@JJSins - Let me try it this way.. I presented you some options and so have others.. Eventually you need to work within your budget and desires and live with it one way or the other. With SPS you can always look at ways to add lighting if it is inadequate. You can take light away if you are budget constrained. You can buy dimmable options up front..
As you stated SPS is your goal, More light is good, too much light will kill. Too little light can stunt and might kill also..
depending on where you are, I would look for a local club and see if they can help you out with a par meter to use or rent.. You dont have to buy one.
LED lights.. generally look at the wattage output.. as a guide, but not as a definitive, as to how bright they can be.
I can grow SPS in a 40 breeder with 2 t5's and 2 AI prime 16's It is 16 inchews deep.. It works. No big bells and whistles.. You coral selection may be a bit lower but this works. It is dirt cheap and flexible.
A little more upscale is the Aquatic life3 and Kessils OR the HD's
Go shopping and compare, you are not going to get a lot of definitive answers here. Just options. No single method wil answer if your choices will cover. some of us have been at this for some time.. I have used t8's successfully back in the 1980's Not SPS but it grew corals.. T5, when they came into use were consdiered expensive.. but they worked even better. Hetal Halide and t5 were the go - to for reefers. Now it is t5 and LED's.. Mostly LED. Higher end LED is now the go-to light.. they are efficient, are not contantly in need of bullb replacement and they are bright. Kessil, EcoTech, Sky, all exdpensive for what we do. but they work.. Cheap lights can work, but not be optimal.. Figure out your need and let your budget do the work.
Make your choices and try to live with them.
As you stated SPS is your goal, More light is good, too much light will kill. Too little light can stunt and might kill also..
depending on where you are, I would look for a local club and see if they can help you out with a par meter to use or rent.. You dont have to buy one.
LED lights.. generally look at the wattage output.. as a guide, but not as a definitive, as to how bright they can be.
I can grow SPS in a 40 breeder with 2 t5's and 2 AI prime 16's It is 16 inchews deep.. It works. No big bells and whistles.. You coral selection may be a bit lower but this works. It is dirt cheap and flexible.
A little more upscale is the Aquatic life3 and Kessils OR the HD's
Go shopping and compare, you are not going to get a lot of definitive answers here. Just options. No single method wil answer if your choices will cover. some of us have been at this for some time.. I have used t8's successfully back in the 1980's Not SPS but it grew corals.. T5, when they came into use were consdiered expensive.. but they worked even better. Hetal Halide and t5 were the go - to for reefers. Now it is t5 and LED's.. Mostly LED. Higher end LED is now the go-to light.. they are efficient, are not contantly in need of bullb replacement and they are bright. Kessil, EcoTech, Sky, all exdpensive for what we do. but they work.. Cheap lights can work, but not be optimal.. Figure out your need and let your budget do the work.
Make your choices and try to live with them.