Lighting for sps tank

WnYreefer · Feb 28, 2013

I currently have a mixed 29 gallon reef. I have been tempted to convert to all sps. I'm not sure which route I want to take on lighting. I currently have a 150 watt halide. I was think of adding some t5s or possibly a 250 halide but I'm not sure if that would be too much for a small tank. My last thought would be led. Just looking for some insite from the sps keepers.

Thanks

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revsgirl · Mar 1, 2013

Bump

Chasing the Dream Giver, not the dream! Tonya

Zack · Mar 1, 2013

I was using leds for my sps and the frags were encrusting really fast but the colors would change a bit, still nice and bright but a little different from the color when I put them in. I moved led to frag tank and put a 250 watt radium on my display, its a shallow 30 gallon and it doesn't seem like its too much light. The sps frags are encrusting really fast with the halide as well. But now the color I'm wanting is staying. So for me both halide and led both grow and color sps great. Its just the color under led changes a bit but is still bright.
Since I'm running led on one tank and halide on another I'm going to put same frags in both tanks to see which light I will decide on for my next build

Reefing Madness · Mar 1, 2013

A 150w on a 29 is well enough for SPS. Watch the spectrum, don't go 14k or lower, try stay 14k and above. Or go with 250w Halides and use 20k lamps.
Or LEDs if your able to get them.
Dimmable LED Aquarium Light 120W with Lens 55X3WATT Bridgelux Coral Reef Fixture | eBay
Aquarium LED Full Spectrum Light 55X3W Lenses Coral Reef Dimmable 120W Dimmabar | eBay

Either of those 2 would be more than enough for your tank. Fully dimmable so you don't cook anything.

WnYreefer · Mar 1, 2013

Thanks for the replies guys.

Im am using a fishneedit metal halide which is good but i do notice towards the end of the tank the light isnt as bright but that could be the fact that i have the light about 8in from the water and/or the reflector isnt as good. I do have some acros towards the edge, I dont want to crame everything in the middle. I am looking at Hamilton Cayman Sun Reflector 150 Watt DE HQI 14K System I found on MD. I think this would be a better upgrade than what I am currently using even if i got the 150 or 250. Im going to look into the LED route also thanks for the links.

SloppyJ · Mar 1, 2013

I do great with a 150 on my 30g innovative marine tank. I haven't found any SPS that I can't keep.

I'm running the current sunpod 150 hqi with 14k phoenix bulbs on both of my nano tanks. I think it's a great light. I'm using the Innovative marine single strip LED actinics for accent lights as well.

WnYreefer · Mar 1, 2013

I get growth and color just towards the ends of the tank they aren't as colorful. If I raise the light high I loose the color but the spread is more.

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rcypert · Mar 1, 2013

If you added two blue T5's to that 150 watt halide you would be running a premium lighting system. My best coral growth ever in 6+ years was under a T5 Halide combination retrofit. I have not used LED's though so that is something to consider.

Reefing8EZ · Mar 1, 2013

rcypert said:
If you added two blue T5's to that 150 watt halide you would be running a premium lighting system. My best coral growth ever in 6+ years was under a T5 Halide combination retrofit. I have not used LED's though so that is something to consider.

I agree with adding the blue T5 bulbs..

RavePartyReef · Mar 1, 2013

I would start only with t5s and see how a 6 bulb system would do...I'm sure your corals would have more than enough and t5 s are a sure thing to held the good results. Adding mh could risk being too much and end up bleaching some species on that size tank. Remember upgrading is no problem...starting with too much up front would risk the corals and the cost of the investment

WnYreefer · Mar 1, 2013

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far. I'm going to look into some retrofit t5 setup, now if I can convince the wife.

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WnYreefer · Mar 1, 2013

Oh yea would a 24" fixture be good or go with 36? The tank is 30in. I figured 24 and raise the light up some

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RavePartyReef · Mar 1, 2013

I have a 20 gal long which is 30", and got a 30" t5 fixture. A 24" would look weird

SloppyJ · Mar 1, 2013

There is a line of current fixtures called the Nova Extreme Pro I believe. It is a t5 fixture if you decide to go that route.

WnYreefer · Mar 1, 2013

Thanks everyone for their insite!

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jtgordon20 · Mar 1, 2013

RavePartyReef said:
I have a 20 gal long which is 30", and got a 30" t5 fixture. A 24" would look weird

Fishneedit has inexpensive fixtures but I'd recommend new bulbs like ATI brand. They have a 30" fixture but it is just 24" bulbs staggered position. I'd recommend the 36" because although it will hang over, you'll have a light for your future upgrades (we all upgrade) like a 40 breeder (great size, just upgraded to one myself).

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WnYreefer · Mar 1, 2013

jtgordon20 said:
Fishneedit has inexpensive fixtures but I'd recommend new bulbs like ATI brand. They have a 30" fixture but it is just 24" bulbs staggered position. I'd recommend the 36" because although it will hang over, you'll have a light for your future upgrades (we all upgrade) like a 40 breeder (great size, just upgraded to one myself).

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So if I was looking at the fishneedit 36" fixture and I already have the halide I have the option to hang the t5 and halide together. So would 2 of the t5 fixtures be overkill along with the halide? That's an additional 156 watts to the 150 from halide. Or get 2 for balance purposes and only use one for lighting? Thanks!

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jtgordon20 · Mar 2, 2013

If combining with the metal halide then 2bulb t5 would work fine, four bulb sounds too intense and too much bulb replacement :O

RavePartyReef · Mar 2, 2013

jtgordon20 said:
Fishneedit has inexpensive fixtures but I'd recommend new bulbs like ATI brand. They have a 30" fixture but it is just 24" bulbs staggered position. I'd recommend the 36" because although it will hang over, you'll have a light for your future upgrades (we all upgrade) like a 40 breeder (great size, just upgraded to one myself).

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Agreed 100%

RavePartyReef · Mar 2, 2013

jtgordon20 said:
If combining with the metal halide then 2bulb t5 would work fine, four bulb sounds too intense and too much bulb replacement :O

I would go with only T5s. There is absolutely no need to combine both for a 29 gal. It's overkill, and the reason most people bleach their corals when switching to sps only tanks