Best Light Option For My 93g Cube SPS?

[Cleverbs]

Hello,

I am building a 93g Cube tank and am looking at lighting ideas for it and it will be 80-90% SPS. My thoughts are that I want to spend $500-$900 at the most.

My thoughts are the following:
ATI Dimmible 24W x 8Bulb
Hamilton Cebu Sun 4x 24W T5HO's 1x 250W Metal Halide
Cayman Sun HQI - Single 250W Metal Halide

LED's I have tried and tried in the past but havent really had success with them. I havent bought them in a long time but I see some nice builds with the Gen 4 Radions but that is not something I can afford to buy

What are your thoughts? What would work best for the build?

I would prefer to get the ATI fixture but worry it wont be enough for and SPS tank.

 

[jvb89]

Ati dimmable w/ reefbrite

 

[jvb89]

It will cover the tank perfectly and have plenty of par.

 

[Cleverbs]

Why the ReefBright? Will that really add anything to the lighting? I may do that in the future but just wondering

Oh and of course dimmable

 

[jvb89]

It does add par but really makes colors pop. I'm talking about the all blue reefbrite not the 50/50 white/blue

 

[jvb89]

It does add par but really makes colors pop. I'm talking about the all blue reefbrite not the 50/50 white/blue

But it is not necessary at all. You could also do 2 of the e5 euroquatics blue pop t5 replacement bulbs in channel 1. I've tried them and do give a nice led pop

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I know you said you weren't too keen on LEDs, but I have been using a gen3 radion on my 93 cube and have been growing SPS just fine.

 

[rock_lobster]

T5 + royal blue/actinic LEDs give the best growth/pop with low heat output. Metal halide might give slightly better growth but the heat output is a huge pain not to mention the electric bill.

 

[Cleverbs]

T5 + royal blue/actinic LEDs give the best growth/pop with low heat output. Metal halide might give slightly better growth but the heat output is a huge pain not to mention the electric bill.

Yeah thats why I am not really sold on MH. I have MH over my 220 and I dont want another bill like that and I dont want to have the heat issue. The 220g doesnt have heat problems because of the water volume I am sure but I dont want to risk it with the 93