Opinions on this lighting for a 120 mixed reef.

[FrankB1]

This will be my first reef so any advice is welcomed.

Two 250W 6500K Iwasaki
Two URI Aquasun 110W VHO
Two URI Super Actinic R 110W VHO

VHO driven by IceCap 660 Electronic ballast with dimmer mod
MH by IceCap 250-MH Electronic ballast

 

[Reef Guy11]

Hi are the 250 screw in socket if so why not just go with 20k and run that with the 110 watt VHO antic 03 that would be the the best way or 10k with the VHO Antic 03 you'll get good lighting from that you don't need hole lot of lighting. I have 2x 250 watt HQI 10k running on my tank and everything grows like there's no tomorrow so don't over kill on the lights okay.

 

[liquid]

Sounds good for a 120. Stick w/ the 250 watt Iwasaki 6500 K bulbs to maximize your PAR on a morgul socket. The higher kelvin bulbs do look nice, but the higher kelvin bulb comes at a price of changing them more often. The higher the kelvin rating of a bulb, the quicker you're going to have to change it out as their PAR drops at a much faster rate than the lower color temp bulbs. The 6500 K bulbs should last 12-18 months easy, whereas the 10,000K's last maybe 9 months or so before their PAR is reduced to the point that they should be replaced.

FWIW, you may want to make all of your VHO's actinic as I really don't think you're going to see much color from the Aquasun's.

Shane

 

[Tcook]

I would make all four of your VHO bulbs super actinics. I run four super actinics and two 250 watt Iwasakis on MV ballasts on my 120. You can still see a hint of yellow.