best lighting for sps

[Drake1]

what would the best lighting be for a sps tank? i wasthinkging of 10,000K halide with atinics or should i just use a 20,000K halide?
thanks jeff

[reefturkey]

you will get the best growth with the 10k as opposed to the 20k. The 20k however will give you better colors. I personally prefer the 20k

[FunkieReefJunkie]

I'm assuming your 125 gallon is long not high. So you could have two 250WT MH, one 10K and one 20K with supplemental actinic. Generalizations due to observation are: Your real blue (Oregon tort for example) to dark purple and green flourescing corals will look sweet under the 20K side. The bright pinks (pocillapora for example), mid purples and yellows will look better under the 10K side. People often go chasing the elusive holy grail of lighting because generally speaking e-tailors selling frags do so under 400 watt 20K's. They are able to get both growth and color with this scenario. The vast majority of hobbyist are using 250 watters. Therein lies the rub.

[Drake1]

i am planning on using this lighting over a frag tank that most people will not see so i am looking for growth out of the corals not so much color.
thanks jeff

[FunkieReefJunkie]

Hmmm. Well if your going for growth and still are thinking of pairing them with supplemental actinic's the par on the Iwasaki can't be beat. Enough actinic lighting would mellow out the yellow character of that bulb. Some people just can't stand it though. So if that's the case for you then you're right back to the 10K which would be the best of both worlds. You could forgo the cost of the actinic altogether. This package would get you the most bang for your buck. http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc_retro.htm
I'm actually jonseing for the Lumenarc reflector that comes with that retro kit package.

[reef / aholic]

Iwasaki 65k or XM 10k