Another Acro Lighting Thread...

[Syntax1235]

I currently am lighting a standard 180 with a 48" Pacific Sun LED/T5 hybrid, it's doing a good job coloring up and growing acropora. I love the fixture but not the lack of coverage on the sides of the tank. My current fixture is approximately a foot off the top of the tank and it still isn't high enough to fix the spread issue. I borrowed an MQ-500 from my lfs to check the par of the t5's and it was only about 90 at the surface of the water and drops down real fast after that. The t5's at this point are not doing anything for the acros in the tank as most of them are about 12"-16" below the top of the tank.

I've considered raising the fixture to help with the spread (but this would create even lower par from the t5's), buy supplemental kessil a160's or a couple short reefbrite strips to help with the edges or replace the fixture. Purchasing three Ecotech's or similar is just too much coin for lights, especially since I purchased the Pacific Sun three years ago.

I am thinking of ditching the Pacific Sun and moving to an ati 60" 8 bulb SunPower. The cost of the SunPower would not be much more than two 160's or reefbrites with the apex module's included(maybe $200 more), especially if I purchase the fixture on black friday. I would be able to put acropora anywhere in the tank and they would color up and grow probably better than they are now.

Pros:
- Even light distribution/par
- No shadowing
- Set it and forget it, no messing with percentage of led's

Cons:
- Maybe slightly more electricity
- A little more heat
- More bulbs to buy
- No cool sunrise and sunset
-No more moonlight

Any advice?

 

[Diesel]

Stop chasing the light issue and get the ATI.
You will never look back if you do so.

 

[BoomCorals]

Edit: Whoops double what diesel said haha

 

[Diesel]

Edit: Whoops double what diesel said haha

Lol, copycat

I think you want me as a new client
Well, I might check it out as I need some more shrooms

 

[stevem650]

I am getting my red sea reefer 750 this week. It's 25.6 front to back. I just received the new ATI 8bulb 80wt 60"wifi hybrid powermodule.

Syntax, it would work well on your 180

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I always look at the extra cost of lights and electricity for using MHs and T5s like this: I have spent enough in this hobby and a few extra bucks a year is worth it to use lights I don't need to worry if they are the problem.

 

[jda]

You can add moonlights to anything. You won't miss the cool sunrise and sunset when you see the cool colors and growth that your acros will have.

I have a 7 foot tank and use a 6 foot fixture, so I know all about lighting ends. With the T5s, output will be lower, but that can still be a really good place for your deepwaters and other lower-light stuff. If you plan ahead accordingly, then you will be OK. I still hated it and I bolted a pair of 150W Bimi Sun pendants onto the ends of my fixture.

Forget the cost - there are no real efficiences. If it costs more and you are happy, then you had too little light before.

 

[Syntax1235]

Just noticed that Reefbrite mh/led pendants are on sale... This is another tempting option for me.

What bulb would you get to accompany the blue led's?

 

[Syntax1235]

Well, I did it. I purchased three Reef Brite pendants with the XHO strips, three of their ballasts and now I need to purchase bulbs. I'm looking at their "twinarc" bulbs. Anyone have suggestions for the color of the bulbs? I like blue but I'm concerned that a 20k bulb with the blue XHO's will be too much.