New to the hobby and setting up a 150

ponch1200 · 10/08/2013, 07:13 AM

I need some opinions on my lighting. I am setting up a 150 reef and I have 2= 250w 14000k lights and 1= 250w 10000k metal halides, will this be enough lighting for any kind of coral or too much lighting, can i get away without using any actinics or will t5 actinics be necessary for the coral to grow. I want the corals to be healthy but also look nice and colorful. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

TankStudy · 10/08/2013, 07:39 AM

These halides will grow corals.

On whether or not you need to supplement will actually depend on what your corals look like under the halides and whether or not you like the looks or not, you will need to supplement colors with T5's or LED's to fit your taste.

thegrun · 10/08/2013, 10:07 AM

+1, your lights are fine for your tank, the actinics are for your viewing. Most of us that run MH lights do supplement them with actinics as it brings out a lot more color in the corals and fish.

ponch1200 · 10/08/2013, 10:42 AM

Thanks for the quick replys. Heres another question, what if i was to change out the 10000k bulb and replace it with a 20000k bulb to get a little more blue tint? Would that work for color? Thanks

coralsnaked · 10/08/2013, 11:45 AM

YUP but not a good coral grower and you will be sacaficing some potential growth

10/08/2013, 07:13 AM	#1
ponch1200 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 3	New to the hobby and setting up a 150 I need some opinions on my lighting. I am setting up a 150 reef and I have 2= 250w 14000k lights and 1= 250w 10000k metal halides, will this be enough lighting for any kind of coral or too much lighting, can i get away without using any actinics or will t5 actinics be necessary for the coral to grow. I want the corals to be healthy but also look nice and colorful. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Last edited by ponch1200; 10/08/2013 at 07:51 AM.

10/08/2013, 07:39 AM	#2
TankStudy Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 242	These halides will grow corals. On whether or not you need to supplement will actually depend on what your corals look like under the halides and whether or not you like the looks or not, you will need to supplement colors with T5's or LED's to fit your taste. __________________ Until there is sufficient evidence supporting your fish-craft, I don't agree with you.

10/08/2013, 11:45 AM	#5
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	YUP but not a good coral grower and you will be sacaficing some potential growth __________________ Merry Skerry Current Tank Info: 1 G Nano jellyfish to 1200 G Bull Nose FOWLR featuring large Holacanthus and Pomacanthus

10/08/2013, 10:07 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, your lights are fine for your tank, the actinics are for your viewing. Most of us that run MH lights do supplement them with actinics as it brings out a lot more color in the corals and fish.

10/08/2013, 10:42 AM	#4
ponch1200 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 3	Thanks for the quick replys. Heres another question, what if i was to change out the 10000k bulb and replace it with a 20000k bulb to get a little more blue tint? Would that work for color? Thanks