STEVE February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 If you were going to buy a lighting system, forget the money for this moment, what would you buy? MH, LED, T-5, or combo's of what?
Ryan S February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 If you were going to buy a lighting system, forget the money for this moment, what would you buy? MH, LED, T-5, or combo's of what? What size tank? What do you want to keep?
STEVE February 1, 2012 Author February 1, 2012 OK...my bad. Lets say its a mixed reef tank. 90-150gallon tank.
BowieReefer84 February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 I would go nice 6bulb T5 with a 90gal, and a single metal halide 250w over a 150gal cube w/ a good reflector. A standard 150gal would be better with T5's. Led's work as well, but will cost you much more up front if you go comercial and not DIY.
STEVE February 1, 2012 Author February 1, 2012 Like I said, dont let the money affect your decesion. I am just trying to get an honest opinion on what lights folks would use if they go buy whatever they wanted and got the best results possible...growth , color, etc...
steveoutlaw February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 I've had MH, T5 and LEDs on my tanks. I had all 3 fixtures over the same tank so the water quality was the same. By far, the best combination of color and growth that I experienced was (and is) with a combination MH/T5 fixture. I've used a Phoenix 14K supplemented with T5 actinics and now use a Radium 20K supplemented with T5 actinics. Now, this thread is almost going to be as bad as the skimmer threads over on RC......everyone is going to tell you to go with what lighting they have. My advice would be to find some people who have different types of lighting on their tanks and see which you like the best. Once you find the right type of light, realize that there are a lot of other factors that will affect how your tank looks such as water quality and flow.
Michael February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 (edited) I vote LED because life of bulbs and zero heat. But I will say I had good results under (phe 14k) 250w MH x2 with VHO actintic over a 120 gal Edited February 1, 2012 by Michael
STEVE February 1, 2012 Author February 1, 2012 I agree Steve........I am/just trying to get an honest opinion of peoples choices on lighting, but like you said, it probably just get like the skimmer post....oh well, gotta try.
Reefoholic February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 (edited) MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo MH / T5 Combo I dont think I can express my dislike of AI any better! Edited February 1, 2012 by Reefoholic
BowieReefer84 February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 Scroll through the totm on RC. Most of them are 250watt radiums with T5's or VHO supplements. If the tank is deep go to 400watts Can't argue with the success they have had long term.
Ryan S February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 Seriously though. Don't they have solar tubes for tanks? The sun could totally be an option... If your tank was on the top floor...
Ryan S February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 Actually, scratch that. It could be in the basement for that matter. You'd just need lots of the tubing and mirrors. Isn't that what the Egyptians did inside the Pyramids?
onux20 February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 Scroll through the totm on RC. Most of them are 250watt radiums with T5's or VHO supplements. If the tank is deep go to 400watts Can't argue with the success they have had long term. +1 Great advice!
Reefoholic February 1, 2012 February 1, 2012 I just like the scrolling banner Reefoholic did ! Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks
firecrackerbob February 2, 2012 February 2, 2012 There are people who have setup solar tubes over their tanks.. looks pretty cool. My next house will probably be a rancher, and am considering this option... we will see though... As for the best combos, its a matter of opinion, but I like T5/VHO(actinic) or MH/VHO(actininc). JMHO, there is nothing about LED that has blown me away. people tout being able to turn their reef into a rainbow, but really who wants to look at a red\yellow reef. even "normal" colored LED lit tanks just dont look right to me. then there is the price, although you are ruling out, to me is significant. when you factor in how many people are dumping traditional settups and switching to the "latest and greatest", you can pick up used fixtures or retrofits for fire sale prices... or you could pay a grand and get LED... its a pretty simple choice to me...
steveoutlaw February 2, 2012 February 2, 2012 ^^^Agree 100%^^^ It's all a matter of what YOU like for YOUR tank. I fell into the crowd of ditching my MH/T5 combo for LEDs. Big mistake. The color sucked and my corals lost color......and now I'm back to MH/T5 and all my corals are smiling again. you can pick up used fixtures or retrofits for fire sale prices... or you could pay a grand and get LED... its a pretty simple choice to me... Actually, depending on the size of the tank it can cost you upwards of 3K to get the latest and greatest.
Reefoholic February 2, 2012 February 2, 2012 I fell into the crowd of ditching my MH/T5 combo for LEDs. Big mistake. The color sucked and my corals lost color......and now I'm back to MH/T5 and all my corals are smiling again. same here! AI Sol Blue destroyed my tank for 6 months... all that time I was telling myself meaningless things like "give it another week, corals are adjusting" OR " crank up the intensity a little bit more, maybe the corals are not getting enough light" OR "crank down the intensity a little bit, the corals are turning pale because of too much light" Intensity UP Intensity DOWN WAIT .... (because LED experts say so) Intensity UP Intensity DOWN Intensity UP Intensity DOWN WAIT .... (because LED experts say so) Intensity UP Intensity DOWN You got my drift there. Now, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my MH/T5 combo so much, I wanna get her pregnant (Tracy Jordan-30 Rock).
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