lighting question on a 180

[riche]

I plan on using 3 of the "black box leds" and then I have the supplies to put up to 8 4' t-5's (retro fit) ballest and reflectors

or should I get 3' ft bulbs and put 2in the frt and 2 in the back? or 3 or 4?

I'm thinking 2 in the frt and 2 in the back but I want to make this the last lighting/aquarium upgrade I do

Or I have a 4 bulb t-5/ current usa light with 2 250 watt mh that I would love to use, but It would take up a lot of the room in the canopy since its so big, but I could still have enough room to put 2 3' t-5 in frt and behind it.

So I'm planning this out

It will be a mixed reef with a few SPS but mostly Lps softies and stuff like that


I have led stunner strips I will use either way to get the nightlight effect

Opinions please

 

[Reefing Madness]

If you've got a unit that has 250w Halides, and T5s, theres no need to add anymore lighting to the tank, thats plenty.

 

[riche]

If you've got a unit that has 250w Halides, and T5s, theres no need to add anymore lighting to the tank, thats plenty.

The t-5/mh light is only 4' and the tank is 6'

 

[Damon]

I just set up my 180 and it is sps dominant. I am running 4 5' t5's(320 watt total) and led in the middle. The t5's I am running for blue suppliment.

Right now, i only have a 4' led(photon 48), but I am going to purchase another fixture on top of the 48 to have fully covered with led. The t5's I'm running blues only.. But it's a lot of light..

 

[riche]

My ballast I can only run up to 4ft bulbs if I go retro

So I have to stick with either 43t or 4ft bulbs.

If I use the 4ft t-5/mh fixture I can put 3' or 4' in frt and back same with the black boxes

 

[Damon]

I actually picked up the coralvue(icecap) 660 today. It replaced the two less expensive ballasts the previous owner used. The one ballast is running all 4 bulbs great. Not too mention, it's running cooler and with no emi.. Expensive, but very cool and easy to install ballast..


I saw online that previously, a lot of people used this ballast to upgrade on their fixtures.. So you may want to check into that, if you want to run larger bulbs for full coverage..

 

[riche]

after looking at I after I got it home, there 3ft bulbs and the ballast are the fulham workhorse.

I have enough end caps and mounts to run 6 3ft t-5's in the canopy

Im just worried that wont be enough?

 

[riche]

If you've got a unit that has 250w Halides, and T5s, theres no need to add anymore lighting to the tank, thats plenty.

if I put the light inside the canopy (the 4 bulb/mh) 4' and it sits on the frame of the tank, is that going to be OK. I'm going to add some t-5's and LEDs to cover the rest of the tank so there is no dark spots.

So I guess the question is the area where the mh is, I should keep sps and high demanding corals in that area?