Lighting for SPS

What Should I do for upgrade my current setup. I want a a mixed reef but I do want to keep a few sps.

I have 4 bulb aquaticlife fixture (2 months new) => everyone tells me, SPS keeping ability depends on the bulbs and the quality of the fixture but Ive never owned any other fixture to compare it to.

Should I upgrade to 6 bulb tek fixture?
Keep my 4 bulb fixture, just change to high quality bulbs?
over drive my fixture with an icecap ballast?
wait and save for a metal halide system?
You fixture will work with bulbs you have just place the SPS high in the tank?

 

You need to get high quality bulbs no matter what you buy for the sake of your coral. Adding 2 more bulbs won't hurt if you can fit them over the tank. 24" bulbs will do fine if the space is tight.

 

bathonyb71

whilst your still in the process of deciding what you want to do with your tank
I would not make a major investment in a new lighting set up
I think you should get some good quality lamps for your existing 4 x 39 watt fixture
and try one or 2 pieces of aquacultured SPS like Monti caps, scrolling monti or encrusting monti and if they do OK for a couple of months, you can consider additional SPS frags

lighting is only 1 aspect of succesful SPS keeping
once you have proven to yourself that you have the skills to maintain all the parameters, conditions, stability you need to be succesful with SPS
Then that might be the right time to take a desicion to make the financial commitment.

my opinion is there are far more things in a reef set up that decides the fate of an Acropora than the difference between 4 and 6 T5 lamps
and many people on here have some nice looking SPS frags, growing under 4 x T5 lamps

it would be a shame to commit to a new 6 lamp fixture or MH lamps, and then in a few months time decide SPS are not for you and that a tank full of softies and LPS is a much easier to cater for option

Just my opinion

Steve

 

yea x2 on what steve is saying. get 1 or 2 easy sps frags.. try to keep them alive for at least a couple months before throwing money out the window.

green pocillopora = very fast growing easy starter sps coral.

 

don't overdrive your fixture, but definitely do get good bulbs!

you may also want your frags up high... the higher the better..

 

I don't like repeating myself but in this thread you asked the same question and I answered you. Not many people on this forum have Aquatic Life fixtures and I have run them for a year. I know, first hand that they will grow SPS, I have been growing them. I voted.. If you want to do it easy move your corals up. I have the same corals as I did a year ago under the same lights. If you want better growth, get better bulbs. Like I suggested before, reefgeek . com will have the best selection for you. I personally will be upgrading my bulbs soon and even adding another 2 bulb Aquatic life fixture AquaticLife T5 HO Light Link Fixture - Marine since I have had such good support from them.

If anything upgrade your bulbs, but please know that you can grow SPS under the fixtures.. If you want proof look at my build threads.. Ill even link them for you..

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/bamas-75-d-80676.html

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/bamas-30-gallon-thread-63474.html

 

I understand you dont like repeating yourself but I understand you have answered however I still would like to get other peoples thoughts on the matter. I am already leaning towards getting the fixture howeer if I upgrade I would rather do it before I purchase any new bulbs. thnaks for the info. I am going over your threads.

 

Oh, It was my understanding that you already had the fixture and that you thought it was not sufficient enough. ;D

 

I do already have the Aquaticlife. (its pictured on tank with with avatar)I meant to say I was leaning towards keeping the fixture.

btw. I dont see in your 75 build where it says anything about aquaticlife fixture. I see one thread where it says you ordered a 6 bulb tek fixture.

I will look at the 30 build now. Is this the 4bulb aquaticlife? signifacntly smaller tank than mine.

 

Oh, I never ended up getting the TEK light, they had a sale at marine depot for the 48" 4 bulb for $299 so I got that. It has been growing my sps and all of my corals and clams since I made the switch to a bigger tank.

and the one thing that really keeps me happy with it is the timer function and the moonlights, I think they are great..