the best frag tank lighting

[dabo]

i have a mm led and it has issues . so , i am trying to gather information on the different types of lighting that yield the best growth . i want to know which lighting the majority of people prefer. and if you have any input as to why you pick that one over one of the others please share .

and please while reading this dont for get the poll . so i can see how things stack up against each other .



thanks , Eric

 

[dawgface]

Best growth = MH hands down.
For efficiency = T-5, overdriven.

 

[snowmansnow]

I agree w the above, although I think a good t5 fixture would be a VERY close 2nd

 

[cj22009]

What about a t5 mh combo?

 

[dabo]

i was told the exact same thing earlier today , but i just got to try to find out more before i spend my money .

thanks

 

[dawgface]

SnowManSnow;793568 wrote: I agree w the above, although I think a good t5 fixture would be a VERY close 2nd

Yup.

Considering that and taking energy and cost in additional equipment (chiller) T-5's are probably your best bet if your not already running metal halides.

Edit:

cj22009;793570 wrote: What about a t5 mh combo?

People generally run above to supplement what they don't get out of the other. If growth is the only interest (point of a frag tank) then one of the other is more than sufficent. Provided your running the right bulbs.

 

[containerman1]

I use a 24 in aqua life T5. 4bulb ( 2 ATI blue plus and 2 10 K) with a 50 watt eshine led supplement and seems to be great for Zoas
This is on a 20 gallon tall tank

 

[ripped tide]

I have halide/t5 over the DT, and a halide over my frag tank.


I bet plasmas would have the best growth, but the color would likely need to be supplemented.

 

[thanh386]

Where can u even get a plasma set up?

 

[ripped tide]

Sfiligoi makes a plasma/t5 combo.

 

[mustangcaleb]

there was a plasma setup or 2 for sale on rc last time i was visited.

dabo, i say u grab that 250w setup that purplegorilla has for $100. youre not gonna beat that for a frag tank

 

[acroholic]

I would use the same type lighting as you have over your display tank. That way, you can move frags between the two systems at will and not worry about acclimation.

 

[dabo]

so looks like i am going to go with 250 watt metal halides with a mogul base
phoenix 14k bulb and i think it looks good enough for my display tank to me and you still get the shimmer :yes:

 

[ichthyoid]

I have a cheap 120W LED (not the MM one's), I supplement with T-5. It works.

I also have MH-250's, but don't want to run the chiller. I would supplement the MH if used with T-5 as well.

 

[mc524]

I've had my Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED strips for about 6 months or so, and they are doing quite well on my Zoas.
I have 2 50/50's 10k whites/blue's, and one full blue's. Plan to get 2 full 10k's when I get my next tank together.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[dabo]

has any one used the kessil led pendants
150 watt 15 k before ?

 

[mustangcaleb]

dabo;794268 wrote: has any one used the kessil led pendants
150 watt 15 k before ?

optimum has one on their 30g cube in the back. it had a 150w pendant over it forever but i noticed the kessil last visit. tank looks good, but i havent been back in a little bit to see how its going

 

[picoreefguy]

id go with natural lighting like solotubes for a frag tank it seems like that would be the best and, in the long term, the least expensive. but i guess youd have to supplement with t5s or something durring winter when the days are short.

Edit: if the spot for the frag tank permits of course

 

[dabo]

ok so am going to use 2 MH 250 watts each 14 k with icecap ballast and 2 VHO 110 watts each actinic with 2 blue line ballast on my display tank .

and just 1 mh 250 watts on my frag tank .

i cant wait , its going to be sweet :yes:

i also , just found a tank that i like and will be upgrading from a
55 gallon standard tank
30 gallon cube
14 gallon bio cube
8 gallon bio cube

to a 150 gallon 48 x 24 x 30 and will finally get to do a build thread , :yay:

 

[dabo]

MustangCaleb;794326 wrote: optimum has one on their 30g cube in the back. it had a 150w pendant over it forever but i noticed the kessil last visit. tank looks good, but i havent been back in a little bit to see how its going

i went down there and it is still over the cube in the back , on the counter top .

but i did not like it . seems weak and i like a little more blue than that .