Best of the Best?

[sin142]

I want to do some awesome lighting for my 95 gal reef aquarium any and all advice would be awesome. Im planning on doing a custom canopy thinking about a ice cap 660 for the ballast to start out with but not sure on VHO or HO on my fluorescents.

[charlie]

You have made a good choice for a ballast;
IceCap 660 Electronic Fluorescent Ballast (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Lighting > Accessories > Ballasts > Flo. (VHO,PC and/or T5) )

Depending on what you want to keep, this ballast will push 4 of the 4' vho bulbs, (110w), with no problem.

Why don't you tell us a little more about your tank?

[salt-rookie]

I'm VERY partial to the VHO! Especially the URI Super Actinics! VERY nice supplementation!

[Reefland]

I think most here would agree though that the best of the best lighting would include some metal halide.

[sin142]

Im planning on keeping a 95 gal Saltwater Reef & Fish Tank with some SPS , LPS i would like to start off with some nice Fluorescent and then add on some Metal halide in getting ready to do up a custom canopy

[charlie]

If you are planning for sps, you may be better off starting with a pair of halides. I know people have been able to have success with VHO and sps, but IMO, most of the sps are high light loving corals, and seem to thrive better with said light.
Don't forget to leave room in your canopy for them!!!!

[sin142]

I appreciate all your feed back guys.
Charlie took a look at your tank awesome job just out of curiositywhats your lighting setup on your 400gal?

[salt-rookie]

I was talking about VHO SUPPLEMENTATION, gotta have halides for PAR!

[charlie]

As Bob Hope would say, thanx for the memories...........................

When it was in full bloom, I had 2-3ft pfo hoods and 1 4' pfo hood. There was a total of 6 400w metal halides and 4 3' VHO actinics and 2 4' VHO actinics. The power company loved me!!!