Mixed reef & Lighting question

[NorthernReefer]

Hello All, I have a 180 gallon All-Glass with a 40 gallon sump. I currently have all softies in the tank. I have a Coralife MH Pro 3 x 150W + 4 x 96W actinics set up. I have been doing some research & have found that for the most part SPS corals require 250 to 400W to retain colors and stay healthy. I have 2 250W Hamilton HQI lights from my 90 that I have given away ( I moved all to the 180 that I was given by a kind fellow that was moving. The tank is 24" deep. I would like to know if I can switch slowly to SPS corals and still keep my large colt, which my 2 clowns reside in. I would also like to keep my Gold crown Toad and a large finger leather. I would also like to keep my Fire & Ice Zoo's. Is this asking for warfare? I can"t get an anemone for the clowns as I have a Juvenile Emperor. If I was to add the 250W lights, how long each day should these be illuminated? Any & all thoughts would be appreciated.

[Ninong]

Hi NorthernReefer,



I believe you may now hold the record as the most northern member of this board. We have several other members in Canada and even one in Tampere, Finland, but Hay River is farther north than Tampere, Finland. Are you the only reefkeeping hobbyist in your town?

Before we get into what lighting is best for SPS, I would like you to check out this tank. The owner of that tank lives in the Netherlands. His tank is 130x70x70cm (51.2"x27.6"x27.6"), 169 gallons (635 liters). His tank is taller than your 180-gal All-Glass tank. His lighting consists of two 150w 10,000K HQI DE lamps plus two 24w PC actinics. That's it. That's his total lighting. Check out the coloration of his SPS.

Most species of SPS can adapt to a wide variety of lighting, including the lighting you presently have (3x150w halides and 4x96w actinics). However, 250w halides would be even better. It's really up to you. Just be aware that it is possible to get by quite nicely with less lighting than what most people recommend. That guy's tank is taller than yours and he's doing fine with his 150w halides.

The proper photoperiod for any reef tank is 12-13 hours total. including dawn and dusk effect provided by actinics, if you have them. Your halides should be on a minimum of 9-10 hrs/day. Whenever you make a drastic change in the intensity of lighting, either up or down, you should do it gradually over a period of at least three weeks to allow the corals time to adjust. You can do that by either reducing the total photoperiod or by raising or lowering the height of the light fixture, if possible.

In other words, if you are going from your old lighting to new 250w lighting, raise the fixture, if possible, or reduce the amount of time the lights are on. Then gradually adjust over the next three weeks.