Lighting opionions

[CandyCane]

The tank it's for isn't finished yet, so it's not yet running at all. I'm building a custom 35 gal with a 10 gal sump. I want to grow coral frags so I'm hoping to find a light that will grow both sps and lps coral. I have 2 fluval reef lights from the fluval m90 I picked up to do my build. I want to know if I should replace these lights with something better. I tried looking up Google reviews on the best LED lighting for corals but the recommendations weren't the best.
What are you guys using?

[Moogled]

I run an 18" Marine Orbit LED on a 5 gallon Fluval Spec V.

It's only 18w so you can keep some basic LPS and softies if you wanted to.

Wouldn't expect too much growth but I like the controllability and that it comes with 4 pre-programmed templates that I can tinker with.

It has a nice colour but honestly it cost me 190 bucks from JLAquatics after shipping. I would have preferred to find a used option elsewhere, especially when people are selling Gen 2 Radions for $300.

Only thing that's annoying is that the Orbit also comes with several "novelty" lighting options like dynamic lighting and thunderstorm mode. Monkey business!

[CandyCane]

Monkey business is right! I think they were trying to sell that some corals only breed during thunderstorms...
Okay so if I scrap those crappy LED options, what is the most desirable but still a reasonable cost? Or is going all out on an expensive light really really worth while?

[WarDog]

A 6 bulb T5 fixture is your best bet. Reliable and proven to grow SPS. You won't regret it.

[CandyCane]

Originally Posted by WarDog

A 6 bulb T5 fixture is your best bet. Reliable and proven to grow SPS. You won't regret it.

How often would the bulbs have to be replaced?

[WarDog]

Ideally, 9 months.

[CandyCane]

What about metal halide? I found a lamp that includes 1 metal halide, 2 blue t5 and 2 moonlight LED. Could this work? http://m.ebay.com/itm/MH-30-Metal-Ha...916?nav=SEARCH

[Myka]

Originally Posted by WarDog

A 6 bulb T5 fixture is your best bet. Reliable and proven to grow SPS. You won't regret it.

This. Though for a 35 gallon frag tank, 4 bulbs is probably plenty. 2 bulbs might even be enough depending on the dimensions of the tank - just put SPS as close to the bulbs as possible.

[Scythanith]

I agree with Mindy. 4 to 6 T5's with a strip of blue LEDs in there somewhere is your best bet for growth, colour (subjective) and coverage.

[CandyCane]

If I were to add in the LED blue strip to a t5 fixture is there a specific wattage or brand of LED strips to use?