sps lighting

toytech · #1 02-22-2014, 06:45 PM

Ive spent the last few days finally setting up my 4x2x2 120 gallon and today im filling it up , ive got all my equipment but lights . Ive seen a few 6 bulb ati t5s for sale and I wonder if a 6 bulb fixture is enough for a full blown sps reef or if its just not going to be enough ? So what are folks using on there sps reefs?

Aquattro · #2 02-22-2014, 06:48 PM

I use an 8 light fixture, and not sure I'd try a 6. But I like a lot of light. Probably depends more on the layout and where the corals are located though. I'm sure there are SPS tanks with 6 bulb fixtures.
That being said, I wish these came in 10 bulb

reefmandan · #3 02-22-2014, 07:05 PM

I think that if the SPS corals were very high up in the tank, 6 bulbs would be okay. I'd recommend 8 though.

mrhasan · #4 02-22-2014, 08:48 PM

6 bulb with good reflector is perfectly fine to grow anything in an SPS tank. But height and width should be considered. I have acros from middle to top (top being 12"+ distance between the light and the location of the coral) and montis from low to top and things color up and grow just fine. But I believe the water parameter and the aquascaping also plays their fair share of role. Ofcourse in case of T5s, the more the better. But 6 bulb is perfectly fine as long as your width and height is within 20". But since yours is 24", I would say go for 8 bulbs ATI.

trilinearmipmap · #5 02-22-2014, 10:42 PM

Happy with my 8 bulb ATI powermodule.

Slyguy00 · #6 02-22-2014, 11:18 PM

Or get yourself some leds and save your self the few hundred dollars every 6 months. I had leds before and am currently running T5 now, and man do I miss my leds every day. Not a big fan of the T5. Iv noticed colours don't pop like they used to. If you do go T5 my 6 bulb fixture grows all my sps just fine so you would be fine with 6. Just not as visually appealing. Just my opinion.

Wheelman76 · #7 02-23-2014, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Brand new, used price. He might ship

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classifi...-bulb_21555983

Great fixture , but where do they come up with that price, $1200 new?!?!?

Its $680 + 5% tax brand new shipped from reef supplies.

I'm not saying the price hes selling it for isnt a good deal. It just drives me nuts when people bump the price of retail up so high to make a sale sound like an amazing deal. Typical "jewellery sale" , mark everything up 50% and then throw a 60% off sale lol.

Aquattro · #8 02-23-2014, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheelman76

Great fixture , but where do they come up with that price, $1200 new?!?!?

Its $680 + 5% tax brand new shipped from reef supplies.

I'm not saying the price hes selling it for isnt a good deal. It just drives me nuts when people bump the price of retail up so high to make a sale sound like an amazing deal. Typical "jewellery sale" , mark everything up 50% and then throw a 60% off sale lol.

The 1200 was probably "suggested retail" when it was obtained. It was bought new probably 3 years ago. Progressive's prices were always competitive, so not sure how valid that price is/was.

toytech · #9 02-23-2014, 08:48 PM

I already have a set of diy led fixtures I made and they are ok but I want something sleek , powerfull and proven . This is going to be my first sps reef and im going to have enough challenges I dont want lighting to be one.

Slyguy00 · #10 02-23-2014, 09:20 PM

Have you seen Rich or Ryans tank?? Looks like LEDs work great to me. But I understand what your sayin. Each to there own