Sps specific lighting

[xdusty6920]

Well I've got some older 250w mh Hamilton fixtures over a 75g. I've had them for about a decade. I'm not really happy with growth despite using xm10k. So I think it's time to upgrade. I've recently been shifting out lps and loading up on sps. Keeping in mind this will be sps only, I have a $500-$800 budget, and I'm completely open to any type of lighting, what would you get?

[FF337]

I am a diehard mh/t5 guy. But after tons of research (nightly for almost 2 years reading post after post, article after article) I decided to order leds. I ordered 3 fixtures from reefledlights. They will be here this week. I plan to take pictures weekly of progress as well as a water quality journal for a year.

I am keeping my triple 400 watt fixtures as backups

[xdusty6920]

LEDs are interesting to me but to be honest, are extremely confusing. I've tried several times to wrap my mind around it all but before long I'm confused in all of it. Optics, 80% on these and 60% on these, cyan, kessell, drivers, add a t1065 to help with par, but it needs a heat sink now, Chinese are cheap, never mind we like Chinese.....and then I just walk away from the computer more frustrated then ever.

[dadummy]

switch out the xm to radium

[trueblackpercula]

LEDs are interesting to me but to be honest, are extremely confusing. I've tried several times to wrap my mind around it all but before long I'm confused in all of it. Optics, 80% on these and 60% on these, cyan, kessell, drivers, add a t1065 to help with par, but it needs a heat sink now, Chinese are cheap, never mind we like Chinese.....and then I just walk away from the computer more frustrated then ever.

What are your tank measurements? I currently have a radion G1 LEDs a
Over my 30 x 30 x30 deep tank and its been working great for me.

[xdusty6920]

Ive got m58 ballasts. Aren't those incompatible with radium bulbs?

[xdusty6920]

It's a 48" 75g standard.

[Andyf30]

Either switch the ballasts and go radium, or go with a 48" ati fixture.

[xdusty6920]

Im strongly considering investing in new ballast and bulbs. The only thing that gives me pause is wondering if metal halide is a dying technology. It seems the market is shrinking with seemingly less options available. It that just me? Ati seems like a good option. The only thing I've heard negative about them is par being alittle weak in the bottum third. Should I just suck it up and make the leap to led? Aside from radions that would run around 2 grand, what's a dependable but more affordable option? I know I love the reefbrite xho actinics, but what could a pair with that to get optimal growth/ color?

[Zack_Man777]

If you want leds that are easy to work with i know reefbreeders came out with a new fixture that isnt to pricy and has gotten very good reviews. Also remember you will cut down significantly on power with leds. http://reefbreeders.com/it2080.html

[MammothReefer]

The used section of this forum is filled with top of the line Halide combos for dirt cheap. m80 ballats last forever. I was as able to find a 2x bluewave setup, luminarc reflectors, and even slightly used bulbs (the first time around) for less then a single "cheaper" sps capable LED setup would cost me. Halides aren't going anywhere for some time and all the popular bulbs are still available.

[trueblackpercula]

It's a 48" 75g standard.

That's a very nice size tank , LEDs are the future right now and there are several choices to be had.

2 radions would be perfect for that size any model used or new.
2 AI sol color fixtures would also rock that size tank
1 Mitras fixture would also do the trick but only keeping sps in the center of the tank.
There are also some Chinese LEDs that will also work well but you need 2 of them as well. Good luck in your choice as there are many amazing light fixtures out there right now.

Also there are a lot of great reviews about T5 bulbs that do amazing things for sps as well. But the only draw back is you need a lot of them.

bulb replacment depending on how long you have them on will be from 6 to 12 months before replacment is needed. But they do give off amazing colors and we at reefcentral have a few TOTM that disply what T5 bulbs can achieve.

[sirreal63]

You already have a ton of light with your current setup and has an equivalent par level to 400 watt Radiums. I highly doubt light is the issue. Do you have a pic of the tank? I am curious how the colors are, you are not lacking in light but you may have more than needed.

[xdusty6920]

no i dont happen to have a current tank shot but its easy enough to explain. my sps are just getting a dull brownish tone to them. despite having 0 phos and 0-5 nitrate. nothing is bleaching like id expect to see with too much light.things do grow, but slower then normal. but the dull brownish tone (birdsnest isnt pink, its brownish pink, slimer isnt neon green, its greenish brownish etc) is why i feel like i need to make a change.

[sirreal63]

How old are the bulbs? You do not have a shortage of light but IME when you are running high par bulbs, you need to feed the corals more and that is a lot of par over a 75 gallon tank.

[ali1]

leds are the new thing and MH is slowly fading away. if you look at some of the 'tank of the month' stories over the past 1-2 years, you'll notice a good portion of them are using LEDS.

I have the chinese LEDS, which are the same as reefbreeders, and I'm getting amazing colors and growth from sps and lps.

[sirreal63]

I counted 5 since July 2011, 4 leds only and one that is NPS. No doubt the number will grow but currently MH and T5 are still in use by most of the hardcore SPS people. The problem is identifying what is lacking and resolving that.

[evolutionZ]

get a maxspect razor 160w.

[jda]

I think that your current setup is very likely fine with different bulbs, but if you want to upgrade...

I would order this, and put 14K phoenix bulbs in it:
http://www.aqua-medic.com/product/ocean-light-2x250w/

or this if you want T5 too:
http://www.aqua-medic.com/product/ocean-light-plus-2x250w-2x54w-t5/

These, or 400W Mogul Radium 20K are the most outstanding options for SPS IMO, and many might disagree. Don't sweat the halides being a dying technology. Even though it might not be represented on the boards, everybody that I personally know or have seen with my own two eyes (save one or two) that has a SPS tank that I would trade mine for, or aspire to be like, still use MH - most have tried LED and have not been happy. Heck, I know a good portion that still use Super Actinic VHO because the T5 and LEDs don't make the corals flouresce like the VHO do. Most really successful reefers have stable reefs, don't need much and oftentimes don't contribute to boards. IMO, and many will disagree, boards are like 10% bad-@sses with solid breadth and depth of experience to offer a solid recommendation, 25% with an agenda to push or sell products (including ones that they own) and the rest are bandwagoners and newbies who need more help that they can off (I am in this boat, so take this post for what it is worth). Seriously, if you want to have an outstanding SPS tank, then take a collection of 30-50 tanks in your area that you wish to aspire to, reach out to some industry experts (that are not sponsored by any manufacturers) and email the well-known coral farmers and collectors - see what most of them use... you will get answers in the 80%+ range for metal halides and most of the rest will use VHO/T5 with a few LED sprinkled in... and you won't see most of these people on posting on message boards.

[Constrictor6090]

If you have large reflectors then 400 Radiums will scorch sps, even wild colonies. I would highly recommend 250w Radiums. We had (4) 400w Radiums over an 8ft 240g with large reflectors and they were bleaching sps. The 250w work perfect.

[Zstriker]

LEDs are the future : correct....but, let's talk in the present - Best looking tanks are still using MH or T5....be smart and go with something that doesn't require any fiddling with.. Radiums or ATI

[psykobowler]

Score another one for the 400 watt radium from the most current TOTM. It just works in the present time.

[Ralph ATL]

two, 400 watt Radiums in use for years.....why change? Except for the fact it is tiring to always have to cut my SPS back from growing into each other, a pita!

[Ralph ATL]

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/856585_10200856485394154_387676352_o.jpg

[Ralph ATL]

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/859899_10200856484114122_1195710493_o.jpg

[Ralph ATL]

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/859547_10200856484154123_52475750_o.jpg

[Michigan Mike]

250w HQI w/ 20k Radium or 14k Phoenix bulbs (what I have).
-Or-
6x54w ATI Sunpower (also have).

And whoever said T5 is weak doesn't have an ATI Sunpower. These lights are the most proven light sources for SPS.

Nice pics mysterybox.

So basically I think you should change your bulbs from 10k XM to Phoenix or Radium and call it good for 14-15 months or so.

[rtague]

ATI sunpower,awesome fixture.

[FF337]

Nice pictures Ralph.

[Ralph ATL]

Nice pictures Ralph.

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[LoJack]

I had used LED for a whole year ... and my ATI Sunpower arrives on Thursday.

LED's are the future ... I agree, but they aren't the best right now. I am going back to proven lighting.

I'm sick of the disco ball effect, and lighting thats so directional that it casts shadows all over the tank.

[Dexters Reef]

Just my setup which is successful for me, 2x250w MH with phoenix 14k, and 4x54w T5HO. I run this over my 75G mixed SPS tank and love it and get great growth and colors.

I want to go LED, but have no issues with my current setup and cant justify swapping out something thats working fine.

IMO T5/MH combo is a proven setup that has worked for many people for years.