Best energy efficient light for SPS

[fishfreak2009]

What is the best lighting for SPS corals? I really want to grow some in my tank, but I also don't want to have to add a chiller or have a $600 lighting bill. I currently have 4 96watt compact flourescents on the tank which I know isn't nearly enough. What should I replace them with? I am looking at the LED fixtures, but I can't find any info on them, and the ones I can find seem to get bad ratings and cost quite a bit. My budget is anything less than $350. I should also add that the tank is 30 inches deep.

What light do you guys suggest?

 

[Westie]

400w metal halide lighting cuz its 30 deep. You could do 250's and just keep them at the very top. Or double up on your current lighting if possible. It all sounds like $500 to me though.

 

[Kevin8888]

At your budget, all you can do is MH or T5 (T5 only if you put your SPS higher in the tank deepest around 15-20MAX). You cannot get LEDs for less then 1000$ a fixture even the DIY ones are around 6-800$.

 

[fishfreak2009]

I think that I'll just be staying with the lights I have for a while

. My dad said that we can build a stand for around $150 (my mom wants fancy trim, etc.) I only have $70 right now, and it's all going toward the stand/canopy. I guess new corals are just going to have to wait a while. Since we found out my stand is rotting (the company who set the tank up used hoses that were too short and they snapped, causing the stand to get soaked, as well as giving me a cheap particle board stand when I ordered a solid oak one...) the new stand is currently top priority, because I really don't want 187 gallons of saltwater, 250 lbs of LR, and the tank itself to come crashing to the floor!

 

[Kevin8888]

sounds to me like the company you got the stand from owes you a replacement.

 

[Heathd]

sounds to me like the company you got the stand from owes you a replacement.

Was probably built in Canada.

 

[fishfreak2009]

Unfortunately, the store I got it from went out of business about 2 years ago.