240 gallon build coming up need help on lights

Candyapplezoo · Jan 13, 2015

I'm going to be getting my 240 gallon tank in February and I'm trying to fig out what lights to get gimme your own opinion on what I should get led, meatlhaild' I'm use kessil a150 ocean blend on my 75 gallon right but what something else for this build let me know what you guy and gals think. Here are the tank spec 60 x 36 x 25 Tall

Candyapplezoo · Jan 13, 2015

Buy the way I want to be able grow sps and have a mixed reef

BNUTTHEHUT · Jan 13, 2015

Mh and T5 all the way. Dont get me wrong, Leds do grow sps. But there is just something missing with them. I just switched out 3 Kessil a360s and 2 hydra 52s for 2 250watt 20k radiums and 4 80watt t5s and couldn't be happier. The leds werent saving me money either. The leds pulled 540 watts, but I had to run 3 200watt heaters 24/7 for a total of 1140 watts +/-. The Mh & T5 pull almost 950watts but only 1 heater is needed when the lights are on (1150watts) during the day. There is a reason most coral venders use MH for sps tanks. I would do 2 250watt radiums with coralvue large reflectors on lumatek dial a watts. and 4 80watt T5s. After 6 months switch to 400watt radiums. My tank is 60x24x30tall and coverage is good. The upfront cost is less with MH and T5 too

Candyapplezoo · Jan 13, 2015

That's what I was wondering too ok good now my problem is with MH what brand and what website to buy from cuz I live in southeast missouri and there now stores around that sells anything like that and do I buy retrofit t5's and what brand of them is best

BNUTTHEHUT · Jan 13, 2015

Candyapplezoo said:
That's what I was wondering too ok good now my problem is with MH what brand and what website to buy from cuz I live in southeast missouri and there now stores around that sells anything like that and do I buy retrofit t5's and what brand of them is best

I like retrofit. Its pretty easy to wire and is alot cheaper. socal tropical fish outlet is the only place I found that has 60" T5 retros in stock. I got my coralvue lumen bright se pendant there too. I like the lumatek 400w dial a watt ballast 250/400w. I found mine at a local hydroponic store for $150. There are available online. Bulk reef supply has great stuff too.