75 gal tank coral growth

rich850 · 04/17/2011, 10:12 PM

what would work better 425w of metal halide lighting or an ati sunpower 6x54 fixture for maximum growth and what would the differences be?

Saltwatercoral2 · 04/17/2011, 10:37 PM

425watts?

iwishtofish · 04/17/2011, 10:47 PM

I think either a 2x200w MH fixture or a quality 6x54w T5 fixture would serve the purpose equally well in a standard 75g tank. The MH will run hotter, increasing the possibility that you might end up needing an expensive (to buy AND run) chiller.

Saltwatercoral2 · 04/17/2011, 10:49 PM

2 x 150 watts will be plenty. Thats what i ran on my 75 gallon

unbelievable · 04/17/2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltwatercoral2

2 x 150 watts will be plenty. Thats what i ran on my 75 gallon

That would be fine for lps and softies but for sps a quality 6 bulb t5 fixture is a much better choice.

rich850 · 04/17/2011, 10:55 PM

i guess i am just debating because i have both i have the t5 over the tank now but i have an aquamedic 250w hqi in the closet and a magnetic ballast with a lumenarc and new 175 w 20k bulb and was considering running them and selling my ati sunpower fixture just need a little input dont want to have regrets about it so i am coming here to the experienced crowd

Saltwatercoral2 · 04/17/2011, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unbelievable

That would be fine for lps and softies but for sps a quality 6 bulb t5 fixture is a much better choice.

I grew sps, clams and anenomies, all on the sand bed of my tank...

Jonathan76 · 04/17/2011, 11:26 PM

I have a 6 bulb sunpower on a 75 and its almost too bright. when I moved it up to 12”+ above the tank, my corals colored up and got better polyp extension. I really wish I would have gotten the 4 bulb ati - cheaper and less bulbs to deal with.

rich850 · 04/19/2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich850

i guess i am just debating because i have both i have the t5 over the tank now but i have an aquamedic 250w hqi in the closet and a magnetic ballast with a lumenarc and new 175 w 20k bulb and was considering running them and selling my ati sunpower fixture just need a little input dont want to have regrets about it so i am coming here to the experienced crowd

bump

rich850 · 04/19/2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan76

I have a 6 bulb sunpower on a 75 and its almost too bright. when I moved it up to 12”+ above the tank, my corals colored up and got better polyp extension. I really wish I would have gotten the 4 bulb ati - cheaper and less bulbs to deal with.

what corals do you keep and how much flow do you have in your tank?

karsseboom · 04/19/2011, 12:53 AM

both will do fine but I feal safe running MH cause i know im getting the par i need.

R33f3r · 04/19/2011, 10:09 AM

On my 75, I run 4 T5 and a reefbrite led strip (50/50) for the shimmer and I can grow sps in the middle of the tank just fine with great color plus a neon green haddoni carpet at the sandbed. I plan on changing to full led once they become a little cheaper. 6 T5 might be an overkill actually unless you use lower par bulbs.

batt600 · 04/19/2011, 10:28 AM

I ran a 8b T5 on my 75 with no problems

Jonathan76 · 04/19/2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich850

what corals do you keep and how much flow do you have in your tank?

sps mostly with some lps shaded on the bottom. bare bottom, mp40, modded tunzes - For my tank the sweet spot seems to be: with 6 bulb ati sunpower (all ati bulbs) - about 12" above the tank, fans on 6W, all bulbs on 7 hours (1 hour sunrise sunset on each end.

I think I would go with 4 bulb ati if I were to do it again, but after $600 i'm stuck with it. I might only use 4 bulb and remove the other 2

rich850 · 04/22/2011, 10:20 PM

so are you saying stick with the ati?

ccolt1 · 04/23/2011, 10:33 AM

I like MH myself..

Jonathan76 · 04/23/2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich850

so are you saying stick with the ati?

No, I really like the quality of the ati fixture - but if i was gonna do it again, i think i would go LED.

04/17/2011, 10:12 PM	#1
rich850 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tallahassee, fl Posts: 440	75 gal tank coral growth what would work better 425w of metal halide lighting or an ati sunpower 6x54 fixture for maximum growth and what would the differences be?

04/17/2011, 10:55 PM	#6
rich850 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tallahassee, fl Posts: 440	re i guess i am just debating because i have both i have the t5 over the tank now but i have an aquamedic 250w hqi in the closet and a magnetic ballast with a lumenarc and new 175 w 20k bulb and was considering running them and selling my ati sunpower fixture just need a little input dont want to have regrets about it so i am coming here to the experienced crowd

04/19/2011, 10:09 AM	#12
R33f3r Anemones Anonymous Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 29.763N:95.363W Posts: 3,114	On my 75, I run 4 T5 and a reefbrite led strip (50/50) for the shimmer and I can grow sps in the middle of the tank just fine with great color plus a neon green haddoni carpet at the sandbed. I plan on changing to full led once they become a little cheaper. 6 T5 might be an overkill actually unless you use lower par bulbs. __________________ Member of the starboard cult.

04/22/2011, 10:20 PM	#15
rich850 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tallahassee, fl Posts: 440	bump so are you saying stick with the ati?

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04/17/2011, 10:37 PM	#2
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	425watts?

04/17/2011, 10:47 PM	#3
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	I think either a 2x200w MH fixture or a quality 6x54w T5 fixture would serve the purpose equally well in a standard 75g tank. The MH will run hotter, increasing the possibility that you might end up needing an expensive (to buy AND run) chiller.

04/17/2011, 10:49 PM	#4
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	2 x 150 watts will be plenty. Thats what i ran on my 75 gallon

04/17/2011, 11:26 PM	#8
Jonathan76 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 134	I have a 6 bulb sunpower on a 75 and its almost too bright. when I moved it up to 12”+ above the tank, my corals colored up and got better polyp extension. I really wish I would have gotten the 4 bulb ati - cheaper and less bulbs to deal with.

04/19/2011, 12:53 AM	#11
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	both will do fine but I feal safe running MH cause i know im getting the par i need.

04/19/2011, 10:28 AM	#13
batt600 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: cleveland ohio Posts: 408	I ran a 8b T5 on my 75 with no problems

04/23/2011, 10:33 AM	#16
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	I like MH myself..