Do you like your SPS med. rare or well done?

[coralfarmin]

mike
non the less you can lower a 1000 watt bulb gradualy and extend the useful life of it quite a bit..a 1000 watt bulb covers a 300 gal rubbermaid well imo even if it is 12" from the surface but you can start at 3ft or even higher, my current project consists of 300 gal rubbermaids,it would take alot of wires hangin above from lower wattage bulbs to do the same thing 1 single wire to a 1000 watter does imo
I dont really keep up with all the lectures and stuff as much as I probably should
Dr. mac was the first I read to note the useful life was shorter on the 20k 400's he used..this was a very long time ago,though I dont know exactly when since I never figured it would have any significance till now
The only reason I even know who dana is ,because he did a write up on the 150 50k Iwasaki,other than that heck,all I care about is what ballasts run what bulbs and whats new to the market
Its common knowledge to most what works and what dont,thats all that matters imo..most of the numbers graphs and charts are over mine and alot of others head anyway imo

 

[Kalkbreath]

My question was whats the best type of lighting for coral growers to use?

Sunlight green house...........................................If you like brown corals

Power compacts .........if you want to match what the hobbyist is likely to use

Ocean grown out on the reef..................................up until now 90% came from there.

Lagoon grown Aqua......... less pristine water then the reef crest, little deeper water........less light then the reef crest

High intensity lamps ...............like the majority of online SPS vendors use.

Or a mixture of the five......... Seem like its easy for people to bash one or the other set up ......
But seems few contributors have the guts to express what they think is best?

 

[treeman]

I would have to say IMO that they all work. It is all give and take. I don't know if anybody could tell you what is the "best".

The best for growth?

The best for color?

The best for cost to run?

The best for cheapest to grow overall?

 

[coralfarmin]

the best for anti bio pirates

 

[treeman]

Does it matter if you grow the most colorful corals of all time under whatever kind of lighting, if when you sell them and they are put into a hobbiest's tank and they are/or turn brown?

 

[coralfarmin]

after all the drama around using 1000 watters for color I am cosidering putting 2 400 watt 20k xm's on a mover with electronic ballasts.on alternate 4x8x12" vat's I'll use for market, or even keep them 6 months under a 1000 watter 65k sunmaster and 6 months under the above mentioned for each season