Best lighting for 6ft 125

Psiber_Syn · Mar 19, 2016

Looking for some opinions on lights for my 125 6ft. the top of the tank is 22 " to the sand bed and 30" from sand bed to inside bottom of the canopy. I'm looking to grow everything in the tank coral wise. Right now it's a 6ft 4 bulb vho with a marine orbit 48" just sitting on the tank for the blues really. I like the led look but like t5s also as most tanks I see with great coral color use t5s I think. Neway let's hear some ideas and rough pricing estimates. Please.

Psiber_Syn · Mar 19, 2016

Half tank shot with led and vho s running

gacolt · Mar 19, 2016

5ft ati fixture is a good choice

Psiber_Syn · Mar 20, 2016

But the tank is 6 ft will it be dark on the edges?

LostInTheDark · Mar 20, 2016

I have the 60" over a 6ft tank. Plenty of light on the sides for LPS. It is only 6 inches either side and there is plenty of spill.

Psiber_Syn · Mar 20, 2016

LostInTheDark said:
I have the 60" over a 6ft tank. Plenty of light on the sides for LPS. It is only 6 inches either side and there is plenty of spill.

How many bulbs? could you post a pic?

LostInTheDark · Mar 20, 2016

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1458485170.604171.jpg

The tank is 6'. X 2' x30". I went with the 8 bulb because the tank is 2' wide and 39" s deep. Plenty of light.

BryanS4 · Mar 20, 2016

I have a 6 bulb 60" Sunpower over my 125. I used to run led's and I'm loving the T5s.

LostInTheDark · Mar 20, 2016

I just got rid of the LEDs and moved to T5s also. Much happier with the T5s.

hotnickz07 · Mar 20, 2016

Same here had 2 hydras over my cube, and just switched to T5. I couldn't be happier

twilliard · Mar 20, 2016

Two Orphek Atlantik v3 never change a bulb again

LostInTheDark · Mar 20, 2016

twilliard said:
Two Orphek Atlantik v3 never change a bulb again

I agree. The better quality LEDs are a better buy in the long run. I just had too many issues with the Ocean Revives to even consider LEDs for a while. It was an expensive lesson. If you go LEDs buy quality. They seem to hold up much better and have proven growth and colors.

twilliard · Mar 20, 2016

LostInTheDark said:
I agree. The better quality LEDs are a better buy in the long run. I just had too many issues with the Ocean Revives to even consider LEDs for a while. It was an expensive lesson. If you go LEDs buy quality. They seem to hold up much better and have proven growth and colors.

Agreed the upfront cost is enormous
But if we look at an 8 bulb t5 for a period of 5 years that cost is also outrageous
In my case I was replacing every 6 months being driven by my icecap ballasts. (Awesome for pushing t5 lamps)
Got tired of lamps laying around lol

Psiber_Syn · Mar 20, 2016

These are some great choices guys thanx a ton are these programmable or need a controller of some sort? Gone most of the day so would like to ramp and simulate natural lighting also do you guys add moonlighting I love the pop of the blue leds at night

Psiber_Syn · Mar 20, 2016

LostInTheDark said:
The tank is 6'. X 2' x30". I went with the 8 bulb because the tank is 2' wide and 39" s deep. Plenty of light.

Beautiful tank btw

twilliard · Mar 20, 2016

I control every spectrum right here from my tablet

LostInTheDark · Mar 20, 2016

Upfront cost is definitely a factor. I'm just too gun shy right now to even consider LEDs for a couple of years. My tank was bursting with SPS but I lost most of them over the course of a year or so and couldn't figure out what was wrong. Triton test came back perfect and levels are rock solid. Turns out the OR lights were slowly shifting spectrum and burning out. Couldn't really see it with your eyes but when I took a picture with my iPhone you could see that 3 out of 4 lights had almost no blue par. OR finally owned up that it is a huge issue and replaced the lights. Growth took off again and I was thrilled. A year later the process started all over again. That's when I had OR fix them and they are now in storage. Least stressful path for me right now is T5. Simple and fool proof.