MH or Powermodule or LED on 120g mixed reef

My last big purchase before my first reef is ready to be born is the lighting.
I am planning on having a mixed reef. The DT is 120g (4'x2'x2') acrylic with a (soon to be finished!) 40g sump.

This tank has a very shallow hood in which no light will really fit so I plan to have an open top (at least for now). I live in NorCal along the coast so it never gets very hot in the summer so I don't think heat will be too much of a concern (especially with an open top).

What lights should I get? I flip flop everyday between T5, MH, and LED.

I was thinking maybe a Powermodule fixture (either the 48" 8x54W or the 36" 10x39W).

Or maybe hanging 2 250W MH pendants supplemented with 2-4 T5 bulbs

And then I started reading about the AI LED fixtures and now I'm thinking about those as well (though these will end up costing about twice as much initially)

Help me make up my mind!!

Thanks!

 

I am a huge fan of LED technology, but unless you’re willing to spend a whole bunch of money on what is still experimental technology I would go with MH and supplement with t5’s – especially if you’re planning on SPS or the like.

 

I would personally get the powermodule, but i want you to get the LED's......

 

Go with the MH. I have T5s, like them, they perform well and you can grow what every you want under them, but IMO, MH really make your tank much more visually appealing,and they produce a much broader spectrum then an individual T5 bulb.

 

Metal Halide with VHO supplement.
If it will be exposed the powermodules look really nice.

 

I will be operating without a canopy.
There will be a 4 inch rim/lip on the top of the tank (from the shallow cannopy that I removed the top off of)

This is why I was drawn to clean looking units like the powermodule. But I am a sucker for that shimmer look and I dont think heat will be an issue here in NorCal so I am also drawn to MH.

Any suggestions on MH's? (reflectors, bulbs, ballasts, etc?)
I've read good things about Ice cap ballasts and lumenmax elite reflectors.

 

I'm probably going to go with Lumenbrights. They're designed to sit about 14-16 inches off the water so not as much heat reaches the tank. For me it will be Radium bulbs run on an M80 ballast....Probably aquamedic or PFO.
I just sold my icecap ballast and they are really nice if you want something that runs on eballast. If not going with a radium bulb I think I would opt for the lumatek 400W dimmable that has 250,275,400 and 400+ settings.
Lumenmax is certainly a quality reflector too.

 

Have you considered a fixture, such as the Maristar by Sunlight Supply? It has 2x250w MH and 2x54w T5 and you can choose what ballast you want.

 

GuitarMan,

I had looked at the fixtures but I was concerned about the MH being over the acrylic. I read that MH need to be over the holes in the acrylic tank and not directly over the acrylic. The spacing of the holes above my tank is a little goofy since I have a side overflow. If I buy a fixture, I can't change the location of the 2 MH to be over the top holes thus I was drawn towards MH pendants or a T5 fixture.

 

I would go with Halides with good reflectors. I have the Lumen Max Elites and they're killer dude. Phoenix 14 bulbs look great as well - doing LED supplement for actinics (ReefBrite).