Lighting for Mixed Reef

Wildcats1023

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 3, 2016
Messages
519
Reaction score
422
Location
Northern Kentucky
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Looking to see what others have over their 180 and 220 gallon reefs for lighting. I have led on my mixed reef but will be upgrading to a 180 or 220 soon. My sps now are growing and most have great color. The 2 I'm having the most trouble with are strawberry shortcake and pink lemonade. I have the chance to get MH at a good price right now. Would it be wise to switch to MH if I'm wanting to have a lot of different sps corals? I see so many awesome sps tanks with MH lighting and Also great sps tanks with LED lights. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Parameters are all within the acceptable ranges.
 
All LED until January when I added a couple T-5s. I cant say the T-5s are doing anything great. They are getting rid of some shadowing though.
 
I meant to attach these pics. Ignore the clove polyps they are gone now.

6e3ab0f629fadf6fc8c6be7d95038e94.jpg



cb2431b6f54a1e63ef8920bc11a06f3d.jpg
 
Definitely get the metal halides. Keep your LED's too, but just dial them down. I prefer a MH bulb of 14K to 20K; 14K better for growth, 20K awesome for coloration, and keeping the LED's but just leaving the blue spectrum on will make your tank shimmer. I'd go with a 20K bulb since you have nice growth and PE already. What wattage are you looking at and how deep is the tank?
 
The 180 would 24” deep the 220 would be 30” deep. These are the lights


3 CoralVue Lumen Bright metal halide pendants.
3 mogul sockets
3 four hundred watt mogul lamps
3 CoralVue Luxcore selectable wattage ballasts

The LED lights I have are 16" boxes how would I use them with MH lights?
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT MOST OFTEN MAKES YOU REACH FOR YOUR CAMERA AROUND THE REEF?

  • Coral behavior (feeding, extension, or movement)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • New growth or a color change

    Votes: 2 25.0%
  • Unusual fish behavior

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • The whole tank looking especially good

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • Something I want to document in case it changes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • A funny or unexpected interaction

    Votes: 1 12.5%
  • I usually put the camera/phone down and just watch

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 2 25.0%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new