General Light Requirements for LPS

[pwachs]

Currently i have a 20gal tank w/ mostly softies/zoo's in it. And a total of 130 W PC lighting.
This summer i will be moving into a larger apartment have have a 125 gal tank that i am starting to plan for. I want to mostly keep LPS and softies. And am wondering for the lps will i need MH lights or will VHO suffice? The 125 is the standard dimensions 72x24x18.

[pwachs]

oh and if i wanted to start stocking up for the 125 will lps live well under the amount of pc lighting i have?

[David Grigor]

URI VHO bulbs do a great job and your LPS will look and color up great, you will see a noticable difference in presentation alone from your existing PCs.

I personally would stick with VHOs. 4 or 5 VHO bulbs on a 125 will do great. Downside is that it will take a couple of icecap ballasts to light it but still cheaper or as about the same as a MH setup would be.

On my 125 Reef Ready tank, I use 3 72" bulbs in front and 2 48" bulbs near the back as so not to waste lighting up the corner overflows.

Having used T5s and all wattages of MH over the years, I still think VHOs can't be beat for a LPS/Softy dominant tank.

[CoralNutz]

VHO all way man..... URI's like David mentioned... I have the 10K aquasuns and super actinic's. (one of each bulb over each tank)

The aquasuns definately have a pink look to them. But my eyes have gotten used to it and I think the tanks look super great. But when others come over they always tell that it looks pink. On the advice from others I plan to get some actinic white (50/50) and actinic bulbs next time to see if I like that.

Make sure you get ARO ballasts for your VHO's too.....




:lol: Just messin with ya David :lol:

(I have an IC660 powering the new setup, hoping to get some extended bulb life from the switch, plus the deal on the IC was too sweet to pass up.)