Lighting for my 215

Kevomac · 01/03/2007, 01:43 PM

OK, my last thread got no where but pushed down so let me try again.

I've had recommendations that I get T5 lights for my 215, but looking at their output, it looks like T12 VHO's would give me more light. My tank is 72" long, so I was looking at putting in eight 36" VHO tubes driven by two four bulb ballasts set to come on at slightly different times so that I could somewhat simulate sunrise/sunset. I need to measure to make sure that I can fit these tubes end to end inside my canopy. I am planning on doing softies and LPS, so I think that would give me plenty of output overall. Would T5's be better and why? I can't seem to find any advantage to them.

I have been pricing what I would need to set this up on Hellolights, as I have done business with them before and had a good experience. I would be buying 8 lamps, two four lamp brackets to hold the tubs in place under my canopy, one four tube ballast (already have an icecap 660 on my old tank I will transfer over when the time comes), endcaps, and mouinting brackets. Does this sound like a good way to go? If you've seen my other threads, you know I am trying to go about this build process very deliberately. I currently have a 70 DAS reef that is 10 years old, and a 120 Oceanic RR FO that is 9 years old, but neither of them were thought out well, and have never had adequate filtration, so I want to do this one right!

PDAJunkie · 01/03/2007, 02:37 PM

With that large of a tank, and the fact you wish to do LPS, I would go MH hands down. Just my 2 cents worth.

01/03/2007, 01:43 PM	#1
Kevomac Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Mesquite, Tx. Posts: 562	Lighting for my 215 OK, my last thread got no where but pushed down so let me try again. I've had recommendations that I get T5 lights for my 215, but looking at their output, it looks like T12 VHO's would give me more light. My tank is 72" long, so I was looking at putting in eight 36" VHO tubes driven by two four bulb ballasts set to come on at slightly different times so that I could somewhat simulate sunrise/sunset. I need to measure to make sure that I can fit these tubes end to end inside my canopy. I am planning on doing softies and LPS, so I think that would give me plenty of output overall. Would T5's be better and why? I can't seem to find any advantage to them. I have been pricing what I would need to set this up on Hellolights, as I have done business with them before and had a good experience. I would be buying 8 lamps, two four lamp brackets to hold the tubs in place under my canopy, one four tube ballast (already have an icecap 660 on my old tank I will transfer over when the time comes), endcaps, and mouinting brackets. Does this sound like a good way to go? If you've seen my other threads, you know I am trying to go about this build process very deliberately. I currently have a 70 DAS reef that is 10 years old, and a 120 Oceanic RR FO that is 9 years old, but neither of them were thought out well, and have never had adequate filtration, so I want to do this one right! __________________ "I reject your reality and substitute my own" Mythbusters

01/03/2007, 02:37 PM	#2
PDAJunkie Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 19	With that large of a tank, and the fact you wish to do LPS, I would go MH hands down. Just my 2 cents worth.