I have done the reading...I have followed the threads. Everyone knows that different lighting affects coral in different ways. That being said, I will start a new thread to state the obvious, I guess, but, to hammer home points that affect each of us reefers.
Presently I have a 210 reef that is dominated by SPS. Being an entrepeneur, I figured that I would purchase some higher end corals, grow them out, keep a frag for myself, and, sell off the other frags to recover some of my money. On my 210 reef, I have 3 - 250 watt - 10,000K Ushio bulbs with T5 supplements. Atop the frag tank, a 40 gallon breeder, I have a T5 fixture that is 36 inches long, with 6 T5 bulbs - 4 actinic and 2 sunlight. I was totally amazed at the difference in appearance of the corals in the two different tanks.
First, several of the corals - including - a sunset montipora and a yellow porites, looked horrible in the halide tank. Specifically, none of the polyps opened, and, in the case of the sunset, the coral looked bleached out.
I then put these frags, along with others in my T5 frag tank. Incredibly, the colors of the corals seemingly exploded in appearance. Of those corals that were in my halide tank, 95% of them looked better in the T5 tank. The polyps opened fully, just as they did in the stores, and, the colors were significantly brighter and more colorful.
That being said, I am re-thinking my lighting strategy. To be honest, there were a few corals that looked better in the halide tank. Particularly, I have a few blue and purple tipped acro's, and, one green purple tipped acro, that look better in the halide tank. But, as for every other coral, the T5 light wins hands down.
In summary, I would like your input. Prior to this development, I was a high light guy - if I could put the sun two inches over my tank, I would. But, the appearance of the corals speaks for itself. I would suspect, for 95% of the corals, T5's are the best choice. For the few stragglers, and maybe for clams, the halides still rule. However, with the cost of electricity, it seems to me that I should do some rethinking. How much would be saved with the reduced intensity lighting?
Have you all experienced similar or different results? By the way, my ricordea polyps pop with color in the T5 tank, when, they simply looked nice in the halide. Thoughts?
Andy
Presently I have a 210 reef that is dominated by SPS. Being an entrepeneur, I figured that I would purchase some higher end corals, grow them out, keep a frag for myself, and, sell off the other frags to recover some of my money. On my 210 reef, I have 3 - 250 watt - 10,000K Ushio bulbs with T5 supplements. Atop the frag tank, a 40 gallon breeder, I have a T5 fixture that is 36 inches long, with 6 T5 bulbs - 4 actinic and 2 sunlight. I was totally amazed at the difference in appearance of the corals in the two different tanks.
First, several of the corals - including - a sunset montipora and a yellow porites, looked horrible in the halide tank. Specifically, none of the polyps opened, and, in the case of the sunset, the coral looked bleached out.
I then put these frags, along with others in my T5 frag tank. Incredibly, the colors of the corals seemingly exploded in appearance. Of those corals that were in my halide tank, 95% of them looked better in the T5 tank. The polyps opened fully, just as they did in the stores, and, the colors were significantly brighter and more colorful.
That being said, I am re-thinking my lighting strategy. To be honest, there were a few corals that looked better in the halide tank. Particularly, I have a few blue and purple tipped acro's, and, one green purple tipped acro, that look better in the halide tank. But, as for every other coral, the T5 light wins hands down.
In summary, I would like your input. Prior to this development, I was a high light guy - if I could put the sun two inches over my tank, I would. But, the appearance of the corals speaks for itself. I would suspect, for 95% of the corals, T5's are the best choice. For the few stragglers, and maybe for clams, the halides still rule. However, with the cost of electricity, it seems to me that I should do some rethinking. How much would be saved with the reduced intensity lighting?
Have you all experienced similar or different results? By the way, my ricordea polyps pop with color in the T5 tank, when, they simply looked nice in the halide. Thoughts?
Andy
