Corals: LPS/SPS - Lighting & Cohabitation

[Danroth]

So I've been reading up today on corals, after a trip to a wonderful LFS store, and planning out my tank after a conversation with a couple of their employees.

I'd decided on the Echotech Radions mostly for my lighting for a lot of reasons - it was nice to see one of them in action, even if it was only a frag display and not an actual tank. In talking to one of their employees, and discussing I'd intended to keep both SPS & LPS in the same tank, he mentioned he'd had the Radions in his own tank and had them for awhile & he couldn't find a 'happy medium'.

Either the SPS would be brilliant, and the LPS dull, or vice-versa, he couldn't get both of them to be their vibrant 'popping' colors. I am wondering if this is typical of all mixed-reef tanks, including those that use Halides (since Radions are pretty comparable in PAR and brightness to Halides from everything I've seen/read), and if any mixed-reef keepers could help me out here.

I do understand that SPS/LPS have different requirements from flow & lighting and it takes careful preparation to keep both in the same tank but it's certainly possible. And it seems 'softies' are pretty much incompatible with LPS/SPS from all the caretaking articles with some people keeping them together with success, but not many.

Still, I want to make sure I'm making the right choices for lighting. And for what I'm planning for my tank, so I don't run into many incompatibility issues or purchase incorrect equipment. Perhaps I'm being overcautious or over thinking the issues, but I'd like to hear what other people's experiences or conditions are, as it'd be a help.

Thanks.

[ReeferAL]

As Im sure you know Ive been using the radions for a little while now and Ive got a mix of LPS and SPS in my tank. The biggest problem Ive had is trying to find spots for my LPS as some of them arnt to happy with the amount of light the radions can put out. I seem to have found a happy medium with the lights tho I only have them up to about 70% max power at the peak of the photo period. Ive said it a few times but dont compare par lvls between halides/T5 and LEDs even tho the par can be the same LEDs seem to work, at least for me, better at a lower par than their halide/T5 counterparts.

Ive got some of my LPS like the trumpet and candycanes that seem to do well in the open under the lights others like my wellsi's and acans like a bit more shaded spot to keep their color.

even at 70% power ive got some nice birdsnest colonies on my sand bed that have been coloring up nicely since I picked them up from my LFS.

Its really a matter of finding the right spots for the corals and not over doing it with you light. If you bump the lights up to 100% right off the bat then you'll lose the color.

Anyway hope that help. If your ever in my area stop by you can take a look at my tank. Not the best in the world but you can get a look at the lights over an actual tank and not just a frag tank

Alex

[Danroth]

Appreciate that, I might take you up on that one of these upcoming weekends - Waterford isn't too far away from where I'm at, especially before I sink that kind of cash into lighting. And from what I've seen from pictures, and reading, nobody think their tank is the 'best' tank, or they wouldn't keep adding stuff, or changing it around.

Yeah, I've seen the PAR ratings from a test that Mrsaltwater did when moving from his MH's in his SPS tank to the Radions, and how different they were. So I'm aware there's a difference. My only goal is to make sure I make the right choices, so my tank can be the best I can make it.

Looks like, though, that I will likely be avoiding most of the soft corals, though there do appear to be a few that can mix with SPS/LPS okay without the chemical warfare.

So much research, and sometimes I feel so lost in it all. I know it's just a learning curve, and experience curve, but in the meantime I appreciate the help.