lighting solutions

[nkxyy]

Hey i am new to this hobby and will be getting my new tank in a few weeks time. Specifically the red sea reefer 200xl. I am planning on keeping a mixed reef but will add in the SPS corals after the whole system is stable enough. Any lights good enough for a mixed reef? Sadly with a budget in mind so not something too crazy would be good haha. Please share your suggestions below, all is welcomed. Thank you!!

 

[RC Corals]

Keep in mind... a "mixed reef" is the absolutely toughest to keep and manage. Mainly because nothing in the tank is entirely happy due to everything having to be somewhere in-between what all the different types of coral really prefer. Someone in the tank is always sacrificing their "preferred" environment.

Softies unhappy because water is to clean for SPS
SPS unhappy because water is to dirty for Softies
LPS unhappy because to much flow for Acros
Acros unhappy because light is to low to keep Softies from bleaching
Softies bleaching because light is to high to keep Acros happy.

It can be done by making use of tank depth for different par values, but it's always a trade-off on all aspects of the tank.
Just depends how much of a "mixed reef" you're really trying to keep.
Much easier to keep closer types together like Softie/LPS, or LPS/SPS, or SPS/Acro

Now, with that in mind you can ignore all that and just go with what works... hell, our RedSea 350XL has some Acros, Zoas, and Mushrooms all on the top level doing just fine, and it's not a super complex tank setup.
Why? Because my wife likes it that way... and it's working... and it keeps her interested in the hobby.

 

[MohrReefs]

I would do a 95% LPS/Softie mixed reef and maybe keep a couple forgiving easy montis for the SPS. I have a mixed reef and I've only successfully kept one sps so far, and thats an orange montipora.

As for lighting, whats your budget range?

 

[nkxyy]

Keep in mind... a "mixed reef" is the absolutely toughest to keep and manage. Mainly because nothing in the tank is entirely happy due to everything having to be somewhere in-between what all the different types of coral really prefer. Someone in the tank is always sacrificing their "preferred" environment.

Softies unhappy because water is to clean for SPS
SPS unhappy because water is to dirty for Softies
LPS unhappy because to much flow for Acros
Acros unhappy because light is to low to keep Softies from bleaching
Softies bleaching because light is to high to keep Acros happy.

It can be done by making use of tank depth for different par values, but it's always a trade-off on all aspects of the tank.
Just depends how much of a "mixed reef" you're really trying to keep.
Much easier to keep closer types together like Softie/LPS, or LPS/SPS, or SPS/Acro

Now, with that in mind you can ignore all that and just go with what works... hell, our RedSea 350XL has some Acros, Zoas, and Mushrooms all on the top level doing just fine, and it's not a super complex tank setup.
Why? Because my wife likes it that way... and it's working... and it keeps her interested in the hobby.

wow.. Thanks for the wonderful advises really needed that i am very grateful. Also amazing tank you have! I am thinking more like having softies and LPS and a few montis just cause they are easy to keep and i like em so may have used the wrong term however still not so sure.. but i'll definitely follow with your advise. Thank you so much!

 

[nkxyy]

I would do a 95% LPS/Softie mixed reef and maybe keep a couple forgiving easy montis for the SPS. I have a mixed reef and I've only successfully kept one sps so far, and thats an orange montipora.

As for lighting, whats your budget range?

Hi i am planning on doing a tank somewhat like that too! And my budget for a light is 520USD. Thank you!