SPS dominant lighting recomendation

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JOKER

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Halide T5 combo, T5, T5 LED combo,or LED?. Tank dimensions will be 84" 24" 16" deep. What would you recommend?
 
I have had all 3, and am currently running T5 8 bulb setup with a single Reefbrite LED strip. The T5 are doing a fine job but I would go back to MH if not for the heat output and potentially cooking the large center brace of my acrylic tank. I could grow acros anywhere under the MH, and have to actually use a strategy of putting lower light corals on the edges with the T5. The LED standalone for me was less than impressive and some acros simply did not thrive or survive. I acknowledge that it was Blue/Royal Blue/white LED only and LED technology and fixtures have changed since, but I am not willing to go that way again.
 
I have been looking at the Hamilton Cebu sun 72" 250 watt in the halide T5 combo. T5 only would probably go with ATI or Geissmann, and LED im undecided.
 
I went with two Giesemann Spectra 24″ fixtures over my new 5' long tank. For each fixture I am running 1 400W Radium and 4 24w T5s. Ballast is a Luxcore 400 watt dimmable ballast. You can't go wrong with a MH/T5 combo light!

New Tank

Light-Fixture-pic29.jpg


Old tank with Sfiligoi MH/T5 light fixture

Aug-212011Tank-pic1_edited-2.jpg
 
I went with two Giesemann Spectra 24″ fixtures over my new 5' long tank. For each fixture I am running 1 400W Radium and 4 24w T5s. Ballast is a Luxcore 400 watt dimmable ballast. You can't go wrong with a MH/T5 combo light!

New Tank

Light-Fixture-pic29.jpg


Old tank with Sfiligoi MH/T5 light fixture

Aug-212011Tank-pic1_edited-2.jpg
NICE!!!
 
I went with two Giesemann Spectra 24″ fixtures over my new 5' long tank. For each fixture I am running 1 400W Radium and 4 24w T5s. Ballast is a Luxcore 400 watt dimmable ballast. You can't go wrong with a MH/T5 combo light!

New Tank

Light-Fixture-pic29.jpg


Old tank with Sfiligoi MH/T5 light fixture

Aug-212011Tank-pic1_edited-2.jpg
Just curious, why 2 ( 24 " ) and not a full 48" fixture. I'm thinking about getting the spectra 48" for my 60" tank.
 
I do believe you are right.!!! I have never gotten to the point of needing a reactor but I hope to this time. Better to spend money up front and do it right the first time!!
 
Nice tank. I think I will give mh a shot. Will be my first go around with them. I started with LED from the get go and was never really happy. LPS softies weren't a problem but SPS are a lot more picky to lighting.
 
Sick build man. Im a huge fan of the MH/T5 combo. Ive had a mh/t5 combo before and now im running leds. Thinking on making the move over to t5/led. Im looking to grow out more sps and stop cheating on my sps diet. It's so hard to!lol. So many other nice corals in the world
 

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