ENOUGH light for my SPS?!!

ssungyo · 05/27/2003, 03:52 PM

After getting mixed reviews and advice, i decided to purchase a 175 metal halide with a 14oooK bulb. Im starting to get the feeling that i need some more lighting for my sps corals to have the ideal lighting conditions. Ive built my own metal halide canopy that takes the bulb about 8 inches above the water. The tank is 24inches high. and the rocks go as high as the middle of my tank making the distance from the surface about 12 inches and the distance from the surface to the bulb, around 6-8 inches. so, when roughly estimated, the sps corals are around 20 inches below the metal halide. I always thought i was going to raise soft corals, but after looking at the sps tanks, out there, i have fallen in love with SPS. I just want to get some of your opinions. I think the lighting i have right now is good enough, but you all have more experience than i do, so let's here the criticism! THANX A MILLION IN ADVANCE!

Oh, btw, the tank is 24 long, 24 high, and 13 deep.

SSUNGYo

Pineapple House · 05/27/2003, 04:57 PM

You could be able to keep small polyped scleractinians under your setup, although they wouldn't do as well under your bulb as they would under a 400wt bulb. I would try to keep the Scleractinians towards the upper area of the aquarium, for the fact that not much lighting travels to the bottom of the aquarium. The deeper the tank, the more intensity you'll need to illuminate the bottom of the tank.

Take Care,
Graham

Zoanthus · 05/27/2003, 05:45 PM

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m keeping acropora and montipora, kind of with the same lighting. They arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t actually directly under my 175. 10,000k But of to the side under a 2 foot 50/50 Vho and a small portion of a 6 foot actinic so they get a mixture of light. The light they are receiving is not as intense as the light directly under the 175 and they are growing fine. There is a picture of a before and after in my web page of the montipora and photos of my acroporas in my gallery. http://members.hometown.aol.com/benamadio/page2.html
the 175 should be ok but you may want to add some VHO to complement the metal halide.

DoomWeasel · 05/27/2003, 06:10 PM

That being said, your tank is not that deep. I don't think you will have a problem with the 175w, and should be able to keep many of the sps species. More intensity may be better, however, I don't see any reason to scrap this set up. Perhaps down the road if you feel they are not getting enough light, you can upgrade.

Lunchbucket · 05/27/2003, 08:33 PM

i am sure you could keep them ok. some won't do as well...the more light loving ones. heck have a 24" deep tank w/ a 400w MH on it...i can keep ANYTHIGN!!!

Lunchbucket

kevinpo · 05/27/2003, 08:53 PM

Here is a picture of my A. yongei that I grew under 175W 14,000K bulb. The color looks OK to me? There are many other corals that will also do well (read colorful and good growth) you just need to be selective with type and placement.

Good luck,
Kevin
PS: I also had 4 - 110W VHO's on the tank.

smiller · 05/28/2003, 05:33 AM

As Kevin just proved I have seen some really fine SPS tanks under 175s. Research what you buy and you will do well with your lighting. It is totally false that all SPS ned to be blasted with light. Some SPS actually do better under less lighting. A few of mine have done well under shade from other corals. Good luck!

Ti · 04/21/2006, 11:33 PM

175 is fine

SunnyX · 04/22/2006, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ti
175 is fine

You do know that this thread is 3 YEARS OLD!!!!!

Ti · 04/22/2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SunnyX
You do know that this thread is 3 YEARS OLD!!!!!

LOL

05/27/2003, 03:52 PM	#1
ssungyo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 63	ENOUGH light for my SPS?!! After getting mixed reviews and advice, i decided to purchase a 175 metal halide with a 14oooK bulb. Im starting to get the feeling that i need some more lighting for my sps corals to have the ideal lighting conditions. Ive built my own metal halide canopy that takes the bulb about 8 inches above the water. The tank is 24inches high. and the rocks go as high as the middle of my tank making the distance from the surface about 12 inches and the distance from the surface to the bulb, around 6-8 inches. so, when roughly estimated, the sps corals are around 20 inches below the metal halide. I always thought i was going to raise soft corals, but after looking at the sps tanks, out there, i have fallen in love with SPS. I just want to get some of your opinions. I think the lighting i have right now is good enough, but you all have more experience than i do, so let's here the criticism! THANX A MILLION IN ADVANCE! Oh, btw, the tank is 24 long, 24 high, and 13 deep. SSUNGYo

05/27/2003, 04:57 PM	#2
Pineapple House Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 1,740	You could be able to keep small polyped scleractinians under your setup, although they wouldn't do as well under your bulb as they would under a 400wt bulb. I would try to keep the Scleractinians towards the upper area of the aquarium, for the fact that not much lighting travels to the bottom of the aquarium. The deeper the tank, the more intensity you'll need to illuminate the bottom of the tank. Take Care, Graham __________________ RYAN'S LAW: Make three correct guesses consecutively and you will establish yourself as an expert. Current Tank Info: 300 gallons of water volume, 80 gallon refugium, 2x 1" seaswirls, 3x 400wt PFO HQI halides, Deltec 850 & Euro-Reef CS-82, Amp Master 3000 on closed loop, 200lbs liverock

05/27/2003, 08:33 PM	#5
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 14,180	i am sure you could keep them ok. some won't do as well...the more light loving ones. heck have a 24" deep tank w/ a 400w MH on it...i can keep ANYTHIGN!!! Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

05/27/2003, 08:53 PM	#6
kevinpo Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 3,535	Here is a picture of my A. yongei that I grew under 175W 14,000K bulb. The color looks OK to me? There are many other corals that will also do well (read colorful and good growth) you just need to be selective with type and placement. Good luck, Kevin PS: I also had 4 - 110W VHO's on the tank. __________________ SPS Guy Current Tank Info: 600 reef (set up June 2001), with 125 gal refugium and 100 gal sump.

05/28/2003, 05:33 AM	#7
smiller Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 9,228	As Kevin just proved I have seen some really fine SPS tanks under 175s. Research what you buy and you will do well with your lighting. It is totally false that all SPS ned to be blasted with light. Some SPS actually do better under less lighting. A few of mine have done well under shade from other corals. Good luck! __________________ Steve It's good to learn from your experiences. It's better to learn from other's experiences.

05/27/2003, 05:45 PM	#3
Zoanthus Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 103	IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m keeping acropora and montipora, kind of with the same lighting. They arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t actually directly under my 175. 10,000k But of to the side under a 2 foot 50/50 Vho and a small portion of a 6 foot actinic so they get a mixture of light. The light they are receiving is not as intense as the light directly under the 175 and they are growing fine. There is a picture of a before and after in my web page of the montipora and photos of my acroporas in my gallery. http://members.hometown.aol.com/benamadio/page2.html the 175 should be ok but you may want to add some VHO to complement the metal halide.

05/27/2003, 06:10 PM	#4
DoomWeasel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: West LA, CA Posts: 704	That being said, your tank is not that deep. I don't think you will have a problem with the 175w, and should be able to keep many of the sps species. More intensity may be better, however, I don't see any reason to scrap this set up. Perhaps down the road if you feel they are not getting enough light, you can upgrade.

04/21/2006, 11:33 PM	#8
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,977	175 is fine __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.