Lighting for corals...

[lietz06]

...so I've been looking into getting new lighting for our 200 gallon tank. I would like to put my toe in the water with corals. I was wondering what kind of lighting you recommend. Well I know that MH lights are the best...but man are they expensive for my size tank! I need a 72" light..my tank is actually longer...but obviously they don't make bigger lights so I'll just hang it from the ceiling. If I bought T-5 lights what would they hold me back from? any thoughts on Current Nova Extreme Pro Saltwater T-5 Fixtures? It says the 72" puts out 468 watts of light, which is about twice as much as I have with my pc's I have now. Or do you know of any relatively inexpensive MH lighting? Or any testimonials on the lightins you guys have? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[uneverno]

There is some debate w/ regard to T5's vs MH. SPS definitely need high intensity lighting. That can be achieved w/ T5's, depending on how deep the tank is and/or where the corals are placed.
If you're not planning on keeping SPS, then T5's should do the trick nicely. If you are, and it's a deep tank, then I'd go with a T5/MH combo.

 

[nycbob]

nova is a decent fixture. t5 r fine with tank depth of 24 inches. even if ur tank is deeper, its ok since u can place sps and clams higher up in the rockwork. i hv seen many t5 over sps tanks.

 

[lietz06]

What about soft corals, lps, zoanthids/polyps with t-5? Can anyone explain to me what the difference is between lps, sps, & soft corals?

 

[uneverno]

Google this: coral primer Soft LPS SPS.
Many links cannot be posted as it would be a violation of the TOS to do so.