180/200 gallon sps lighting advice.

I have to agree with Horkn here....

In the long run, it would be much, much cheaper to sell your current setup.

T5 vs MH......

If the shimmer is the only thing that you are looking to get from your MHs, then get some LED suppliments. Easily done for 50 bucks.
Lumenbrites are awesome. 3 of them over that tank will be more than enough for SPS on the deck. They just need lots of over head room.


If you do go with a t5 unit, you will need at least a 8 bulb unit to cover 24" of tank depth.
Also, a cheap unit will not work. Must go Icecap, Maristar or such to get to the bottom of your tank.

 

I'm also going to recommend 400W MHs and you will need 3. You can supplement with T5

 

With good reflectors, 400w mh are not necessary. 250's will easily light that tank up with no issues.

I have been doing PAR tests on my 24" tall by 30 deep x 62 w 193g tank and I light it with 2x 250 mh and 2x 80 of t5ho. My PAR tests are telling me I have more than enough light.
Also, 24" depth (front to back ) is easily done with 6 80w t5s. Dr fragenstein (on here)has 6x80 on his 180g and it has a ton of PAR. Everyone told him he absolutely needed 8 80w t5s to do a std 180g. His PAR numbers were like 250 at the sand, so that proves you don't need more than that. Also, he is not overdriving the t5ho's and using workhorse ballasts to run them.


I really like the white LED modules for shimmer with the t5ho bulbs. it's easy and cheaper than MH if you only want the mh for the shimmer.

 

www.bsled.en.alibaba.com
I contacted them and they seem to be nice lights. Here is my response from them. Tell me what you think.
Our led aquarium light can be 90w,120w,300w and 600w. we have three year warranty about these lights and they are all CE approved.

The led light, in addition to its high output of lumens, the most important thing is that it has much more effective light to promote coral
growth. Some other high lumens lamp issue limited useful light for the coral,even harmful light. So the all the light from the LED is pure effective light. That is why one 90w led aquarium light can replace 150-200w MH light. 120w led aquarium light can replace 250-300w MH light.

we have many customers in USA, of course, we will try our best to support you is want to promote our light in your market.
The following is the specificton of 120w led aquarium light.
LED quantity : 119pcs
LED configuration : 1w/LED
Color : White and Blue mixed, White:14000K(14000-20000k), Blue & purple
390-460nm(other specification available).

Dimension: 400X213X71 (Unit : mm)

Package size : 450X260X123 (Unit : mm)
Gross weight : 5kg
MOQ:1pcs

There is autotimer can control the light for the sunset and sunrise
effect, which can control the white and bule separately.
Lead Time: 5 working days
per watt lumen:90-110lm
The120w pictures on attachment which is White & Blue&purple mixed, W :
B=6:4, there are 71pcs high power 1w White LED and there are 48pcs high power 1w Blue and
purple.

The following is the par value of 120w led aquarium light,
2" depth - 1537 Par
12" depth - 423 Par
24" depth - 182 Par
Attached Thumbnails