Lighting Opinions?

Hanzo · 08/17/2007, 01:17 PM

I'm setting up a 90 gallon (3'x2'x2') tank. I'm planning on the following lighting plan. Your thoughts?

Lumenarc II reflector
Galaxy 250w ballast
Radium 20K SE
T5 HO ballast
Giesemann Powerchrome Aqua Blue 39w
Giesemann Powerchrome Actinic+ 39w

Also, What kind of lighting should I do on my 38 gallon sump/refugium ?

650-IS350 · 08/17/2007, 01:35 PM

Arent 20k's really blue and dull and more for deep water type corals and look. .. why not go for 10k and up to 15k's for more white to real look ???

northbay-reefer · 08/17/2007, 01:38 PM

Radium all the way baby, I would go aquablue + and aqua blue 11k

mcurl98 · 08/17/2007, 02:08 PM

the 250w Radiums on an electronic ballast might result in pretty low PAR. I thought the Galaxies were electronic but don't know for sure. I see Sanjay has the PPFD at 66 with an IC ballast-no testing results for Galaxy though. 85 with the PFO. I'd only consider the 250 Radiums if I was going to use a high output HQI like the PFO. This will also shift the color and make it a little less blue. But, I know very little about the Galaxies so maybe they are different. In general though, electronic ballasts are going to give you less PAR than an overdriving HQI. If you want 20k color and an electronic ballast, I'd go 400W for SPS. I also like the URI VHOs but it's all a matter of taste. For my 90, I run 400W 20k Helios with 2 URI VHOs. If I wanted to go with 250w, I'd use the PFO ballast.

08/17/2007, 01:17 PM	#1
Hanzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 42	Lighting Opinions? I'm setting up a 90 gallon (3'x2'x2') tank. I'm planning on the following lighting plan. Your thoughts? Lumenarc II reflector Galaxy 250w ballast Radium 20K SE T5 HO ballast Giesemann Powerchrome Aqua Blue 39w Giesemann Powerchrome Actinic+ 39w Also, What kind of lighting should I do on my 38 gallon sump/refugium ?

08/17/2007, 01:35 PM	#2
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brisbane, Bay Area Posts: 13,293	Arent 20k's really blue and dull and more for deep water type corals and look. .. why not go for 10k and up to 15k's for more white to real look ??? __________________ Charles , AKA " DELSOL650 "

08/17/2007, 01:38 PM	#3
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,663	Radium all the way baby, I would go aquablue + and aqua blue 11k __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

08/17/2007, 02:08 PM	#4
mcurl98 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 619	the 250w Radiums on an electronic ballast might result in pretty low PAR. I thought the Galaxies were electronic but don't know for sure. I see Sanjay has the PPFD at 66 with an IC ballast-no testing results for Galaxy though. 85 with the PFO. I'd only consider the 250 Radiums if I was going to use a high output HQI like the PFO. This will also shift the color and make it a little less blue. But, I know very little about the Galaxies so maybe they are different. In general though, electronic ballasts are going to give you less PAR than an overdriving HQI. If you want 20k color and an electronic ballast, I'd go 400W for SPS. I also like the URI VHOs but it's all a matter of taste. For my 90, I run 400W 20k Helios with 2 URI VHOs. If I wanted to go with 250w, I'd use the PFO ballast. __________________ -Matt Current Tank Info: tankless