Lighting for my first reef tank!

Oxy · 03/31/2014, 12:33 PM

Hi guys, I'm a new member! I'm a 19 year old Italian boy and I'm thinking to start my first reef tank! I had a fresh water tank but I had to put it off for some reasons. I have a 60x40x40cm tank,but 10x40x40 cm of it are divided by glass and this space it's an internal sump,so the aquarium is 50x40x40,80 liters. I've got two T5 lighting,a 2x24 and a 3x24. They're a bit larger then the aquarium. I don't know if I'd have enough light with them so I'm thinking about other solutions,like a 150W HQI lighting or a LED DIY(90W?) lighting. Which of the 3 options would be better? I'd like to have soft corals and LPS but also SPS,so I don't wanna have limits with the animals. Thanks to all you guys and sorry for my English!

Oxy · 03/31/2014, 03:59 PM

Up!

Oxy · 04/01/2014, 11:57 AM

Please guys can you help me? This is my first experience with a reef tank and I don't wanna start in the wrong way,so I need some tips. I'd prefere to use my 2 T5 lighting,but I don't know if they're enough...

cvcoda · 04/01/2014, 01:25 PM

I have a similar setup and have 1 AI Sol Blue LED unit. Tank has been up for about two years and I'm growing SPS, LPS no problem.

Oxy · 04/01/2014, 02:11 PM

Thank you! The problem of the LEDs is the price,because I don't know if a Chinese lighting would be the same of a Radion,for example. Do you think that 120W of T5 are enough? Because if they are,I'll use my T5 lightings.

cvcoda · 04/01/2014, 07:48 PM

The only T5's I've ever used are made by Current and I have them on a 10 gallon frag tank. There's a huge difference between the coloring and the overall extension of the corals between the LED's and T5's (granted, my fixture is not high-end). I'm not saying the T5's won't work, but I prefer the LED's. Also, don't forget to factor in the cost of replacement bulbs for the T5.

erickcooper · 04/01/2014, 08:28 PM

I've recently moved from MH to T5HO and like the move so far. There's not that MH or LED shimmer, but my inhabitants seem to be ok so far. I just feel like I'm still hearing issues with LEDs so I think I'll give them a couple more years.

Oxy · 04/01/2014, 10:55 PM

Thank you guys! I know some people thinks that T5s give better colors,other one preferes LEDs. Talking only about power,is a 120W T5 lighting ok on a 80l tank?

erickcooper · 04/02/2014, 07:15 AM

I would think that is really good. I have 468W of T5HO on my 125g. I'm not good with the metric system, but if that's really only about 20-25 gallons, I would think that's a good amount of light.

Oxy · 04/02/2014, 11:56 AM

Thanks,I think I'll use the T5 lighting! Maybe one day I will use LED lighting,but for the moment T5 can be a good solution. I heard that T5 lighting help at the beginning, LED are more difficult. I hope I will do a good job!

Bpb · 04/02/2014, 05:18 PM

All 3 major light styles can yield spectacular results, and all three can cause horrible failure. It's more important to pick one, and invest in a quality unit or bulbs, and use it correctly, with the right intensity and photoperiod. An ati powermodule t5 unit, lumen bright pendant with m80 ballast and radium mh bulb, or an ecotech radion are all equally capable of growing and coloring any corals.

Oxy · 04/03/2014, 06:34 AM

I don't have an Ati Powermodule,but I will use Ati bulbs,probably 2 Aquablue Special,2 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus. Is it a good configuration?

Bpb · 04/03/2014, 07:07 AM

That bulb combo would work just fine...however, even though it has produced fantastic growth for many many years, the aquablue special bulb is a bit out dated. It's still available but ATI has corrected some of the color rendering issues with the creation of the coral+ bulb. The aquablue special had a lot of yellow/green in it which really washes out the coral colors. The coral+ bulb is a lot more pleasing to the eye and packs the same growing power. I think for a 5 bulb combo most people would be happier with:

3 blue+, 2 coral+

It'll have a nice crisp 14k look with enough blue to cause coral fluorescence, and have enough red to bring out the warmer colors. It will also hit the major peaks of coral photosynthesis.

Oxy · 04/03/2014, 07:28 AM

Thanks! Can I try 1 Purple Plus instead of 1 Blue Plus?

Bpb · 04/03/2014, 08:07 AM

You certainly can though I wouldn't recommend it. Two coral plus and one purple plus is ALOT of red. More than you need. You would have more red than blue which is bad for most corals. Use red sparingly. The coral+ bulb has nearly as much red as the purple+ but also has a wide array of blue (though visually you can't see it, it looks pink). If you really want to use a purple+ bulb then I'd do 3 blue +, one coral+, one purple+. Too much red in your spectrum will really turbo charge green algae growth.

I used to run 2 blue+, one coral+, one purple+
Changed to 3 blue+, one coral+, but left eveththing else the same, and my corals response was favorable and green algae almost all but disappeared within a week of making the change. I attribute that to reduced red wavelengths and increased blue.

Oxy · 04/03/2014, 08:22 AM

Your analyse is really interesting,thank you so much! I don't wanna have too many problems with algae... I'm thinking about buying a 6x24 T5 lighting,maybe an Ati Powermodule. This is just an idea at the moment,I have to think about it. What would be a good configuration with 6 neon?

michaellee64 · 04/03/2014, 12:48 PM

For a 6 bulb fixture use 4 blue+, 1 coral+, and 1 purple +

Oxy · 04/03/2014, 05:09 PM

Thank you so much!

Oxy · 04/09/2014, 01:38 AM

Hi guys,I've changed my project... I'm going to use a 60x40x45cm tank and I will use an external sump. Now I don't know if 5 neons are enough and I'm thinking to buy another 2x24W to have 7x24W T5. Is it ok? Thank you!

03/31/2014, 12:33 PM	#1
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Lighting for my first reef tank! Hi guys, I'm a new member! I'm a 19 year old Italian boy and I'm thinking to start my first reef tank! I had a fresh water tank but I had to put it off for some reasons. I have a 60x40x40cm tank,but 10x40x40 cm of it are divided by glass and this space it's an internal sump,so the aquarium is 50x40x40,80 liters. I've got two T5 lighting,a 2x24 and a 3x24. They're a bit larger then the aquarium. I don't know if I'd have enough light with them so I'm thinking about other solutions,like a 150W HQI lighting or a LED DIY(90W?) lighting. Which of the 3 options would be better? I'd like to have soft corals and LPS but also SPS,so I don't wanna have limits with the animals. Thanks to all you guys and sorry for my English!

04/01/2014, 01:25 PM	#4
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	I have a similar setup and have 1 AI Sol Blue LED unit. Tank has been up for about two years and I'm growing SPS, LPS no problem. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

04/01/2014, 07:48 PM	#6
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	The only T5's I've ever used are made by Current and I have them on a 10 gallon frag tank. There's a huge difference between the coloring and the overall extension of the corals between the LED's and T5's (granted, my fixture is not high-end). I'm not saying the T5's won't work, but I prefer the LED's. Also, don't forget to factor in the cost of replacement bulbs for the T5. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

04/01/2014, 08:28 PM	#7
erickcooper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 219	I've recently moved from MH to T5HO and like the move so far. There's not that MH or LED shimmer, but my inhabitants seem to be ok so far. I just feel like I'm still hearing issues with LEDs so I think I'll give them a couple more years. __________________ 125g Aqueon Drilled Mixed Reef, Eshopps R-200 Sump/Refugium, 1200gph pump, Reef Octopus NWB150, 72” AquaticLife Six-Lamp T5-HO (12x39 Watt) with Lunar LEDs, Fluval FX5 Canister; (3) Koralia Powerheads

04/02/2014, 07:15 AM	#9
erickcooper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 219	I would think that is really good. I have 468W of T5HO on my 125g. I'm not good with the metric system, but if that's really only about 20-25 gallons, I would think that's a good amount of light. __________________ 125g Aqueon Drilled Mixed Reef, Eshopps R-200 Sump/Refugium, 1200gph pump, Reef Octopus NWB150, 72” AquaticLife Six-Lamp T5-HO (12x39 Watt) with Lunar LEDs, Fluval FX5 Canister; (3) Koralia Powerheads

03/31/2014, 03:59 PM	#2
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Up!

04/01/2014, 11:57 AM	#3
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Please guys can you help me? This is my first experience with a reef tank and I don't wanna start in the wrong way,so I need some tips. I'd prefere to use my 2 T5 lighting,but I don't know if they're enough...

04/01/2014, 02:11 PM	#5
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Thank you! The problem of the LEDs is the price,because I don't know if a Chinese lighting would be the same of a Radion,for example. Do you think that 120W of T5 are enough? Because if they are,I'll use my T5 lightings.

04/01/2014, 10:55 PM	#8
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Thank you guys! I know some people thinks that T5s give better colors,other one preferes LEDs. Talking only about power,is a 120W T5 lighting ok on a 80l tank?

04/02/2014, 11:56 AM	#10
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Thanks,I think I'll use the T5 lighting! Maybe one day I will use LED lighting,but for the moment T5 can be a good solution. I heard that T5 lighting help at the beginning, LED are more difficult. I hope I will do a good job!

04/02/2014, 05:18 PM	#11
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	All 3 major light styles can yield spectacular results, and all three can cause horrible failure. It's more important to pick one, and invest in a quality unit or bulbs, and use it correctly, with the right intensity and photoperiod. An ati powermodule t5 unit, lumen bright pendant with m80 ballast and radium mh bulb, or an ecotech radion are all equally capable of growing and coloring any corals.

04/03/2014, 06:34 AM	#12
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	I don't have an Ati Powermodule,but I will use Ati bulbs,probably 2 Aquablue Special,2 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus. Is it a good configuration?

04/03/2014, 07:07 AM	#13
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	That bulb combo would work just fine...however, even though it has produced fantastic growth for many many years, the aquablue special bulb is a bit out dated. It's still available but ATI has corrected some of the color rendering issues with the creation of the coral+ bulb. The aquablue special had a lot of yellow/green in it which really washes out the coral colors. The coral+ bulb is a lot more pleasing to the eye and packs the same growing power. I think for a 5 bulb combo most people would be happier with: 3 blue+, 2 coral+ It'll have a nice crisp 14k look with enough blue to cause coral fluorescence, and have enough red to bring out the warmer colors. It will also hit the major peaks of coral photosynthesis.

04/03/2014, 07:28 AM	#14
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Thanks! Can I try 1 Purple Plus instead of 1 Blue Plus?

04/03/2014, 08:07 AM	#15
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	You certainly can though I wouldn't recommend it. Two coral plus and one purple plus is ALOT of red. More than you need. You would have more red than blue which is bad for most corals. Use red sparingly. The coral+ bulb has nearly as much red as the purple+ but also has a wide array of blue (though visually you can't see it, it looks pink). If you really want to use a purple+ bulb then I'd do 3 blue +, one coral+, one purple+. Too much red in your spectrum will really turbo charge green algae growth. I used to run 2 blue+, one coral+, one purple+ Changed to 3 blue+, one coral+, but left eveththing else the same, and my corals response was favorable and green algae almost all but disappeared within a week of making the change. I attribute that to reduced red wavelengths and increased blue.

04/03/2014, 08:22 AM	#16
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Your analyse is really interesting,thank you so much! I don't wanna have too many problems with algae... I'm thinking about buying a 6x24 T5 lighting,maybe an Ati Powermodule. This is just an idea at the moment,I have to think about it. What would be a good configuration with 6 neon?

04/03/2014, 12:48 PM	#17
michaellee64 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 323	For a 6 bulb fixture use 4 blue+, 1 coral+, and 1 purple + __________________ 180G Mixed Reef, 90G In Wall Reef, 60G Cube Seahorse Tank, Oceans Motions, 55G Refugium, 40G Frag Tank, 125G Basement Sump with ETSS Skimmer, Dosing Pumps, GFO Reactor

04/03/2014, 05:09 PM	#18
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Thank you so much!

04/09/2014, 01:38 AM	#19
Oxy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 33	Hi guys,I've changed my project... I'm going to use a 60x40x45cm tank and I will use an external sump. Now I don't know if 5 neons are enough and I'm thinking to buy another 2x24W to have 7x24W T5. Is it ok? Thank you!