8ft tank, lighting ideas?

[amberc12]

Nice, bet you that looks sweet!

[rockworm]

Originally Posted by amberc12

Nice, bet you that looks sweet!

Not yet, but it is coming along. I just came through a few rough months and the tank is recovering. I have been procrastinating on starting a tank journal. Time to get off my butt and get it started. Soon.

[amberc12]

Originally Posted by rockworm

Not yet, but it is coming along. I just came through a few rough months and the tank is recovering. I have been procrastinating on starting a tank journal. Time to get off my butt and get it started. Soon.

Glad to hear its recovering! Look forward to the journal!

[MitchM]

I would recommend either MH or LED.
I have 2 ATI hybrids over my 96 x 48 x 30. Like you mentioned, changing 16 bulbs is not fun. Neither is changing ballasts.

I'll be going to LED after these ATI units.
I don't know which brand yet, I'll be looking at Radion, GHL or Kessil.

[rockworm]

I am experimenting with LED over my 75g. I have 2 of the GHL Mitras 6200 LX for it. I have lps, ricordias and zoas in it for now. I plan to move some sps frags in to it and see how they do compared to my sps under mh. I am very impressed with the Mitras but have no experience with other led's for comparison.

Originally Posted by MitchM

I would recommend either MH or LED.
I have 2 ATI hybrids over my 96 x 48 x 30. Like you mentioned, changing 16 bulbs is not fun. Neither is changing ballasts.

I'll be going to LED after these ATI units.
I don't know which brand yet, I'll be looking at Radion, GHL or Kessil.

[MitchM]

I've had 3 Mitras units for 4 years now - 2-6200's and 1-6100.
I haven't had a single hardware issue with them, the software was a challenge at first but GHL is improving how user friendly the software is.

Mike Paletta seems to like the Radions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5HJVxfWQ2c

.

[SoloSK71]

A lot of newish research is showing that LEDs (at least newer generations) are more than adequate to grow and show any kind of corals. As mentioned above, a lot of the 'names' in reefing are making the switch and having great success.

Just remember that stability is the key to successful fishkeeping. Just because your LED lets you manipulate 1,500 variables does not mean you should.

That said, LED, MH, T5 will all grow coral.

For me, on a big tank, I did the math on fixtures and bulbs and after breathing into a paper bag for a while, 16 3' T5 bulbs (2 8 bulb fixtures) every 9 months was $480 every 9 months. The fixtures were $900 each. 3 LED fixtures was $3,000 and would last for around 10 years. Electricity was about the same. Even if LEDs were slightly less effective than T5's the cost savings were worth it in just over 18 months.

Charles