Lighting for sps reef tank?

[TicTac]

Hello everybody, I am in the process of planning out a 90 gallon reef tank build. I really love the look of sps corals, and would really love to have primarily an sps tank. I have done tons and tons of research over the past 2 months or so and 1 question seems to constantly be raised in the sps forums: T5 vs MH. In your opinion would an 8-bulb T5 system with individual reflectors be enough to successfully grow sps or would Metal Halides really be the way to go? Ideally, I would like to have the freedom to move sps around the tank, so would T5's have enough par for a tank around 18.5" deep?

[Reefing Madness]

I would say your 8 bulb T-5 is enough. But, I like the shimmer of Metal Halides or LED's, T-5 and PC do not have the water shimmer.

[twisted]

For the look mh and blue stunner strips are the way to go. I grew real nice SOS under t5 and was happy but wanted the shimmer so went mh/pc and added t5 and led tubes for a nice dusk to dawn setting


Twisteds 180 Reef

[TicTac]

Thank you to both of you, I think I have decided on the MH with some moonlight LEDs, would 2x 250W bulbs be sufficient?

[Reefing Madness]

Thank you to both of you, I think I have decided on the MH with some moonlight LEDs, would 2x 250W bulbs be sufficient?

Plenty

[TicTac]

Great thank you, I was really hoping to find a MH fixture with some moonlight LEDs and T5s so that I could do a sunrise/sunset cycle. Do you know of any fixtures in particular?

[Reefing Madness]

AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT 24" 36'' 48'' 60'' 72'' 250 HQI 150 400 WATT | eBay
AQUARIUM METAL HALIDE LIGHT 24'' 36'' 48'' 60'' 72'' 250 WATT LIGHTING MARINE | eBay
48'' Metal Halide 2x 250 T5 HO Aquarium Light 716 watt | eBay
48 760 Watt 2x250 Metal Halide Aquarium Light Compact Saltwater German Reflector | eBay

[twisted]

Thank you to both of you, I think I have decided on the MH with some moonlight LEDs, would 2x 250W bulbs be sufficient?

I run 150's over my 180 gal and have no trouble. 250's, you'll b able to keep sps on the bottom.


Twisteds 180 Reef

[TicTac]

Those look like some great fixtures, thank you for all of your help

Nick

[TicTac]

So the more and more I've thought about it, i've started to aim toward LEDs. This is primarily because of the efficiency and low monthly cost of the LEDs. I was curious if any of you have heard the pros and cons of these two fixtures:

Mazarra LED Lighting System

AI Sol

I can afford both fixtures, but what is really holding me back is that the Mazarra is a newer model that is still being tested, while the AI seems to have quite the reputation in the aquarium LED world.

Thank you for you help

[twisted]

Any progress on your options? I just saw a friends tank that went led and I gotta say, WOW! It was stunning! I see a DIY led system in my not too distant future


Twisteds 180 Reef

[Reefing Madness]

Use the SOL, they have a better rep.