Providing the full spectrum(lighting)

[CurvBall]

Hi everybody,

Well my cls loop and my tank are almost finished getting finalised

My next question to everybody concerns my lighting.
I've been tons of research and I'm making this system a dedicated SPS reeftank.

I'm going to be adding the following lighting:

4 x 39w T5 tubes (2x actinic; 2x 50/50)
2 x 36w PC (6000K)
1 x 250w MH (10 000K)

As you can see from my selection of lighting, I'm trying to cover a little bit of every kelven rating to give my intended corals the best and broadest sprectrum of light possible.

I really like the visual affect of the current TOTM in reefkeeping.com The lighting is half 6500k 400w MH and half 20 000k 400w MH. This is my ideal lighting colour I want to achieve:

However my tank is nowhere this big

My tank is 1000mm(l) x 450mm(w) with a water depth of 550mm.
Do you think my proposed lighting combo will be good enough for both the corals and my eyes??

Thanks.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Curveball?
Help?
I am looking for a yardstick with mm on it.
cheers buddy!
I hope your doing great!
Ed

 

[big t]

Hey I figured it out for the mathmatically impaired.

2.54 cm = an inch

So his tank 39.4" wide, 17.7 deep, and 21.6 tall.


This works out to a 65g

 

[NaH2O]

Curvball, you may have read this thread already, but I'll post the link in case you didn't or in case others want to read it, too: Let's Talk About ~Lighting~

Do you think my proposed lighting combo will be good enough for both the corals and my eyes??

Only you will know if the lighting combo is good enough for your eyes. It is such a personal choice - the way the lighting looks to us. Here is a link that may help you see some difference...

Bulb Color Comparison

 

[JWallace]

Hey NaH20,

That Bulb Comparison link is great, thanks for posting it

 

[CurvBall]

Thanks everybody.

Thanks for the links Nikki. I have probably visited every single possible website, webpage on the net already

I guess I'm just going to have to trust my gut on my lighting and take the 'plunge'.

At the moment I'm kind of torn between getting a 10 000K 250w MH and the 20 000k 250w MH. The way I see it is that if I have enough tubes ie flourescents (both T5 and PCs) in the lower K ratings I should be able to achieve what I'm after visually as well as making sure my SPSs get what they want and what they need to show off their colours.

 

[CurvBall]

Just read that "Let's Talk About ~Lighting~" thread, what a great read, thanks Nikki.

I guess my current proposed lighting set-up doesn't seem too bad There is something for everybody in my mix. But I think I might add two of those red halogen bulbs (thanks to the Japanese reefers for that).

My other option after seeing the current TOTM at reefkeepinging.com is to go with:

2 x 6500k 150w MH
2 x 20 000k 150w MH
2 x 10 000k 39w T5

What do you think? option1 or option 2?

 

[Elmo18]

Seeing as this is a 65 gallon tank, i'd go with option 2. If all 4 MH bulbs are all 250 watt, may be overkill. You will use a chiller or fans?

- Ilham