Best Lighting for Reef Keeping

[Keelynnsreef]

I have a 72 G Bowfront with "Actinic Coralife T-5 48 Inch, Actinic Blue light 54 watt and 10,000 K 54 watt white" light system. For coral life, does anyone have any suggestions for a better lighting system that I should be using for coral to flurish and grow?

[Cammed_02]

I started out with t5s over my 38 gallon, they did the trick and grew coral just fine. But once I switched to metal halide I really enjoyed looking at my tank. Coral definetely flourished. Make the switch and see how you like it. How tall is your tank?

[Big_Pun]

t5, metal halide and leds all work just depends on your budget, if you will be usings a canopy and other factors. so your tank is 48 long, will you be using a canopy?

[Flyride95]

LEDs is the winner so far with MH following closely. For broad colors, decent growth and no heat go led. For awesome growth but high heat go MH. I'm sure this will be followed by many here with great points but that is what I have gathered out of the really really long posts lol.

[RayAllen]

T5s are great for corals. Several people prefer t5 over everything else. Depending on how many bulbs you run and the brand you prefer it can become costly when changing the bulbs out. Find what works for you and go that route. My 40g is lit by a 6 bulb T5 fixture with ATI bulbs and I can grow any coral I want with it, but at peak day when all six bulbs are running at once im putting out almost 6watts per gallon. That is a lot of light.

I would not say to use the watts per gallon as a rule of thumb, because with new technology its hard to judge that. It can help a newbie figure things out at 1st. On a 72g aquarium if I were doing T5 id shoot for at least a 48" 54 watt 4 bulb set up myself. Others may go with 2 250watt metal halides which would be more than enough. The craze now is LED which is costly up front but may save you later down the road.

With the light you currently have I do not see you growing anything but simple shrooms and some softies. LPS, SPS and anemones require much more intense lighting to grow and keep happy.


Maast has a search function that you can use, its comes in handy. You will see the same question you asked has been asked hundreds of times over the years. It also take more than good lighting to grow, keep happy and have corals flourish. You need to have good husbandry skills, keep them in the best water possible among many other things.

Welcome to Maast. Good Luck.

[Big_Pun]

LEDs is the winner so far with MH following closely. For broad colors, decent growth and no heat go led. For awesome growth but high heat go MH. I'm sure this will be followed by many here with great points but that is what I have gathered out of the really really long posts lol.

there are no facts which is better, its all personal choice and what fits your system and budget. if you know what your doing any good light will work

As soon as i saw the title to this thread i was like oh no. A whole new can of worms just got opened... Well not a new can of worms. More like the same can. Just different packageing. Like maybe to keep the worms fresh you put them in a tub-o-ware container and then opened it...

I run 2x250 watt MH and i love them. with retro kit of LEDs for actinics. My water temp does not change cause i have an open top setup. which allows the heat to disperse before it really affects my water. The room is open enough that the room doesn't get warm at all. Yes my power bill has gone up. But i am more than happy with color and growth. If all depends on what you want to have in the tank. If you plan on SPS. MH is a safe bet. I know not all Corals seem to be keen on LEDs. But like expressed previously. The color and benefits of LEDs are quite amazing. They have me tempted. but the last time i swithced i lost a lot of corals and ****ed many other ones off. so i may have acclimated them to the new light incorrectly. User error.

[Keelynnsreef]

72 Gallon Glass Bow Front, 48 3/8 X 18 X 23" (23" high). Thank you for the info.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

if you have a canopy no MH need fans yes t5 yes LED
if you want to run for a long time during day no MH yes t5 yes LED
grows coral yes MH yes T5 yes LED

with MH you will allways have to use t5 or LED with them for extended lighting
best blue pop is with a strong blue LED and you need other strong color LEDs with right lenses to penetrate and grow coral
its also a tough choice to select canopy, hanging kit, or a sit on fixture
This will also help you determine which one

Also T5 and MH you do need to replace bulbs every year
most LEDs can last up to 50000 hours

personally , I have worked with all 3 in a retrofit style in a canopy to make the tank look like furnitre or part of the house and all the lights do good
just figure your cost and budget over the long term and color pop you want

I use retro LEDs because they work in a canopy and are inexpensive, lasts longer, easy to repair, dont take much room, can run lights all day if I wish,
use very little electricity, have that outstanding blue color pop, never need another light or one to the side, just my thoughts,
also can have defferent angles for each LED, can also turn it up or down in intensity, . . .

Whats nice about your tank size you have the flexibility to use any lighting you choose and be successfull.

[kkiel02]

It's all personal preference.

For t5 I would do a 4 to 6 bulb fixture. Depending on what you want to grow.
Mh I would just run one large lumenbrite pendant or two smaller reflectors either way I would use a 250w bulb since your tank is so shallow.
Led- I would do 2 vega or 2 radion(gen 2).

I run my halides 12 hours a day and have had them just under two years. Even my t5 are way over the recommended change time. I'll be trying led soon as well so I will eventually put their lifespan to the test as well. By that time plasma lighting should be ready. :)

Here's the important part. Any of these will grow coral just fine. So it's going to come down to what you want out of your light.

[350gt]

Geeez no question my mind which is the best!!!........ Lol



Jk like others have said its up to you and what you will be housing....

T5 is a good start, with out being too difficult to understand and not much heat compared to MH...

But more than the 2 bulbs you are running now..

Led is my favorite but is pricey....

Mh is good as well but can produce too much heat for someone who is just starting out....


I say find a used 4-6 bulb t5ho unit on here and learn the basics... Changing bulbs will get old though but let's you play with color combinations....

Or you can make your own DIY kit if your running a canopy..... Which is very cheap to do.... If its too complex, I'm sure there will be a member willing to help...

[betiuminside]

I just bought the new AI Vega and they are awesome! you are welcome to come by and look at it and play with it! Etc!
I only have one and it's awesome! Let me know when do you want to come by! :)

[OrionN]

In the future LED is the way we light everything in your society reef included. It is most efficient and we can produce whatever spectrum we want by manipulating the LED element. With that said, I thing LED for reef have not arrived yet, but much better now that it was 2-3 years ago. One of these "full spectrum LED unit" maybe the way to go now, but still cost a bit much.
For me I am sticking to my MH for now. I will build a fish room in the near future, very likely I will LED light then.

[350gt]

What do you mean "not arrived"?

[Big_Pun]

What do you mean "not arrived"?

broken solder points..... it's still evolving and changing, these companies release new emitters every 4-6 month. when I did my DIY 3w where the rage now it's 5w. there wasn't UV now we have it, colored LEDs are so much better now especially reds and greens and different blues and violets. so it hasn't fully arrived, but it's getting better and better.

[reefreak]

I have 2x150w halides and 9x3w LEDs over a 4ft tank and it lights it up perfect great growth as well

[350gt]

So then why you selling? Lol

[350gt]

broken solder points..... it's still evolving and changing, these companies release new emitters every 4-6 month. when I did my DIY 3w where the rage now it's 5w. there wasn't UV now we have it, colored LEDs are so much better now especially reds and greens and different blues and violets. so it hasn't fully arrived, but it's getting better and better.


Didnt ask you........



"Broken solder points"------------ I would call you a name but Jesus might not like me anymore..

[The_wolfeman]

So then why you selling? Lol

I was thinking the same thing lol he trying to hustle man leave him alone. That's the hook and then he'll pm him and say I'll sell you that light lol...

[The_wolfeman]

I have a 6 lamp t5 fixture I'll sell you

[The_wolfeman]

Didnt ask you........



"Broken solder points"------------ I would call you a name but Jesus might not like me anymore..

Bahahahahahahhahahaha :rofl::rofl:

[OrionN]

What do you mean "not arrived"?
If you buy now, a year later new one come out much better. Brighter, better spectrum, last longer... ... ... you get my drift.

MH, T5, PC light technology are essentially mature technology. It won't get better in a few months or years.

[reefreak]

Tony only reason I'm selling is because of my pops

[350gt]

If you buy now, a year later new one come out much better. Brighter, better spectrum, last longer... ... ... you get my drift.

MH, T5, PC light technology are essentially mature technology. It won't get better in a few months or years.



ahh okay, I got you.... that is true...

[Keelynnsreef]

How much are you wanting for it

[reefreak]

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?73891-Dual-150w-halide-light-with-LEDs!!
I am asking obo let me know

[Big_Pun]

solar tubes.. nothing beats Mother Nature