Lighting for 120 gallon High

75pxatr · 09/06/2008, 04:55 PM

I'm setting up a new 120 gallon tank 24" high. I will have mostly soft coral and LPS but I would like to try adding some SPS later.

I was thinking of an outer orbit 150 watt mh/pc combo or 250 watt mh.

I would appreciate your thoughts. if the SPS are at the top of the tank, is 250 watts necessary?

Would you go HQI ?

your input greatly appreciated.

bryan

rbnice1 · 09/06/2008, 04:59 PM

I have 2 250watt DE's on my 90 which is the same tank but not as wide.

You could do 150's but your rock would have to go almost to the top and all your sps would have to be at the very top.

downhillbiker · 09/06/2008, 05:03 PM

I am not familiar with the tank dimensions? Is there a divider in the middle on top? Are you against 2 light sources?

I would think that if the tank is a longer one and you dont want the shadow in the middle I would do a dual 250w setup. I would set it up with 14k, or somewhere around there, so you dont have to supplement with actinics, kindof a waste of electricity.

I currently have a 72 gallon tank, and have 2x250w DE metal halides, and am upgrading either my ballast, to an HQI for more light, or to a dual 400w retrofit, just because i need more light. SPS would probably be fine under 150w, but the growth is so much more, with a little more light.

that said, i am VERY fond of TEK light T5HO lights. you could get an 8 bulb fixture that is MUCH more efficient, and puts out a lot of light, with high end reflectors, bulbs and ballasts, the reflector can quadrouple the output.

75pxatr · 09/06/2008, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the input.

Is t5 really in the same league as Halide?

Why HQI??

B.C.theReefer · 09/06/2008, 06:24 PM

Is t5 really in the same league as Halide?

Not for water penetration. Halides can reach deeper than T5s. And heck, if you don't mind spending a little more, 400w lights would allow you to have SPS down near the bottom as well. And they don't cost that much more than 250's.

As for HQI's, I think the only thing better about them is that they take up less space.

kfisc · 09/06/2008, 06:30 PM

You may be surprised at how well a pair of 250's (even HQI's) penetrate. Have a look see if at all possible at a friend's or an LFS with a 250 setup. I wouldn't go less than 250 for that depth; you can keep just about anything with MH, but T5's might be a stretch for clams or sps with that tank size.

James77 · 09/06/2008, 07:14 PM

T5's would work beautifully on a tank that depth, clams and all. With the proper reflectors or fixture, there is plenty of light penetration. Im on the waiting list for an 8x54 watt ATI T5 fixture for my 120 gallon.

400 watt halides are overkill for a 24" tank, especially with good reflectors- I had 250's keeping sps at the battom of my last tank at 30".

TOTM with an ATI fixture:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...totm/index.php

Another awesome T5 tank:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=700454

09/06/2008, 04:55 PM	#1
75pxatr Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Poland OHio Posts: 567	Lighting for 120 gallon High I'm setting up a new 120 gallon tank 24" high. I will have mostly soft coral and LPS but I would like to try adding some SPS later. I was thinking of an outer orbit 150 watt mh/pc combo or 250 watt mh. I would appreciate your thoughts. if the SPS are at the top of the tank, is 250 watts necessary? Would you go HQI ? your input greatly appreciated. bryan

09/06/2008, 05:03 PM	#3
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	I am not familiar with the tank dimensions? Is there a divider in the middle on top? Are you against 2 light sources? I would think that if the tank is a longer one and you dont want the shadow in the middle I would do a dual 250w setup. I would set it up with 14k, or somewhere around there, so you dont have to supplement with actinics, kindof a waste of electricity. I currently have a 72 gallon tank, and have 2x250w DE metal halides, and am upgrading either my ballast, to an HQI for more light, or to a dual 400w retrofit, just because i need more light. SPS would probably be fine under 150w, but the growth is so much more, with a little more light. that said, i am VERY fond of TEK light T5HO lights. you could get an 8 bulb fixture that is MUCH more efficient, and puts out a lot of light, with high end reflectors, bulbs and ballasts, the reflector can quadrouple the output. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

09/06/2008, 06:24 PM	#5
B.C.theReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Olympia Wa. Posts: 150	Is t5 really in the same league as Halide? Not for water penetration. Halides can reach deeper than T5s. And heck, if you don't mind spending a little more, 400w lights would allow you to have SPS down near the bottom as well. And they don't cost that much more than 250's. As for HQI's, I think the only thing better about them is that they take up less space. __________________ I am a traveller of both time and space, to be where I have been. Current Tank Info: 90gal. mostly SPS/30gal. sump/MRC MR-1 protien skimmer/ natural sunlight w/2X400w 20,000k metal halides/1X4'T12 420nm actinic provide light

09/06/2008, 07:14 PM	#7
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	T5's would work beautifully on a tank that depth, clams and all. With the proper reflectors or fixture, there is plenty of light penetration. Im on the waiting list for an 8x54 watt ATI T5 fixture for my 120 gallon. 400 watt halides are overkill for a 24" tank, especially with good reflectors- I had 250's keeping sps at the battom of my last tank at 30". TOTM with an ATI fixture: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...totm/index.php Another awesome T5 tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=700454 __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

09/06/2008, 04:59 PM	#2
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	I have 2 250watt DE's on my 90 which is the same tank but not as wide. You could do 150's but your rock would have to go almost to the top and all your sps would have to be at the very top.

09/06/2008, 05:44 PM	#4
75pxatr Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Poland OHio Posts: 567	Thanks for the input. Is t5 really in the same league as Halide? Why HQI??

09/06/2008, 06:30 PM	#6
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	You may be surprised at how well a pair of 250's (even HQI's) penetrate. Have a look see if at all possible at a friend's or an LFS with a 250 setup. I wouldn't go less than 250 for that depth; you can keep just about anything with MH, but T5's might be a stretch for clams or sps with that tank size.