What type of lighting do you use?

What type of lighting do you use on your main display tank?

  • Metal Halide Only

    Votes: 95 18.6%
  • VHO Only

    Votes: 8 1.6%
  • T-5 Only

    Votes: 125 24.5%
  • Compact Fluorescent Only

    Votes: 26 5.1%
  • LED (solaris)

    Votes: 6 1.2%
  • Metal Halide + VHO

    Votes: 51 10.0%
  • Metal Halide + Compact Fluorescent

    Votes: 52 10.2%
  • Metal Halide + T-5

    Votes: 121 23.7%
  • Another Combo (Please Elaborate in Thread)

    Votes: 26 5.1%

  • Total voters
    510
Follow the light...

I use a DIY light rack with 24 - 54W T5 retro kits with individual reflectors on a rail that allows me to roll them out of the way for tank or bulb maintenance.

Under construction:
lightrack14.jpg


The ballast bank on the rear of the rack - 1 ballast for each of 12 rows of (2) bulbs:
lightrack10.jpg


Front view with the LED moonlights in middle of rack:
lightrack19.jpg


Fired up after assembly complete:
lightest2.jpg


View of the lights above the tank. You can see the rails that hold the rack to the ceiling. Plugs for the four light sequences plug into the controller in the ceiling mounted power strip. (Moonlights are on)
apex10.jpg


LL
 
One of the few that use VHO's only. Not really sure the reason though... :lol:
 
6 bulb t5 with led over my 40 breader.
 
I use an Aqua Medic MH/T5 combo with added Cree Xr-E Power LEDs.

Right now I'm in the transition to upgraded lighting. I've been hearing good things about T5s over MH lately.
 
MH with powerbrite leds



I've decided to switch to T5. Led's will be added as soon as the dust clears LOl
 
Last edited:
Just switched over to T5's and kept my VHO's
7X80w T5's with 2X140w VHO
VHO's are super actinic
T5's are 4 blue plus, 1 fiji purple, 1 midday, 1 aquablue

Before this setup I was running MH's. 3 XM10k's on Lumenmax Elites with 3 X 140 VHO super actinics. Actually love both. Just like any other reefer, wanted change.
 
4 65watt pc's that were 2years old. I had lps sps multiplying in my 75gal off of just those lights (not kidding). Just bought new bulbs last week. MAN!!! what a difference. Now i can actually see whats growing in my tank.
 
Dual SE 400w radiums & actinic VHO's. I moved to the radiums from dual 250w 10k ushios. The ushios grew corals and everything else in the tank like crazy. The 20k bulbs are nice but the growth is soooooooo slooooowwwwww. I experimented and placed one of my 10k 250's in the center and ran it for 2 hours in the morning. It didn't do a lot that I could tell and as a matter of fact I think I may have had too much light so I unplugged it.

Most corals were getting pale or washed out colors. I also have reduce the hours on each MH to 4.5 with a 1 hour overlap. The VHO's stay on for 12 hours. I keep tweaking the timing of the light cycle slightly and let the corals show me the results.

I've seen T-5 tanks and they grow corals and look nice but the MH's just have a better look.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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