Do I need to upgrade my lighting?

fishysteve · 02/11/2007, 09:27 PM

I have a 120 (48 x 24 x 24 ) with mainly SPS, LPS, and clams. I have great color and growth I think with my current lighting, but I think I should have more wattage. Right now I have two 150 w HQI Ushio 10000K, one 96 watt 10000K PC, one 96 watt actinic, one 28 watt 10000K T5, and one 28 watt Actinic T5. The PC's are in a double fixture and so are the T5's. I think I should have at least 250 watt halides for the size and depth of my tank. If I upgrade to 250's could I lose the SPS coloring that I have and like. Or will it only get better? The pictures in my gallery don't seem to show the true intensity of my lighting, camera problem I guess. It is a lot brighter in person. Or, should I just keep what I already have?

fishysteve · 02/12/2007, 10:01 AM

Wow, no opinions.

nmprisons · 02/12/2007, 11:41 AM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Why would you upgrade your lighting if you already have "great color and growth" ... it just seems silly to me.

Racso · 02/12/2007, 11:48 AM

agreed. I could say, "YOU NEED 250WATT HALIDES, YOU HAVE SPS BLAH BLAH BLAH"

but it would be a total waste of money. IMO, if you have ANY growth at all, then you have enough lighting (minimal maybe, but enough). The only reason I can see getting higher lighting would be to increase growth.

Someone may argue that changing to a different light source (ie, something a little more compact or all in one) would save money, but you/someone would have to price compair and do some research on that.

but to quote nmprisons, if it aint broke...

davocean · 02/12/2007, 01:07 PM

I do agree w/ the "if it aint broke"
If you're looking to throw some $ away, you could swap the PC's for T-5's to be more efficient.
My tank is 180 (72x24x24) and since I'm mixed reef w/ nems on bottom, sps will be top half, therefore going w/ 3x150MH and T-5's combo.
I'm trying to run w/out chiller, so don't think I want 250's

tcmfish · 02/12/2007, 01:31 PM

I run 250's on my 75 and no problems with temp and no chiller. I also have a big sump and refugium (100 gal. sump 15 gal. refugium) so things stay pretty constant.

skeeter-doc · 02/12/2007, 02:04 PM

yeah, as above, I would not change anything

raddogz · 02/12/2007, 03:07 PM

This is up for grabs...

I am with the if ain't broke don't fix it camp...

however....

I would rather replace two metal halide bulbs once a year then individually replace all those bulbs in a two year time frame (assuming that you are running the pc's and t-5's longer than a year or so).

I believe you have 452 watts between all those lights. A pair of 250w MH would be at 500w which is a little more wattage than you have now.

I am running a pair a 250w MH over my 120g. I will be replacing out my de pendants with Lumenarc Mini's for better light spread and intensity.

davocean · 02/12/2007, 04:11 PM

RADDOGZ idea does make sense, and is simple and gives more watts.
Harder to adjust the perfect color like you can w/ T-5's.
Think I'd go 14k if that route.
But again man, when I get success;
DON'T TOUCH IT!!!!

02/11/2007, 09:27 PM	#1
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	Do I need to upgrade my lighting? I have a 120 (48 x 24 x 24 ) with mainly SPS, LPS, and clams. I have great color and growth I think with my current lighting, but I think I should have more wattage. Right now I have two 150 w HQI Ushio 10000K, one 96 watt 10000K PC, one 96 watt actinic, one 28 watt 10000K T5, and one 28 watt Actinic T5. The PC's are in a double fixture and so are the T5's. I think I should have at least 250 watt halides for the size and depth of my tank. If I upgrade to 250's could I lose the SPS coloring that I have and like. Or will it only get better? The pictures in my gallery don't seem to show the true intensity of my lighting, camera problem I guess. It is a lot brighter in person. Or, should I just keep what I already have?

02/12/2007, 10:01 AM	#2
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	Wow, no opinions. __________________ On a break

02/12/2007, 11:41 AM	#3
nmprisons Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,520	If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Why would you upgrade your lighting if you already have "great color and growth" ... it just seems silly to me. __________________ 25gallon tank up and cycling since 7/29/06 Mostly LPS reef (lords, micros, duncans, etc.) with some ricordia florida and zoanthids. Current Tank Info: 25 gallon, 28lbs of Marshall Island and Kaelini Live Rock, 2x65 power compact lighting, IFS Protein Skimmer

02/12/2007, 11:48 AM	#4
Racso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 142	agreed. I could say, "YOU NEED 250WATT HALIDES, YOU HAVE SPS BLAH BLAH BLAH" but it would be a total waste of money. IMO, if you have ANY growth at all, then you have enough lighting (minimal maybe, but enough). The only reason I can see getting higher lighting would be to increase growth. Someone may argue that changing to a different light source (ie, something a little more compact or all in one) would save money, but you/someone would have to price compair and do some research on that. but to quote nmprisons, if it aint broke... __________________ What RC has taught me: You’re ALWAYS wrong <5000 post: nOOb You MUST have Metal Halides DSP & BB are BOTH wrong Your skimmer sucks Your W/Cs regimen is wrong Your tank is too small for a Tang Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Leather Reef

02/12/2007, 01:07 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I do agree w/ the "if it aint broke" If you're looking to throw some $ away, you could swap the PC's for T-5's to be more efficient. My tank is 180 (72x24x24) and since I'm mixed reef w/ nems on bottom, sps will be top half, therefore going w/ 3x150MH and T-5's combo. I'm trying to run w/out chiller, so don't think I want 250's __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/12/2007, 01:31 PM	#6
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,658	I run 250's on my 75 and no problems with temp and no chiller. I also have a big sump and refugium (100 gal. sump 15 gal. refugium) so things stay pretty constant.

02/12/2007, 02:04 PM	#7
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	yeah, as above, I would not change anything

02/12/2007, 03:07 PM	#8
raddogz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,167	This is up for grabs... I am with the if ain't broke don't fix it camp... however.... I would rather replace two metal halide bulbs once a year then individually replace all those bulbs in a two year time frame (assuming that you are running the pc's and t-5's longer than a year or so). I believe you have 452 watts between all those lights. A pair of 250w MH would be at 500w which is a little more wattage than you have now. I am running a pair a 250w MH over my 120g. I will be replacing out my de pendants with Lumenarc Mini's for better light spread and intensity. __________________ Eileen If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style. - Quentin Crisp Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

02/12/2007, 04:11 PM	#9
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	RADDOGZ idea does make sense, and is simple and gives more watts. Harder to adjust the perfect color like you can w/ T-5's. Think I'd go 14k if that route. But again man, when I get success; DON'T TOUCH IT!!!! __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD