Help with Lighting

Really? Are there any corals you couldn't keep with that set up? I know thats a broad question.

 

No, you might have to put some LPS and softies under ledges to keep them from getting too much light but you can keep anything.

 

Say even with quality lighting, is it true that it's not good to have hard corals and soft corals together? I was told that I would have to go with one or the other.

 

THATS 100% FALSE. Thats what the Ter "mixed reef" is. Plenty of people on here including myself have them. However some soft corals do realese toxins into the water that some SPS arent fond of. But there are ways with chemical filtration and placement that will allow you to keep almost any coral you want together. btw. I have an aquaticlife fixture. great product. individual timers and moonlights with timer.

 

I agree 100%.

I use Aqua Illumination LED's but they were $2500.00 and they do a fantastic job on my 30" deep DT with all things coral or not.

I think the key is making sure you get a good solid brand name lighting unit whichever type you get and think ahead a bit about what you want to do.

 

Thats great to know cuz there are so many awesome corals of each type. I was disappointed to hear that, THX for clearing it up! Isn't it amazing how much misinformation there is out there. I can't tell you how many people tried to talk me out of having SW (glad I didn't listen).

 

Yes. The main problem I found in this hobby is not neccessarily knowledge but biased information. If you where to combine the knowledge of the most experienced guys on 3reef, you would probably have more knowledge than the most advanced saltwater book could provide you, however the only negative is alot of people tend to be biased, based on what they experienced and what they've had success with. You have to learn what is right and what is biased.

Prime example: Lighting, look at all the responses on just this thread about what lighting is best. Some people say t5's others swear by halides and other love LEDs. and each can give you a reason why you shouldnt try one or the other. A inexperienced hobbist could recieve one of these biased opinions and would believe that this was his/her only option. People tend not to give you facts somtimes and tend to sell you on a certain product and discourage you from another, simply because it's what they know or what they had/have experince with.

People with halides especially somtimes act like this is the god of reef lighting and will leave you to believe any other lighting source is the anti-christ or just plain inferior.

The truth is all 3 of these lighting options can and will do the job.
Plenty of people have had success with halides, plenty of people have had success with t5's and contrary to popular believe people are growing reef tanks succefully with LED's...even power Compacts is an option though considered out dated to most.

There are pros and cons to everything and its just your job to figure out which ones are for you and always what information is right, wrong or just biased info. Best of luck to you!