Lighting

That is a loaded question
You can go from cheap to $$$$$
http://www.aquatraders.com/
To
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide__subindex.asp

If I was starting over with my lighting and had the $$ I would go with T-5 on icecaps you can add if you need more lighting
But it is a personal choice and depends on what you are going to keep in your aquarium
Ken
 
Spoke to a couple MFG and both suggested I go with a pair of 250 MH 14k and nothing else. Except for a couple of led moon lights.

No supplemental lighting..

Both stated that the 14k will give me plenty of color and maintain SPS.
I am considering 3-- 250 MH...

Thoughts.. Opinions.. (I know some one out there has an opinion)
 
I'd still do supplemental lighting as it does give a nice morning/evening lighting without the MH lights on....and it allows you to go lower Kelvin (6K - 10K) on the MH to get more PAR and still create a pleasing coloration if you like it. JMO
Doug
 
I second everything Waterbeing just said... I really like the flexibility of a hybrid lighting setup...
 
High-tech
You will probably get more feed back if you list
What size tank you have
What you want to keep in it
What kind of skimmer you have
Are you going to use a chiller?
And so on


Steve that’s a nice light setup
 
Yea.. more info might help.
Mixed reef but mainly SPS

In wall 105 dual RR with closed loop.
Closed loop has a 2" drain w 4 1" returns

Have not decided on brand of skimmer yet or chiller.
 
I would also add my two cents about having actinic lighting. It does create a wonderful morning/evening enviroment that really seems to affects the corals and my nem.

For a while I was doing straight MH on and off. When I got the actinics put in again and had them on for 1 hour for 'sun up' and one hour for 'sundown' the first thing I noticed was that my nem would actually start closing up for the day when the actinics went on. My finger leather is actually opening up more now with the actinic morning first & then the MH day as opposed to the stark on of Day immediately as I had before.

Definately give it some thought.
 
105 that is a 4ft tank right? You should be ok with 2 - 250 or 2- 400 , I would not pay the extra for a 3rd 250.

I also have a 105 RR mine is 4ft long. I am going with 2 -250W IC e-ballast and 2 IC 250W/400W DE pendants. The pendants cost more, and in genral DE cost more, but if i change my mind down the road i can just get new Ballast and bulbs. Since this pendant can run either 250 or 400. I plan on sup. atenic as well. Not sure if I am going with VHO or the T5.
 
@hightech wrote:
Do you run the actinic lighting all day with the MH or just dawn dusk said:
I currently run them 1.25 hours before MH and 1.25 after. The .25 hours is overlap for when the MH come on and before they go off. The plan is to have sunup/sundown effect and then get 12k or 14k lamps to provided the blue effect while the actinics are off during the day.
Click to expand...
 
Many thanks for all the input.
I think I am going this direction

2- IC 250 / 400 HQI DE 14K All Aluminum Pendant
2- IC 250 Watt Electronic Metal Halide/ HQI Ballast
4- 54w T5 w/ seperate reflectors-2white/2blue
2- IC 660 Electronic Fluorescent Ballast
2- IC LED Flat Moonlights

Comments-Suggestions

105 (48X18X29)
Mixed reef with SPS
4 inch sand bed

Thanks,
Jeff
 
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