SPS Gurus Help Me Choose a Light!

[arc eye]

I will be starting an SPS dominant system soon.

The tank will be a DSA Model 80 (48" X 20" X 21") and it will be situated in an alcove under our stair well.

Due to the angle of our stairway above the tank, the biggest fixture I can fit is a 36". The tank will be open top with the fixture hung above 7-8" above the tank (only have 10" on one side of the tank)

My goal is to minimize light spill and electricity consumption....and of course, to grow the heck out of some awesome SPS!

Which setup would you go with?

 

[premilove]

2 ecotech radions

 

[epicurus84]

2 ecotech radions

2 pacific sun tritron r2's (or r3 if already available).

or a Pandora Hyperion R2 (LED+T5)

 

[ChadRaay86]

Definitely a no on just two kessils. I'd go radion for sure if your want a high end LED setup...

 

[arc eye]

The radions are nice, but I am hoping to spend under $1000. Ideally I would get an led powermodule.

 

[Andyf30]

36" ati fixture. Hung up that high you'll still get good coverage of the tank.

 

[LoJack]

Is there a reason you didn't list the 8x39w? price?

A 36" fixture will be fine, you'll only have 6" to the edge of the tank on each side anyway ... I would think it won't matter in the grand scheme.

The 8 bulb isn't a whole lot more $, is only 17" wide, and gives you more bulb combinations for that perfect color

 

[arc eye]

Is there a reason you didn't list the 8x39w? price?

A 36" fixture will be fine, you'll only have 6" to the edge of the tank on each side anyway ... I would think it won't matter in the grand scheme.

The 8 bulb isn't a whole lot more $, is only 17" wide, and gives you more bulb combinations for that perfect color

I ruled out an 8 bulb fixture because I am concerned about light spill and having too much par. I would like to have a photo period of about 10hrs or so (2-3 dusk/dawn and maybe 7-8 full intensity)

 

[arc eye]

Just pulled the trigger on a 6X39w sunpower with the following bulbs:

3 Blue Plus
1 True Actinic
1 Purple Plus
1 Aquablue Special

Thanks for the opinions! I feel this fixture has the best chance of success.

 

[tmantaylor18]

good choice, I just upgraded from a Kessil to a 24" 6 bulb PM

 

[chad p]

My Kessil has been great with my SPS. Growth is decent to good and colors have been awesome. Made a rookie mistake and ramped it up to 100% 4 inches over the water and a couple frags/mini colonies bleached out a little but I dialed it back and everything is looking awesome. I definitely wouldn't turn away a radion if one was left at the door though. I may go that route on my next build.

 

[Nanook]

120g tank, debating between an 8-bulb 36" fixture and an 8-bulb 48" fixture. The T5 tanks I have seen have had amazing coloration and growth. I am looking at the ATI fixtures.

 

[JPMagyar]

2 ecotech radions

2 pacific sun tritron r2's (or r3 if already available).

or a Pandora Hyperion R2 (LED+T5)

Definitely a no on just two kessils. I'd go radion for sure if your want a high end LED setup...

This is what troubles me about the internet. Someone asks a question and they get 3 seemingly valid responses. I say: let's see YOUR awesome SPS grown under YOUR PacSuns, Radions, Hyperions, and Kessils.

One or two yes, but not repeated TOTM results by any means. LEDs will someday rule, but they are not the sure fire answer for a newbie. T5s and MHs are proven technology with results that anyone can duplicate. LEDs are not. That doesn't mean LEDs don't work, it means LEDs are not as broadly applicable as is T5 and MH technology so recommending LED lighting for a new tank is like telling a new driver that they should buy a Ferrari 'cuz it's the best when the truth is a Taurus or an Accord is really on what the buyer should start out.

 

[rtague]

This is what troubles me about the internet. Someone asks a question and they get 3 seemingly valid responses. I say: let's see YOUR awesome SPS grown under YOUR PacSuns, Radions, Hyperions, and Kessils.

One or two yes, but not repeated TOTM results by any means. LEDs will someday rule, but they are not the sure fire answer for a newbie. T5s and MHs are proven technology with results that anyone can duplicate. LEDs are not. That doesn't mean LEDs don't work, it means LEDs are not as broadly applicable as is T5 and MH technology so recommending LED lighting for a new tank is like telling a new driver that they should buy a Ferrari 'cuz it's the best when the truth is a Taurus or an Accord is really on what the buyer should start out.

Well said,

 

[tommer725]

I know i have leds but for sps only i would do t5s

 

[arc eye]

This is what troubles me about the internet. Someone asks a question and they get 3 seemingly valid responses. I say: let's see YOUR awesome SPS grown under YOUR PacSuns, Radions, Hyperions, and Kessils.

One or two yes, but not repeated TOTM results by any means. LEDs will someday rule, but they are not the sure fire answer for a newbie. T5s and MHs are proven technology with results that anyone can duplicate. LEDs are not. That doesn't mean LEDs don't work, it means LEDs are not as broadly applicable as is T5 and MH technology so recommending LED lighting for a new tank is like telling a new driver that they should buy a Ferrari 'cuz it's the best when the truth is a Taurus or an Accord is really on what the buyer should start out.

I hear ya. I searched the intetnet desperately for full blown sps tanks lite by Kessil or maxspect razors and couldn't really find any. Not saying they can't work, I'm just too afraid of being $1,000 guinea pig for the LED industry.

All of the LFS around me are using kessils on their frag tanks. The corals (including sps) look good, but no telling how long they've been under those lights. Who knows maybe in two years ill be kicking myself....

 

[premilove]

This is what troubles me about the internet. Someone asks a question and they get 3 seemingly valid responses. I say: let's see YOUR awesome SPS grown under YOUR PacSuns, Radions, Hyperions, and Kessils.

One or two yes, but not repeated TOTM results by any means. LEDs will someday rule, but they are not the sure fire answer for a newbie. T5s and MHs are proven technology with results that anyone can duplicate. LEDs are not. That doesn't mean LEDs don't work, it means LEDs are not as broadly applicable as is T5 and MH technology so recommending LED lighting for a new tank is like telling a new driver that they should buy a Ferrari 'cuz it's the best when the truth is a Taurus or an Accord is really on what the buyer should start out.

Pictures of my SPS dominated tank are in my thread, which can be found in my signature. Almost every colony was browned out/dying. My tank was an experiment to see how fast sps can regain color and growth. I would take brown SPS from my LFS, or very unhappy SPS and see how fast they heal. Why did I do this? Bc it is significantly cheaper than buying coral at full price. Since Sandy, my tank is no more than 6 months old. I have not posted pictures in a while. Check my
thread in a few hours. I'll be sure to take some pictures just for you when my lights turn on. You can judge my success!

 

[Touring]

kessil 360/350's are only good for nano tanks....

 

[premilove]

kessil 360/350's are only good for nano tanks....

I'd have to disagree. They are overkill for nanos. I've seen 360's/350's on large display tanks!

 

[Peter Eichler]

I'd have to disagree. They are overkill for nanos. I've seen 360's/350's on large display tanks!

So have I, and I've owned one... They're fairly pathetic power wise if you're used to a 250w MH with a good ballast and bulb combo. The same goes in comparison to a decent T5 set-up. I didn't feel it was enough for my 45 cube and would only ever use one on a nano or if I wanted to blow lots of miney on multiples.