Getting into corals

APEX_AIMZ · 02/20/2018, 02:39 PM

looking into getting coral i have heard blue led lighting is the best what do you recommend and what foods do the like.

mitch91175 · 02/20/2018, 03:07 PM

I know from reading that people cast feed with Rod's complete reef. I would definitely suggest check out the SPS, LPS keepers forum here to get a better idea. So many variables to this stuff it can be overwhelming if you let it. I am going with 4 Hydra52 and 4 T5 bulbs (2 - ATI Coral Plus, 1 ATI True Actinic, 1 ATI Blue Plus) using the Aquatic Life T5HO 61" fixture. Hope it all works out well. Also, T5 has been through it test of time and works as well as Metal Halides (MH). LED is the new kid on the block and has growth capabilities as well.

Your lighting is going to depend on the types of corals you want to keep. If you want to keep SPS and have good air circulation to keep the temps down, then I honestly think 9 out of 10 would say MH. If water temps is an issue, then LED and/or T5 should work. Combination even better.

There are plenty of smarter people in the SPS and LPS forums that I mentioned above. All different types of setups with success. So it ultimately comes down to your budget and what you want to keep successfully.

oldhead · 02/20/2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch91175

I know from reading that people cast feed with Rod's complete reef. I would definitely suggest check out the SPS, LPS keepers forum here to get a better idea. So many variables to this stuff it can be overwhelming if you let it. I am going with 4 Hydra52 and 4 T5 using the Aquatic Life T5HO fixture. Hope it all works out well. Also, T5 has been through it test of time and works as well as MH. LED is the new kid on the block and has growth capabilities as well.

Your lighting is going to depend on the types of corals you want to keep. If you want to keep SPS and have good air circulation to keep the temps down, then I honestly think 9 out of 10 would say MH. If water temps is an issue, then LED and/or T5 should work. Combination even better.

There are plenty of smarter people in the SPS and LPS forums that I mentioned above. All different types of setups with success. So it ultimately comes down to your budget and what you want to keep successfully.

What size tank? 4 hydra 52's is a lot of light, I don't think you will need the t-5's.

mitch91175 · 02/20/2018, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldhead

What size tank? 4 hydra 52's is a lot of light, I don't think you will need the t-5's.

83x24x28

mitch91175 · 02/20/2018, 03:24 PM

Pic of the tank. To get decent PAR readings 200-300 range had to bump the 4 Hydras to 100%. They are mounted about 12" from water line. Noticed when I cranked up my lighting to 100% my RBTA have opened the largest I have seen them in my tank. Actually all of my nems reacted favorably to the increased light. So adding the T5 fixture has me thinking more light better; specially when I add in more SPS.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

APEX_AIMZ · 02/20/2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldhead

What size tank? 4 hydra 52's is a lot of light, I don't think you will need the t-5's.

40 gallon

Uncle99 · 02/21/2018, 09:47 AM

I use VISPARSPECTRA 165w LED, cheap at 160 Canadian Amazon delivered, each covers a max area of 24x24x24, two channel, with timer, hanging kit....but no fancy software....which I do not need.....softies and LPS do exceptional well, even supporting my clams and a few SPS....

monkeysee1 · 02/21/2018, 01:15 PM

l

Quote:

looking into getting coral i have heard blue led lighting is the best what do you recommend and what foods do the like.

What kinds of corals do you want to keep? Softies, LPS or SPS?
With SPS, especially Bird's Nests and Montiporas, you will need LOTS of white and actinic blue t5s (at LEAST 2 or 3 of each) or some potent LEDs, like Radions. They also need good flow!

Uncle99 · 02/22/2018, 01:02 PM

The higher end LED's are great, but come at a cost 4 times the CCB's
i was surprised how good the CCB's were, or at least all my corals thought so.
The radeons are fantastic, good intensity, correct spectrum, some real neat software to create fab effects.....my corals just want to eat the light so they did not care about the effects...

02/20/2018, 02:39 PM	#1
APEX_AIMZ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 18	Getting into corals looking into getting coral i have heard blue led lighting is the best what do you recommend and what foods do the like.

02/20/2018, 03:24 PM	#5
mitch91175 Premium Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 303	Pic of the tank. To get decent PAR readings 200-300 range had to bump the 4 Hydras to 100%. They are mounted about 12" from water line. Noticed when I cranked up my lighting to 100% my RBTA have opened the largest I have seen them in my tank. Actually all of my nems reacted favorably to the increased light. So adding the T5 fixture has me thinking more light better; specially when I add in more SPS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by mitch91175; 02/20/2018 at 03:29 PM.

02/20/2018, 03:07 PM	#2
mitch91175 Premium Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 303	I know from reading that people cast feed with Rod's complete reef. I would definitely suggest check out the SPS, LPS keepers forum here to get a better idea. So many variables to this stuff it can be overwhelming if you let it. I am going with 4 Hydra52 and 4 T5 bulbs (2 - ATI Coral Plus, 1 ATI True Actinic, 1 ATI Blue Plus) using the Aquatic Life T5HO 61" fixture. Hope it all works out well. Also, T5 has been through it test of time and works as well as Metal Halides (MH). LED is the new kid on the block and has growth capabilities as well. Your lighting is going to depend on the types of corals you want to keep. If you want to keep SPS and have good air circulation to keep the temps down, then I honestly think 9 out of 10 would say MH. If water temps is an issue, then LED and/or T5 should work. Combination even better. There are plenty of smarter people in the SPS and LPS forums that I mentioned above. All different types of setups with success. So it ultimately comes down to your budget and what you want to keep successfully.

02/21/2018, 09:47 AM	#7
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I use VISPARSPECTRA 165w LED, cheap at 160 Canadian Amazon delivered, each covers a max area of 24x24x24, two channel, with timer, hanging kit....but no fancy software....which I do not need.....softies and LPS do exceptional well, even supporting my clams and a few SPS....

02/22/2018, 01:02 PM	#9
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	The higher end LED's are great, but come at a cost 4 times the CCB's i was surprised how good the CCB's were, or at least all my corals thought so. The radeons are fantastic, good intensity, correct spectrum, some real neat software to create fab effects.....my corals just want to eat the light so they did not care about the effects...