gallon tank.