[tysfamily]

I know that someone else just posted about LPS Softies, but I didn't want to interrupt their quistion with mine.

I have a 110g tall, 48x18x30, with a DSB it will only be 24-24.5" deep. I want Brain, LPS and Softies + fish and common livestock. My wife really is straying away from SPS's, she says that they look like sticks. Clams for right now are not in my plans.

I have two 250w HQI MH's. I have been told that they are too much for my needs. I have an option to trade them for two 150w HQI MH's. I have also been told that if I run 20K bulbs that I wouldn't need any actincs.

I also have a four VHO 110w setup but all four run at once. You have to run eather 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 at once, no shuting some down. You don't have the option of shuting two down, for a dusk dawn to work. Such as Moon lights go off as 2 actincs come on. Then have 2-10k VHO come on for an hour or so. Then have the 2-10k's go off as the MH's come on and the reverse as night comes.

I also have two-2 bulb T5 54w setup's which would work for the Dusk/Dawn setup.

I just haven't figured out which set up to go with. Are the 250's too much/over kill for my taste? Which light's too run with the HQI, 10k, 13k, 14k or 20k? If to run actinc's with the MH's and if I do which set up the VHO or the T5. If to have a Dusk/Dawn and if I did with which set up VHO and start/end all 4 at once and run no actincs with the MH? Or the T5's and run all 4 start/end or keep the actinc's and use the 10k's for just a few hours a day?

Also this system is going to be in my living room so I have to have the lighting in a hood. Otherwise the TV is unuseable becase of the glar from the lights. I'm putting them in a 16" tall hood so that I can adjust the MH's from 3" to about 14" above the water.

Anyone out there got any ideas, an opion or just want to add their $0.02 worth? Give me a shout. Thanks everyone tysfamily

[charlie]

I think at 24" deep, you will be fine with the 250w. Do some research on the corals you want to keep, and you'll find that you'll be right on with them.

[prow]

250 MH are good for your tank. infact i think there the best for your tank because of the depth. the VHO's or T5HO's will be a good to use as atinics but i would go with just 2 VHO's or 2 T5's not both or all. you really dont need the atinics at all it does give a greater spectrium of light. MH tend to cast a yellow haze and the blue atinics help balance the color(this is mostly for our eyes not really for the fishes or corals) 20k is ok but i think 10k bulbs would serve your corals needs better.

[tysfamily]

Well your right about the VHO's and T5's. I only want them for the Dusk/Dawn. I like actanics for the Black Light affect that they give certen corals that have lots for green or yellow in them. I just don't want to be over bearing with the light's.

I went to 2 different post at Reef Central (I'm also tysfamily there). Both advised away from the 250's. 1 post told me to only run 4 T5's or 3 T5's and 2 VHO's together. The other post told me to run 150 HQI's or else go with 175's at 14k.
I go to the Coral Reef to do my shoping and he run's both 150 HQI's and 250 HQI's. He stands furm on the 20k and no actincs

The lighting issue is a really screwy thing, everyone says and thinks something different and if you don't do it their way than it's wrong or your nut's. I still haven't figured out which conversations are the worst. Saltwater/Reef (anything and everything), Politics or Religion.

[Reefland]

Hi tysfamily, Welcome to Reefland!

The 250w system that you have is just fine and probably preferred, Sur eyou could use 150w but there is no need to down grade the system; the 250w are great. With that said, take time to acclimate corals to your lighting as most stores will keep their LPS ane Soft Corals under VHO/PC/T-5 lighting. These lighting systems are fine for these types of corals however the halides that you have will be much better.

[tysfamily]

Reefland, I looked at your tank info and you have SPS and Clams. The light intensity is great for them but what about the LPS and softies. I don't want to over stress them. I went to my corals book and almost all are listed as a 2 to 6 out of 10, 1 being none and 10 full. With the depth the light intensity drops significantly, is this correct, but would I still have to shadow them? I gess what I'm getting at is, I would have to shadow them and and then slowly put them in the direct lighting? Or turn the lights on for 2 to 3 hours a day and add a half hour a day untill I reach my standerd time table that I'm going to live with? Is this correct?

[charlie]

Originally Posted by tysfamily

Reefland, I looked at your tank info and you have SPS and Clams. The light intensity is great for them but what about the LPS and softies. I don't want to over stress them. I went to my corals book and almost all are listed as a 2 to 6 out of 10, 1 being none and 10 full. With the depth the light intensity drops significantly, is this correct, but would I still have to shadow them? I gess what I'm getting at is, I would have to shadow them and and then slowly put them in the direct lighting? Or turn the lights on for 2 to 3 hours a day and add a half hour a day untill I reach my standerd time table that I'm going to live with? Is this correct?

Just for some extra info here, in my 80 gallon softie tank, I am running 250w 10k bulbs and the softies love 'em. My sinularia grew about 6" from the get go when I switched from pc's to halides. as Reefland said, just take your time acclimating them to the new lites, and you should be fine. HTH

iI'm not sure, but there may be a pic of my 80 gallon in my gallery. If not, I'd be glad to post one up if you want.

[Poseidon]

Id say do the Halides. The others won't support SPS once your wife sees the colors they provide.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Id say do the Halides. The others won't support SPS once your wife sees the colors they provide.

Boy, now you opened up the proverbial can of worms...............
He's right tho, if you ever get the itch to go with some sps, you still have the perfect lites for them!!!

[tysfamily]

Well I've had 2 reef's in the past one ended badly when I moved in mide July and the other my great neice throw a bottle of hair dye actavator in it while I was on vacation. The first had NO 48" lights and the second have NO and VHO combos. That was in the early 90's. I started in about 98 buying equipment to set this one up. I belive that I have most everything to make a go at it. I just don't want to fale at it. To me the lighting is the most important part. I seen that there was a form to trade and sale. I have lots of extras, that when I'm done I won't use. Thank all of you for your replies, as time goes on I'll post my pictures.

I looked at your Pictures, how many tanks do you have?

[charlie]

Hey, I've got 2 reefs and about 5 freshwater tanks.
The reefs are 300 gallon and 80 gallon. I wish you luck, and do keep us posted. We'll try and help as much as we can!!

[prow]

I went to 2 different post at Reef Central (I'm also tysfamily there). Both advised away from the 250's. 1 post told me to only run 4 T5's or 3 T5's and 2 VHO's together. The other post told me to run 150 HQI's or else go with 175's at 14k.

i am setting up a tank useing t5ho going with 7-8 depending on space 80watt ati bulbs with single reflectors. various bulb types. but my tank is only 20" deep. i have done a lot of research on them. there is not much info on how effective they are below 18"-20". they should be able to support anything you want at 15". i have not seen any par reading below 20" so who knows. but you have the MH and they will support what ever you want to put in there. provided everything else is cool the T5 and VHO compo is good but you will be limited to the types of corals you want.

[Reefland]

No the 250w halides will nto be too much light for you tank. Could some LPS and soft corals survive with less? Yes. However the 250w halides will provide more intensity for the corals.

On the bulb kelvin, the 20k's look nice but have nearly half the PAR of a good 10k. For an LPS and softy tank the 20k's without actinics is probably fine though.

[tysfamily]

Ok, so now we're to the point that I keep the 250's. That's good and dandy, now which would be the better combo, VHO's or the T5's? I'm glad that you got back with me (Reefland). I'ld just looked at 2-250w HQI 20k's on ebay from A to T lights that I was going to get.

I got the setup to run the actanics full time with T5's and use 10k T5's for my before and after MH's. Or I could run 1, 2, 3, or 4 VHO actanic's (got a wantabe Icecap 660) and it won't let me run 4 and then shut down 2 when ever I want to.

I know that with VHO's I need to change out the bulbs every 6 to 8 months. With the T5's word has it that it's 18 to 36 months. Plus I have to run 46.5" bulbs, which is no big deal because that's T5 standard and URI has 110's that size. Thanks let me know what ya think.

[Poseidon]

I think VHO actinic is still best as far as the "radiance" goes. I have used my 03 for about 2 years now, if it is just for color you don't need to change it out so often. The Halides are the ones responsible for the light needed for growth the blue is there for us not the corals!

[prow]

good choice with the 250 MH. as far as which sup i like the crisp light the T5 produces and it out performs the VHOs light intensitiy per watt. but if i were in your shoes i would try the VHOs for a week or so then switch to the T5s and see which one you like more. i agree the only time you really need to change the bulb is when you notice they are getting dim. do change the MH halides though. unless your like me i keep all my light bulbs fresh just because. the T5s last a lot longer and cost less to use but it all comes down to what look you like. test them out and tell me which you like.

[prow]

hey i just read you original post and i have a question or advice is your T5 set up have two bulbs for one reflector if so go with the VHOs for sure. T5 lights are only good if they each have individual reflector. if they do have individual reflectors then what i said before.

[charlie]

I am pretty sure you will find that the corals will seem to "glow" more with the VHO lites. I only have mine on before and after the halides, so I must be saving them.

[tysfamily]

Originally Posted by prow

hey i just read you original post and i have a question or advice is your T5 set up have two bulbs for one reflector if so go with the VHOs for sure. T5 lights are only good if they each have individual reflector. if they do have individual reflectors then what i said before.

I have Sun reflectors for each T5. I'ld read that with them that they are 300% better.

[prow]

[quote=tysfamily]I have Sun reflectors for each T5. I'ld read that with them that they are 300% better.[/QUOTE


yeah they are. i just like the crisp look they give over the VHOs and they are way smaller plus they dont produce hardly any heat.but since your using them for a suplimate the advantages are minimal. the only real advantage in using them as a suplimate is you only need about half the watts in the T5 to produce the same light intensity as the VHOs thus using less electricity. with just 2 lights even this advantage is minimal. however with the small size of the T5s you can play with the amount of suplimate light and adjust it by adding or removing one or two lights. VHOs take up to much room to do this. but your lucky you can see the effect of both on your tank and compare without buying anthing more. these decisions are the kind i love because either way you go you will have a nice setup.