Some people go that direction, and with a grown out sps tank where shading becomes more a factor it might be something you want to try. Just nice to have the flexibility, especially since ballasts like the Lumatek variable watt drive Radiums so well. But yeah, you should have more than enough with 250w bulbs. Also, I'd personally prefer to have better reflectors for the MH's, like lumenbrites, and skip the T5 supplementation. Par and coverage wise you might end up better off with the pendants and, you'll save on bulb and power costs, and again more flexibility.
MH/T5 or T5/LED for SPS
- Thread starter dwair
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Some people go that direction, and with a grown out sps tank where shading becomes more a factor it might be something you want to try. Just nice to have the flexibility, especially since ballasts like the Lumatek variable watt drive Radiums so well. But yeah, you should have more than enough with 250w bulbs. Also, I'd personally prefer to have better reflectors for the MH's, like lumenbrites, and skip the T5 supplementation. Par and coverage wise you might end up better off with the pendants and, you'll save on bulb and power costs, and again more flexibility.
Big E
Valuable Member
I believe the main issue is too much intensity with most chalices. Most are flat facing the light so there is a lot of surface area getting hit by light.
My friend is a high end chalice guy and when we tested par when his chalices were the most colorful they were only getting about 70-80. He was running a 6 bulb Sunpower over a 32" wide tank.
You also have to be careful about running too much of those Reefbrites. They will put an orange hue on some chalices & acans and kill pinks and a few other colors.
Green and oranges will look out of this world but some colors will suffer.
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OP
OP
dwair
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Um Cost? Lol
powdermonkey
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72L-40W-24T...just noticed that pic doesnt have the T12s. There are two t-12s in the front and two in the back. Hope to get sps to grow with good color.
Pacific Sun's Diuna T5 fixtures are pretty sweet!!!
Diuna T5 |
Diuna T5 |
eg8r210
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I am sorry but no he is not. I am referring to the SPS show tank (only water and live rock right now) and it most certainly is running MH. I only mentioned this because the OP asked about SPS. If you look at the SPS sales tank at WWC you will also see that it has MH above it.
Here is a link...http://reefbuilders.com/2014/11/18/masterpiece-born-watch-time-lapse-aquascaping-worldwide-corals-show-tank/. I was there a week or so ago and don't remember seeing the T5 but the main light source is the MH.
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Chameleon
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Best of growth and color would be XM 10K MH with lot of blue LEDs for blue supplement. I really don't think you can get better than a 10K XM for growth, but it lacks a bit on the color side.
Best of just color would be LED/T5 combo in my opinion
In my opinion growth happens with time no matter what so I strive for color and run T5 and led currently.
Best of just color would be LED/T5 combo in my opinion
In my opinion growth happens with time no matter what so I strive for color and run T5 and led currently.
