1st ever tank - choosing lighting

[cap9059]

Thanks for all the replies. One thing I don't quite have a handle on, that I am trying to understand is the cost vs benefit of all the lighting options described above. For example, if an experienced reefer ran 2 simulataneos 120 gallon tanks with all other parameters the same except one had a budget of $600 for lights and the other $1800....would a NOOB like me be able to tell the difference in a pepsi challenge scenario?

 

[cap9059]

The pics I posted where taken with my camera phone, I don't have a fancy camera, and have no reason to modify any pictures. I do understand how vendors manipulate photos to sell corals. I've bought all my corals as small frags, 99% from a couple lfs I've been going to for over 30 years. A while back I participated in a live sale here from a big vendor and was really disappointed in the frags I got as they where not even close to the live sale pictures so that's the day I realized how good a picture can be manipulated. Those pictures I took and posted actually don't look as great as the tank does in person.

Your tank looks awesome, thanks for sharing. I really like the kessils.

 

[cap9059]

One thing I can say is it didn't take long for this tank startup to take over my life!!! Obsessing over lights.......

 

[WVNed]

I am running 2 Viparspectra 165s over a 30x18x24 tank with a center brace. I think they would grow whatever you want but the color isn't great when you turn them up.

 

[SDboatguy]

@HB AL just out of curiosity - which LFS ?

 

[Bpb]

Thanks for all the replies. One thing I don't quite have a handle on, that I am trying to understand is the cost vs benefit of all the lighting options described above. For example, if an experienced reefer ran 2 simulataneos 120 gallon tanks with all other parameters the same except one had a budget of $600 for lights and the other $1800....would a NOOB like me be able to tell the difference in a pepsi challenge scenario?

At this point in the game you would personally not likely be able to tell the subtle differences between radions and black boxes just simply glancing at a tank. The longer you go in the hobby, the less impressed you will become in rock scapes, and tanks packed with frags. And the more you will pay attention to long term growth, color, shape, and composition.

Really often I see people posting “use this light my corals are doing amazing under them” and they photo dump 2 dozen macro shots of fresh cut frags that have not even encrusted over their plugs yet. Or a full tank shot with corals so small you can’t even tell they’re there from a distance. So pay attention to those endorsements and take them with a grain of salt.

Emulate your favorite tanks as closely as you can within your budget is a good piece of advice.

 

[cap9059]

Really appreciate everyone's input. I've gotten in a bit over my head and really helps having a place to ask basic "dumb" questions.

 

[cap9059]

I hate to even ask this at the risk of really showing how much I don't know, but does subpar lighting, rather it be cheap or just not enough coverage, permanently impact coral growth? Where I'm going with this is if I start with a budget type lightning option, will the coral that grew under that be permanently affected even after upgrading lights?

 

[cap9059]

Thinking I may start a little cheaper and upgrade next year when my daycare bill goes away

 

[SDboatguy]

Sub par lighting ... Nice PUN !!! If you really want to grow coral , lighting is important but ,so is water chemistry , flow. and over all stability. If you want to start cheap(er) go with @Bpb 's suggestion - Great bulbs(ATI) and a cheap fixture (amazon / ebay or possibly a used ATI fixture. This would be a good starting point and not cost too much.

 

[WVNed]

Thanks for all the replies. One thing I don't quite have a handle on, that I am trying to understand is the cost vs benefit of all the lighting options described above. For example, if an experienced reefer ran 2 simulataneos 120 gallon tanks with all other parameters the same except one had a budget of $600 for lights and the other $1800....would a NOOB like me be able to tell the difference in a pepsi challenge scenario?

Yes, you would. I have never had the money to buy the good stuff and have got buy with cheap lights. You can grow some stuff if you watch what you buy and where you place it in the tank. You can also get buy with cheap lights if you stick to shallow tanks. For 18 inch and deeper tanks it takes some watts and they have to be the right spectrum for stuff to look great.

 

[cap9059]

Sub par lighting ... Nice PUN !!! If you really want to grow coral , lighting is important but ,so is water chemistry , flow. and over all stability. If you want to start cheap(er) go with @Bpb 's suggestion - Great bulbs(ATI) and a cheap fixture (amazon / ebay or possibly a used ATI fixture. This would be a good starting point and not cost too much.

Thanks. Would this be controlled with a simple timer and on T5 is each bulb different color in fixture?

 

[SDboatguy]

I ran mine on simple timers -usually in pairs. I had 2 lamps come on ,then an hour later 2 more and so on , then reversed it after 6 hours+/-. The ATI fixtures start with 2 , then the others or you can do it all at once. The Hydroponic units I'm not sure about - but i'm pretty sure you could rig it so they are staggered without to much effort. Lots of people just run their lights on/off. I just like the look of a dimmer tank in the evening.

 

[HB AL]

@HB AL just out of curiosity - which LFS ?

Seaside and Tongs as they are both a few miles from me.