Which lights should i get?

powderhound · 10/31/2012, 01:20 PM

Setting up a new 25 gallon cube tank(roughly 18x18x18). I need to buy some lights and dont know which direction to go. I already have a brand new metal halide pendant and 250 watt XM bulb. I would need to buy a new/used ballast or do i go for an LED setup.

looking to keep a mixed reef some sps on top zoas and chalices throughout.
Any suggestions are welcome on which is better on a little cube and why? I run T5s on my 120 and love them, but have not used either MH or LED

TMS · 10/31/2012, 07:53 PM

I would say LED, but I am partial to them get one of the oriental sets

heckeng · 10/31/2012, 07:57 PM

I have used MH, T5 and LED. I will get bashed for saying this but I would use MH or T5 but would avoid the LED. My tank is LPS and Zoas and the LPS did ok with LED but half of my zoas eventually died off after reacting to the LEDs. Some of the Zoas wanted more light, some reacted like they wanted less light and it was basically impossible to make them all happy. I have since switched back to MH with T5 supp and things are coming back but I lost quite a few extremely nice/rare zoa frags and colonies. I believe the problem with LED is the narrow spectrum that it delivers. Keep the MH, get a phoenix bulb and you will get the pop that you want and good growth from everything you want to put in there.

r-balljunkie · 11/01/2012, 12:12 AM

stick with the MH, will light area nicely

Michigan Mike · 11/01/2012, 07:24 AM

Seems to me you would only need a 150w halide, but different strokes...

10/31/2012, 01:20 PM	#1
powderhound Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA Posts: 552	Which lights should i get? Setting up a new 25 gallon cube tank(roughly 18x18x18). I need to buy some lights and dont know which direction to go. I already have a brand new metal halide pendant and 250 watt XM bulb. I would need to buy a new/used ballast or do i go for an LED setup. looking to keep a mixed reef some sps on top zoas and chalices throughout. Any suggestions are welcome on which is better on a little cube and why? I run T5s on my 120 and love them, but have not used either MH or LED __________________ If it's snowing I'm going! Current Tank Info: DSA 190 pro 48inch cebu sun with 2x 400w radiums 4x54 t5 bubblemagus 220cs

10/31/2012, 07:57 PM	#3
heckeng Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 260	I have used MH, T5 and LED. I will get bashed for saying this but I would use MH or T5 but would avoid the LED. My tank is LPS and Zoas and the LPS did ok with LED but half of my zoas eventually died off after reacting to the LEDs. Some of the Zoas wanted more light, some reacted like they wanted less light and it was basically impossible to make them all happy. I have since switched back to MH with T5 supp and things are coming back but I lost quite a few extremely nice/rare zoa frags and colonies. I believe the problem with LED is the narrow spectrum that it delivers. Keep the MH, get a phoenix bulb and you will get the pop that you want and good growth from everything you want to put in there. __________________ 90 gallon Zoa/Ricordia tank, 6x54w ATI dimmable Sunpower, SRO 1000int

10/31/2012, 07:53 PM	#2
TMS Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 39	I would say LED, but I am partial to them get one of the oriental sets

11/01/2012, 12:12 AM	#4
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	stick with the MH, will light area nicely

11/01/2012, 07:24 AM	#5
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	Seems to me you would only need a 150w halide, but different strokes...