Lights!

[Arronpsw]

Any seniors can recommend me lights that are good for a 4ft tank that can grow and colour sps? My budget is below 1.2k

[surreal1228]

Ati t5

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[Arronpsw]

How many bulbs do i meed and should i just buy the de lighting or ati sunpower

[Solo77]

If u are serious, ATI power module and nothing less than 8 tubes. Ex successful reefers used 10 to 12 tubes. They also placed them very near water level. Your budget may need to revise. If budget, go for DE lighting, it's within yr budget and with tubes, I think.

[Kenny_Ho]

Get your ATI T5 from aquamarin

[Arronpsw]

Is LEDs actually more value for money? I head they do not increase electricity bill by much compared to t5

[Edmund Koh]

LEDs are supposed to save electricity compared to MH and T5.

I can't comment on which LED is good for Sps cos I don't keep any myself yet. But I do believe in going for branded LEDs, especially those that give u the capabilities of controlling it.

[christan1959]

U might wanna consider MH for Long-term cost efficiency. Watt for watt, MH gives more bang. Heat issue is overdone... Place it 30cm above water and it's fine. Get the most natural look, with shimmer like sunlight on reef.

[Arronpsw]

I heard they cost the most in terma of electricity bill lol have yet to try

[sherman]

MH , T5 are all proven.

But efficiency of each is different.

LED is still in discovery stage. So many factors is overlook .

Today most decent LED light set come with all the control you need.

Whether is timing or intensity, dawn,dusk, sunrise,sunset, lunar cycle are

becoming standard .

Some even come with wifi remote and most can be daisy chain up to at

least 30 units.

Only the very cheap model just come with standard on/off .

Shop around on internet. You will see what is common in market today.

[christan1959]

I heard they cost the most in terma of electricity bill lol have yet to try

That's one misconception. A 150w set of LEDs will consume the same power as a 150w MH set.

[magical26]

That's one misconception. A 150w set of LEDs will consume the same power as a 150w MH set.

Only if you run it at full blast 100%. I believe if you tune it down, wattage will logically decrease. Just my 2 cents...

[Arronpsw]

I'm considering t5 then. Where can i buy the cheapest 8 bulb t5 holder?

[Evolutionz]

A 150w led run thr same wattage as a 150w mh BUT a good 150w led has much higher PAR then a 150w mh.. Led is good but has yet to be entirely proven.. Ati is definitely proven and prices are getting very attractive from aquamarin

[Edmund Koh]

If u consider T5 then go for a T5 lightset from an established brand.

The electronics component in there together with the ability to control will greatly affect the light coming out of the same tube. Of cos a good set of tubes would also make a huge difference.

[christan1959]

I am not sure. There may be some efficiency loss. why buy a 150w set and run it at less than its full potential though? Also with MH, u replace one or two bulbs every 5,000 hrs or so, compared with 8 T5 tubes every 3,000 hrs. So MH much cheaper in long run. I don't know the replacement cost of LEDs, but the drivers can't be cheap. I think they are also not as robust as MH or T5 on the whole.

[Arronpsw]

Not too familiar with MH as I've nvr used them before, I'm not even sure how many watt MH do i need

[christan1959]

MH has been around a long time. Even before T5s. Simple research will tell u how much wattage u need. otherwise, T5 is good alternative. but I personally find LED too artificial... the same as the new LED TVs... everything appears like CGI.

[Evolutionz]

422 full SPS for all 3 kind of lighting my recommandation will be :

1) led : maxspect razor 300w (budget)

Or 2x ai hydra 52 (deep pocket)

2) t5 : ATI Sunpower/power module 8/10 tubes.

3) Mh : probably will need 2x 250w and also 4 tubes t5 (2 front 2 back)

4) t5 + led : ati powermodule led hybrid.

The mh will produce not only alot of heat got your tank, but for you as well. Option 4 would be the best choice out there IMO.

[Arronpsw]

Do you recommend de lighting? ?

[Evolutionz]

They are decent T5s but im not sure of the price now.. but im sure even if ATI were a little bit more expensive, its only logical which is the better choice IMO.

[solasido]

ATI t5 has better reflector that make the light "brighter", and with cooling mechanism, the t5 last a bit longer. ATI claims that their product is 30% brighter.

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[Arronpsw]

If only i had a deep pocket... all ati modules so expensive, just as expensive as a led module

[albertlaw60]

Aquamarin is having a good pricing on their ATI light set now. If you are on budget, get the ATI sun power 8 tubes. It is cheaper and proven by many reefers. Give Aquamarin a call.

[Evolutionz]

Yes indeed. Free bulbs too. But take note, if ur a hardcore SPS keeper, youll have to change your bulb every 10 months. And 12 months if u wanna save some money. Thats 180 bucks every year for bulb change (8 tubes). And this only applies for ATI Light set.. For lousy set like aquazonic, bulb change have to be made sround every 6-8 months.