What's the best lighting option for my SPS nano? MH+T5HO/LED+T5HO/T5HO

[ug.mac]

I need some help to choose the best lighting for my nano SPS tank. Tank measures 40cmx40cmx40cm, I like to be able to keep any SPS from top to bottom.

These are my options based on what I have:

1. 165W Full Spectrum Chinese LED (optics removed) + 2x24w T5HO ATI Blue+

2. Aqua Medic 150w 20K Radium + 2x24w T5HO ATI Blue+

3. 5x24w T5HO, ATI Blue+ x1, KZ Superblue x2, Fuji Purple x1, New Gen x1

I do have a chiller so I'm not concern about heat. I'm hoping to get good color and growth since I'm starting off with frags.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

[Eisernes]

I'm a big fan of MH these days after seeing some local tanks. I just switched from LED's myself but it's all personal opinion. You may need a 250w to go SPS from top to bottom.

[ug.mac]

I need to go 250w? 150w is already pretty bright to my eyes, can't imagine how bright 250w is going to be. I had success with 4x24w T5HO over this tank before the crash, that's only 96w for me to grow SPS from halfway up.

 

You may need a 250w to go SPS from top to bottom.

[Eisernes]

I need to go 250w? 150w is already pretty bright to my eyes, can't imagine how bright 250w is going to be. I had success with 4x24w T5HO over this tank before the crash, that's only 96w for me to grow SPS from halfway up.

 

I don't know that for sure. That is the advice I was given when I switched. The price difference between a 150 and 250 though is usually pretty small. I have also read that 150w Radiums aren't anything special. The 250w however are the best of the best.

[gus6464]

The aquamedic fixture is super nice. I had one for a bit before I decided to stick with LED and T5. It also has plenty of room inside for you to mod it. You could add 2x nanobox pucks easily to it.

[ug.mac]

I don't know that for sure. That is the advice I was given when I switched. The price difference between a 150 and 250 though is usually pretty small. I have also read that 150w Radiums aren't anything special. The 250w however are the best of the best.

 

Yeah I agree with you on 150w Radium, however it still better than the popular Phoenix 150w to my eyes. I can't upgrade to 250w because I would have to get entire new fixture with bulb and ballast.

 

The aquamedic fixture is super nice. I had one for a bit before I decided to stick with LED and T5. It also has plenty of room inside for you to mod it. You could add 2x nanobox pucks easily to it.

Can you share your experience with your setup? How long have you had LED with T5 and how did your corals react to the light?

[DaveFason]

Check out my hybrid units. You would love them!

-Dave

[ug.mac]

Dave your hybird is absolutely awesome, if I didn't just rebuild the whole system I would get one for sure, but for now I'm stuck with what I have purchased already. :-)

[Paleoreef103]

The problem with going with T5s is the fact that most T5s are a low end of 24" or 60cm which is a pretty huge overhang for a 40cm cube. All of those fixtures are going to have 4" of overhang on both sides of the tank just to accommodate the T5s. Honestly, with those lights, I'd look into a different tank or look into trading one of your lights for a single 150W pendant without T5s, but a decent reflector. That or moving to a 24" long tank. Any of those lights will work on an SPS 24" long tank.


No need for a 250MH over a 40cm cube, a 150W halide is more than enough even for SPS. You'll probably be hitting ~250 PAR at the sandbed with a single 150W halide.

[MikeTR]

I've run my 180 on 150w phoenix for a couple years now. SE bulbs with badass reflectors (lumenbrights). Switching to 175w, just need a little bit more oomph. I'd go with 250w but I don't have the option to raise my canopy. I was getting 900 par with the radiums at the top of the rocks (8" underwater) with the bottom of the reflectors at 11" above water surface. A wee bit too much.