150G SPS tank lit with T-5s?

[Covey]

Hello,
I am starting the process of setting up a 150G tank. It's 72"Lx24"Hx18"W. Well my last tank I used T-5s and perfer T-5HO over using MH. The tank is 24" deep and it will be SPS focused, mostily Acro. My question is has anyone had any luck lighting a 24" deep Acro tank?

I was planning maybe 6x80W T-5HO overdriven on IceCap ballasts. Maybe 8 bulbs.

 

[Covey]

Anyone, anyways I checked the IceCap forum and they will overdrive the 80W bulbs to 100W. So like 600W of T-5s.

Also the tank will be BB and overskimmed. The choice at least to me seems to me to be in between the t-5 set up and 400W MH setups. Want to keep the acro happy but I don't want to get into that 4hr photoperiod deal from the low nutrient systems.
Does any one have any input?

 

[icliao]

I do not think T5 can maintain the vivid color of acro.
You may be able to maintain some greenish specie but for red or purple you may not be able to maintain.
They may survive but you won't get optimal color.

 

[phatstanley02]

I disagree. There was a totm a few months back with T5s on a tall tank that had incredible sps throughout. I think its more husbandry than lighting. If you like t5s i would go with 8 running on icecap ballasts

 

[ReeferMonkey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6957121#post6957121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icliao
I do not think T5 can maintain the vivid color of acro.
You may be able to maintain some greenish specie but for red or purple you may not be able to maintain.
They may survive but you won't get optimal color.

Try looking at Danano's TOTM.

 

[icliao]

Dana's tank is only 20GL and 24" is quite deep.
If you use T5, you may not be able to maintain purple and red shade coral close to the bottom. It is possible to place it right below the lamp and within 15".

One of my tank is with similar size to yours and I am running 2X 250W 10,000K MH. My NO3 and PO4 are tested 0 with LaMotte test kits. I am running a 48" beckett skimmer and have a refugium full of macro algae of same dimention of the tank and is using phosban constantly. I feed my coral regulary and have very few fish in this tank. I am saying this because I found even with 250W 10KK metal halide I found same purple tip specie at the bottom not color up as well as those above it.

If you can successfully maintain purple and red shade in 24" deep with T5 for extended period of time, please let me know. I will be very interested to see.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6957271#post6957271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icliao
Dana's tank is only 20GL and 24" is quite deep.
If you use T5, you may not be able to maintain purple and red shade coral close to the bottom. It is possible to place it right below the lamp and within 15".

It might help if you knew what you were talking about. His old tank was a 30g, not a 20g and his current tank is a custom 110g that is 22" high lit by 8 54W T5s. I'm not going to leech images from RK Magazine but the pictures speak for themselves.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/totm/index.php

Covey,
I think you'll find the link very informative.

 

[h20cooled]

Yeah that tank is amazing some of the best color I have seen, if you want to see another big tank with T5 only lighting check out http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=700454

I think it is 24" tall is has great color and corals...

 

[wakefreak33]

That tank is awesome. I will say however that most of the corals are halfway up or higher in the tank

 

[Covey]

If I had to pick tanks for that Idol tank thread I think both of those are up there. Crazy thing is neither of those tanks run Icecap setups. You see a real 20% or more increase in light output from the Icecap over the other ballast. Having used T-5HO for 1.5 year now I am pretty comfortable in there ability. I seen the thread with the real par numbers and overdriven T-5HO can outpace most 250W MH rig even at the bottom of the tank.

That is the line I am seeing in my head the T-5 rig versus the 400W MH setup but like I said I would like to run my lights for more than 4 hrs a day I don't want to get caught up in that.

 

[icliao]

Well, I am merely offering suggestions based on my personal experience and research. I do not mean to offend anyone.

And the tank lit by T5 is really awesome I should say, but like I said if you want to place acropora on the bottom of the tank, perhaps MH is better choice.

I still feel more light + good husbandry is easier than less light + good husbandry.