Molars Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I'm planning on setting up a shallow 12" deep sps reef in the next month and have everything picked out besides the light. I was planning on going with a coralife quad setup just because my LFS has one for super cheap or going with a Hydra 26.... any advice/suggestions? Any input is appreciated. Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 How long and wide is the tank? Either should work, but LED's will give you more options for different looks (dimming color channels, sunrise/set, etc.). Although, if you want to go the LED rout, DIY will give you better options. Link to comment
Molars Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 its 24" long... a 30 gal rimless. I was thinking DIY but I don't really have the experience in making one Link to comment
glennr1978 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 T5 hands down, IMO. Most will tell you LED's but I would choose T5's over LED's every time. Link to comment
igarc009 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 T5 if you want maximum growth and maximum color LED if you want shimmer.....most people will tell you they get your corals to "POP" but in all reality it only last a couple of weeks than your colors fade and you have a very mute tank. Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Leds grow sps just fine. Let's be honest, color is what we desire most out of sps, hence why t5 is such a popular light for sps, it brings out their best and brightest! Link to comment
masterbuilder Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Both will do the job. Its a never ending argument on which is better - MH, LED or T5. Me... I have seen beyond awesome tanks lit "long term" by each one....so I dont think there is really a winner. Here is a 28G Nanocube lit with a Radion since the beginning. The whole thread here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2287628 Link to comment
D Z Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hybrid.....best of both worlds. That is my end plan. I am starting a new tank right now. I chose to go with an ATI sunpower to start it off. Eventually, when I have the money, I plan to pull out the middle 2 bulbs and retrofit it with some of the NanoBox 13up boards. For the time being, I will get great coloration and growth out of the t5's and eventually add some shimmer and control-ability with the LEDs. In the end it is really about what you want most out of your tank and coral. Link to comment
Archaic37 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 T5 you get great color, but you can also get.great color with leds so long as you have a good spectrum range. Look into jedimasterbens new build. I just built a single cluster of: 2 luxeon M 2 rebel cyan 2 rebel lime 2 rebel deep red 4 rebel cool blue 4 hyper.violet 1 vero 10 Its an amazing light almost halide look.but can still.make corals pop. I am doing 4 clusters of that^^ over a 48x18x18 sps tank (maybe 1 more luxeon M per cluster) I have had success with my full spectrum build with my sps. Great growth and color. Link to comment
Walker Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 A Coralife Quad T5HO will grow SPS just fine in a shallow tank. My old 35g (18" deep) was lit by one: LEDs would work well in your tank dimensions as well, but it will be a different look, more shadows. Link to comment
basser1 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 My problem with LEDs is the red corals look washed out. My strawberry shortcake acro is very pale with no green showing at all. And I have 2 of them from 2 different sources. Greens, Blues and Purples look great however. Link to comment
Lawnman Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 http://s915.photobucket.com/user/Lwnman/media/Snapbucket/89612620.jpg.html'> http://s915.photobucket.com/user/Lwnman/media/a9944595-5f47-4607-a715-2a5faaba43cb.jpg.html'> Link to comment
Molars Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 Thanks for the responses everyone! I've still got some deciding to do, but I really appreciate all of the advice and experiences. I'm leaning more towards t5s just because my LFS has the fixture going for $125. I would upgrade the bulbs to aqua blue+ and the whole shebang. But we'll see... Link to comment
reefsahoy Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I think some sps corals grow a weird pattern over time when using leds. Link to comment
Lawnman Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Any good bulb combos?You like a blue tank or? Link to comment
Molars Posted July 30, 2014 Author Share Posted July 30, 2014 Not intensely blue but yeah haha Link to comment
bdevillier19 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Lawnman, what combo are you running? I was thinking 4 blue+, 1 coral+, and 1 purple+. Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Not intensely blue but yeah haha 4 Bulb? Blue? 3 Blue+ 1 Coral+ Keep in mind, when using the coral bulb, it is a blend of 3 colors, aqua blue special, blue+, and purple+. I forget the exact percentages. Link to comment
ifarmer Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 please go with T5 if you want better color Link to comment
BigKev23 Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 T5 for sure... you could always add LEDs and make it a hybrid. I just modded my 6 bulb Powermodule over the weekend..... Link to comment
masterbuilder Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I just modded my 6 bulb Powermodule over the weekend..... You know if you don't provide the details you will be hit with the ban stick Link to comment
BigKev23 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 If it's allowed, here's a link to my write up on it... http://www.chicagoreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?21393-BigKev-s-Homemade-LED-Powermodule Link to comment
masterbuilder Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Nice Job...thanks for the link. Saved the link for down the road. Link to comment
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