SPS lighting

waddwadd · 11/24/2013, 04:17 PM

What lights do you guys use for your SPS peices??? Links to the place that I may buy to please! Looking to upgrade! =D

dunc101 · 11/24/2013, 04:40 PM

What type of lighting are you wanting: LED, T5, Metal Halides, combo of the two/three, etc? Your question is pretty open ended as any of the type of lighting above has plenty of success stories. Each of the lighting technologies above have advantages and disadvantages.
Also, what is your budget and how big is the tank?

If I were to do Halides, I would get use Radium bulbs in a lumenarc reflector. I'm just not sure which ballast to recommend because I've never used Halides, personally.
For T5's, you cannot beat the performance of the ATI fixtures. If you don't mind spending even more, you can get the ATI LED/T5 combo (expensive). I "personally" wouldn't get any other T5 fixture than ATI as they are the "cream of the crop, imo"
For LED's... you can get the cheap reefbreeder Photon or value fixtures (very good reviews and not that bad on the wallet) which I have heard plenty of success stories from or go with the Radion Pro's, AI Hydra, AI Vega, etc. etc. etc. Many many LED options which are good exist. LED is the "newest" to the scene and, imo, is still being perfected. Just make sure to get a "full spectrum" LED (all the ones I listed above are "full spectrum"). Each LED fixture has their own "strengths and weaknesses."

waddwadd · 11/24/2013, 04:55 PM

Sorry, I meant to say, I have a 4 Bulb T5-HO fixture, but it isn't strong enough to maintain the pieces that I would like. I was looking to upgrade to some LED's. Preferably some that have different time settings. For example the lights i have now have 3 setting, which are programed into it, they are moonlight, sunrise/sunset, and daytime. Thank you! I may sound a bit odd with my typing, as I am a younger person for this hobby. Im 14 but have been at this for a good while and know my stuff fairly well. Thanks again!

dunc101 · 11/24/2013, 07:32 PM

How big of a tank is it? If I were to buy a good, budget friendly set of LED's today, I would buy either the ocean revive IT2060's or the reefbreeder photon series depending on your size tank. If you want all the bells and whistles and don't mind the price, Radion Pro's would be my choice. My friend has 3 of these over this 150 and the tank looks amazing! I have heard great reviews from the reefbreeder/oceanrevive units as well though, I just haven't seen them in person. If you like a very sleek looking fixture and have a 48 inch, the Maxspect Razor 300 watt looks very nice and should do well. I have 2 of the 120 watt units over my 90. It can be a little "purple" however which is the number 1 common complaint I see people referring too. I have 4 T5's running 3 Blue + and 1 Purple + which offsets the purpleish color for me, however.
When you switch, just make sure you start the intensity of your LED's VERY low and slowly ramp them up over the course of a couple of months.

stevedola · 11/25/2013, 09:04 AM

Id get an ATI t5 fixture. they do have hybrids now with t5 and leds. I dont like strictly LED fixtures but to each their own.

jda · 11/25/2013, 10:46 AM

How serious do you want to be? Top of the line, pretty good, or just a casual SPS keeper? The lights matter and not all will perform like others, but you have moderate success with anything. It will also matter what size your tank is... what are the dimensions?

waddwadd · 11/25/2013, 03:42 PM

I would like some fairly nice peices, I have a 90 gallon system and have T5's already on it, but looking to upgrade to something that can keep higher quality peices.

jda · 11/25/2013, 03:54 PM

What size of tank?

waddwadd · 11/25/2013, 03:56 PM

90 gallon

jda · 11/25/2013, 03:57 PM

I would get a pair of 150W HQI Halides and put 14K Phoenix bulbs in them. You could keep anything, anywhere with these lights on a 90G tank. You should be able to find high quality cheap AquaMedic or Giesman fixture out there. You can change the bulbs ever 2 years.

Pcrain · 11/25/2013, 04:01 PM

The par jump from 1 50 to 250 is makes 150's pointless

jda · 11/25/2013, 04:15 PM

They 150W 14K Phoenix on M81 puts out more PPFD than most SE 250W bulbs. Most 150W HQI bulbs are garbage, though... and even worse on bad ballasts (there are a lot out there). The ballasts will matter a lot.

Jcreefer1 · 11/25/2013, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waddwadd

90 gallon

For an SPS tank I would go with either 2x250 DE HQI (Hamilton 20k) or 2x250 Mogul base Radium 20k bulbs.....IMO the 150s are not enough to get the full potential of your SPS.

Pcrain · 11/25/2013, 08:58 PM

I agree with jcreefer

toothman · 11/26/2013, 05:04 AM

led's are fun and getting more interesting each year. I will most likely have led at some point. For me it is easier now to keep acros with halide/ t12 or t5. T12 is the best actinic bulb. I have tried about 6 different halide bulbs, you can look at different ballast/halide combos on "Sanjay's Lighting Guide".

sirreal63 · 11/26/2013, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jda

I would get a pair of 150W HQI Halides and put 14K Phoenix bulbs in them. You could keep anything, anywhere with these lights on a 90G tank. You should be able to find high quality cheap AquaMedic or Giesman fixture out there. You can change the bulbs ever 2 years.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcrain

The par jump from 1 50 to 250 is makes 150's pointless

What are you basing that on? Wattage does not equal PAR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcreefer1

For an SPS tank I would go with either 2x250 DE HQI (Hamilton 20k) or 2x250 Mogul base Radium 20k bulbs.....IMO the 150s are not enough to get the full potential of your SPS.

You can get more PAR from a properly set up 150 than you can from a poorly setup 250. Having used both for many years I can assure you that a nice 150 setup grows SPS as easily as a 250 watt setup. If you would like some examples, I can provide them.

Waddwadd, you have a multitude of lighting options available to you. How successful you are will depend on a lot more than lighting.

ClownsRCoo · 06/24/2014, 01:16 PM

I have 2 Radions over my 90 and dont care for them. Ill be buying a ATI 6 bulb sunpower as my first T5 fixture and hang that over the tank for a few months. I expect to see much better results and if Im right ill sell which ever one i dont like after that period.

xenon · 06/24/2014, 02:58 PM

ATI Powermodule or 400w 20K Radium MH seems to be the gold standard for SPS coloration.

Bpb · 06/24/2014, 05:51 PM

If you're getting serious about sps get on reefgeek.com, and order two Hamilton m80 hqi ballasts, and two Hamilton cabo sun mini reflectors for mogul bulbs and put a couple radiums in there. LEDs are cool and packed with features, but the gold standard has yet to be beat.

11/24/2013, 04:17 PM	#1
waddwadd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 116	SPS lighting What lights do you guys use for your SPS peices??? Links to the place that I may buy to please! Looking to upgrade! =D

11/24/2013, 04:40 PM	#2
dunc101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 758	What type of lighting are you wanting: LED, T5, Metal Halides, combo of the two/three, etc? Your question is pretty open ended as any of the type of lighting above has plenty of success stories. Each of the lighting technologies above have advantages and disadvantages. Also, what is your budget and how big is the tank? If I were to do Halides, I would get use Radium bulbs in a lumenarc reflector. I'm just not sure which ballast to recommend because I've never used Halides, personally. For T5's, you cannot beat the performance of the ATI fixtures. If you don't mind spending even more, you can get the ATI LED/T5 combo (expensive). I "personally" wouldn't get any other T5 fixture than ATI as they are the "cream of the crop, imo" For LED's... you can get the cheap reefbreeder Photon or value fixtures (very good reviews and not that bad on the wallet) which I have heard plenty of success stories from or go with the Radion Pro's, AI Hydra, AI Vega, etc. etc. etc. Many many LED options which are good exist. LED is the "newest" to the scene and, imo, is still being perfected. Just make sure to get a "full spectrum" LED (all the ones I listed above are "full spectrum"). Each LED fixture has their own "strengths and weaknesses." __________________ Duncan Last edited by dunc101; 11/24/2013 at 04:50 PM.

11/24/2013, 07:32 PM	#4
dunc101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 758	How big of a tank is it? If I were to buy a good, budget friendly set of LED's today, I would buy either the ocean revive IT2060's or the reefbreeder photon series depending on your size tank. If you want all the bells and whistles and don't mind the price, Radion Pro's would be my choice. My friend has 3 of these over this 150 and the tank looks amazing! I have heard great reviews from the reefbreeder/oceanrevive units as well though, I just haven't seen them in person. If you like a very sleek looking fixture and have a 48 inch, the Maxspect Razor 300 watt looks very nice and should do well. I have 2 of the 120 watt units over my 90. It can be a little "purple" however which is the number 1 common complaint I see people referring too. I have 4 T5's running 3 Blue + and 1 Purple + which offsets the purpleish color for me, however. When you switch, just make sure you start the intensity of your LED's VERY low and slowly ramp them up over the course of a couple of months. __________________ Duncan Last edited by dunc101; 11/24/2013 at 07:38 PM.

11/25/2013, 09:04 AM	#5
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	Id get an ATI t5 fixture. they do have hybrids now with t5 and leds. I dont like strictly LED fixtures but to each their own. __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon...

11/25/2013, 04:01 PM	#11
Pcrain Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: chico ca Posts: 414	The par jump from 1 50 to 250 is makes 150's pointless __________________ 90g sps dominated reef -60g grow out- 20g sump Lighting- Maristar fixture 2x250watt MH 2xt5 sunlight supply ballast/ grow out 2x t5ho Filtration- SRO 2000 , reactors for biopellets, carbon and phosban. Current Tank Info: 90g reef 25g sump/fuge

11/24/2013, 04:55 PM	#3
waddwadd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 116	Sorry, I meant to say, I have a 4 Bulb T5-HO fixture, but it isn't strong enough to maintain the pieces that I would like. I was looking to upgrade to some LED's. Preferably some that have different time settings. For example the lights i have now have 3 setting, which are programed into it, they are moonlight, sunrise/sunset, and daytime. Thank you! I may sound a bit odd with my typing, as I am a younger person for this hobby. Im 14 but have been at this for a good while and know my stuff fairly well. Thanks again!

11/25/2013, 10:46 AM	#6
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	How serious do you want to be? Top of the line, pretty good, or just a casual SPS keeper? The lights matter and not all will perform like others, but you have moderate success with anything. It will also matter what size your tank is... what are the dimensions?

11/25/2013, 03:42 PM	#7
waddwadd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 116	I would like some fairly nice peices, I have a 90 gallon system and have T5's already on it, but looking to upgrade to something that can keep higher quality peices.

11/25/2013, 03:54 PM	#8
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	What size of tank?

11/25/2013, 03:56 PM	#9
waddwadd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 116	90 gallon

11/25/2013, 03:57 PM	#10
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I would get a pair of 150W HQI Halides and put 14K Phoenix bulbs in them. You could keep anything, anywhere with these lights on a 90G tank. You should be able to find high quality cheap AquaMedic or Giesman fixture out there. You can change the bulbs ever 2 years.

11/25/2013, 04:15 PM	#12
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	They 150W 14K Phoenix on M81 puts out more PPFD than most SE 250W bulbs. Most 150W HQI bulbs are garbage, though... and even worse on bad ballasts (there are a lot out there). The ballasts will matter a lot.

11/25/2013, 08:58 PM	#14
Pcrain Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: chico ca Posts: 414	I agree with jcreefer __________________ 90g sps dominated reef -60g grow out- 20g sump Lighting- Maristar fixture 2x250watt MH 2xt5 sunlight supply ballast/ grow out 2x t5ho Filtration- SRO 2000 , reactors for biopellets, carbon and phosban. Current Tank Info: 90g reef 25g sump/fuge

11/26/2013, 05:04 AM	#15
toothman Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Phila area (Newtown) Posts: 1,572	led's are fun and getting more interesting each year. I will most likely have led at some point. For me it is easier now to keep acros with halide/ t12 or t5. T12 is the best actinic bulb. I have tried about 6 different halide bulbs, you can look at different ballast/halide combos on "Sanjay's Lighting Guide". __________________ Always looking to trade a frag. Current Tank Info: 400 gal reef, 2 darts, 1 hammerhead, 3 jebao wp 60, 125gal sump, Revolution kz skimmer, 6 400 watt radium, actinic flourescent, 50 X turnover, Zeovit

06/24/2014, 01:16 PM	#17
ClownsRCoo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 813	I have 2 Radions over my 90 and dont care for them. Ill be buying a ATI 6 bulb sunpower as my first T5 fixture and hang that over the tank for a few months. I expect to see much better results and if Im right ill sell which ever one i dont like after that period. __________________ PlanetAquariums 171g (60x30x22) - RoyalExclusiv Dreambox - Bubble King Double Cone 200 Total system volume - 225g

06/24/2014, 02:58 PM	#18
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	ATI Powermodule or 400w 20K Radium MH seems to be the gold standard for SPS coloration.

06/24/2014, 05:51 PM	#19
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	If you're getting serious about sps get on reefgeek.com, and order two Hamilton m80 hqi ballasts, and two Hamilton cabo sun mini reflectors for mogul bulbs and put a couple radiums in there. LEDs are cool and packed with features, but the gold standard has yet to be beat.