8'x4' Frag Tank LIGHTING OPTIONS?

[WT_JayJay]

Ok sooo ive been out of the game for a few years now as far as keeping a personal reef tank that is, as i manage a shop. I recently got the bug again and picked up a large frag tank. I would like your opinions on lighting and to see what people use on tanks this size.


I have a 8'x4' flood table (hydro table). I will be running it bare bottom and from my measurements on my existing plumbing it will have approximately 6.5" of water. I plan on growing out only softies and lps in this system. Most zoas/pallys, acans, favias, and some chalice's.

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Iv'e always been a big t5 fan as i had great experiences in the past even with sps. But once this tank starts to get filled up thats going to be a lot of 54w bulbs.. Even at my cost on them there are still cheaper options. Although i do think this will be the best over all for growth and color alike.


--PROS

Great growth
Great color
Ability to easily play with spectrums with bulb changes


---CONS

Full coverage would be A LOT Of BULBS
Cost each year on bulbs and power consumption
NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT HEAT


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I got into led's with the last tank i had set up personally and had decent luck as well as fried some things. The shop i work at we run multiple fixtures over display tanks and frag tanks and ive yet to honestly be thoroughly impressed- Gen 2 radion's over a 90 mixed sps dominated reef; it has struggled on and off for a few years even since the change from 250w halides and growth isnt as good. A single kessil a350 over a softie/lps cube; amazing color and good growth for a small tank. Maxpect razors over a single mixed frag tank; im still torn on these lights as ive heard great things about them, but yet to see the results myself although colors really pop. And then we have a bunch of "Chinese black boxes" 120w 55 led 75% blue 25% white. Both channels dimmable. I have really seen some stuff take off under these but some colors are really lacking and i feel the white channel grows more algae than anything.


If i did go with leds for a large set up like this, the only thing is i would probably go the cheap rout with similar Chinese fixtures and i hate to still spend a good chunk and regret it.


---PROS

Long term cost is great
Since its a shallow tank 120* optics well really no optics would allow for great spread and still penetrate great for my needs.
Great color


---CONS

Ive fried way too many acans and definalty some chalices in what seemed like over night.
Initial up front cost
Probably more i just cant think at the moment.. lol


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Then there's the tried and true halides! I would only run one MAYBE TWO 250's with really nice reflectors on a light mover.


---PROS

GREAT GROWTH


---CONS

I would want to supplement with t5/vho or led
Heat!
Light Mover Cost
Dealing with the light mover not being able to see the whole tank lit at all times i think would drive me nuts









Ok so this is all probably more of a ramble and me getting my ideas down on paper as i knew this has been discussed over and over and overrrrrr .....


But I guess im looking for the best options for a table this size as i know there are some of you using them. Im actually leaning towards a t5 led combination, but im not sure how id go about it exactly. Im thinking multiple t5 retros with diy tubed heat sink leds.

[d2mini]

For grow-out, 3 MH in large reflectors, no light mover. Simple, effective, and cheap to get up and running. And if you can manage heat with some fans and distance from the water, cost effective too.

[Wazzel]

With something shallow like that and only doing low to medium light corals you got lots of options for lights. Low watt MH, T-5, LED are all viable options. You seem to know the pros and cons of the systems so it is just down to personal preference. If this is going to be a frag tank you do not need to get them all at once. Get one or two and get the system going then add on as the need and funds are there. I would not mess with any kind of light mover either. If it were me I would lean to T-5 or LED.

[Jeremy B.]

In my opinion I think that 2 x 400w MH's in some really large and shallow reflectors would work perfect. With that shallow of water depth that you're talking about and the types of corals you're growing out, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised at what you could achieve with that.

[greaps]

Since your not worried about heat, I would use halides. If heat is a concern Id use Cheaper Chinese Led's there are a lot of option in the department, some are sponsors here.