Anyone here running 4x55w T5s on a 55g?
- Thread starter JeffReef
- Start date
Jeff,
I used to have (4) 55w T5 with individual reflectors over my 55g. Everything was growing great in that tank. I think T5's are great. The only disadvantage in my opinion is that you don't get the shimmers that you get in MH. But there are other great benefits including less heat.
Minh
I used to have (4) 55w T5 with individual reflectors over my 55g. Everything was growing great in that tank. I think T5's are great. The only disadvantage in my opinion is that you don't get the shimmers that you get in MH. But there are other great benefits including less heat.
Minh
Twisted
Premium Member
Sorry, not a member, but from R.A.R.E. up north, just scanning your for sale stuffs, and saw this post, thought I could chime in.
I am running the tek 6X54w T5 fixture on my 55 gallon. As far as lighting I have never had a problem with anything, other then that the 6X54w fixture is actually a bit wider then my 55 gallon.
I think a 4X54w would be awesome on a 55 gallon.
I am hopefully going to set up a 48 inch 120 gallon tank in the near future, and then I can move my 6X54 to it, and put a 4X54 on my 55 gallon.
T5's don't offer the shimmer effect that metal halides do. But from what I have experienced in the couple months I have had mine is a little boost in most soft coral and LPS growth, I am in the middle of attempting SPS and having bad luck, but I think it is my water params, not the lights by any means, my Bali slimer probablly grew a 1/4 inch in the two months I had it, then it got knocked into the sand, and I didn't noticed it for a couple days...
So there is my story of my T5s. I got my fixture from Reefgeek.com and the guy that runs that was great about helping me with the choices in lights in it, because there are a lot of choices for bulbs.
I am running the tek 6X54w T5 fixture on my 55 gallon. As far as lighting I have never had a problem with anything, other then that the 6X54w fixture is actually a bit wider then my 55 gallon.
I think a 4X54w would be awesome on a 55 gallon.
I am hopefully going to set up a 48 inch 120 gallon tank in the near future, and then I can move my 6X54 to it, and put a 4X54 on my 55 gallon.
T5's don't offer the shimmer effect that metal halides do. But from what I have experienced in the couple months I have had mine is a little boost in most soft coral and LPS growth, I am in the middle of attempting SPS and having bad luck, but I think it is my water params, not the lights by any means, my Bali slimer probablly grew a 1/4 inch in the two months I had it, then it got knocked into the sand, and I didn't noticed it for a couple days...
So there is my story of my T5s. I got my fixture from Reefgeek.com and the guy that runs that was great about helping me with the choices in lights in it, because there are a lot of choices for bulbs.
Justin74
New member
You wouldnt kill everything, although 4 over a 12" deep tank is VERY bright if individual reflectors are used, otherwise it'd be like using HO PC's if you using them in those single reflector fixtures. But going from 2 to 4 expect to shock quite a few of your corals if you dont acclimate them to the light though, that combined with poor husbandry or water quality, then ya, things could die I guess. But assuming everythings stable a sheet of plexiglass, window screen, or egg crate would suffice for a week or so.
Wouldnt your tank be 18" high though? If it's the standard demensions, people are having excellent results housing mixed reefs with a 4x54w combo
-Justin
Wouldnt your tank be 18" high though? If it's the standard demensions, people are having excellent results housing mixed reefs with a 4x54w combo
-Justin
Justin74
New member
As far as room above the tank goes, youd be more inclined to fit the T5's next to 150 DE's than you'd be able to fit 175 SE's due to the size of the reflectors for the MH. If you went with 10k MH, seriously consider trying the UVL superactinic, or Geismann's true actinic bulbs, or even better both of these two. Sometimes the combination of certain 10k's and T5 blue, or blue plus bulbs give almost a green tint over the tank visually when paird against a 10k(moreso the bulbs that look yellowish), while the closer to the actinic spectrum seems to overcome this.
Allthough, Ive noticed some reflectors that are coming out that are pretty narrow for MH SE bulbs, a slight disadvantage to the efficiency of reflection, but advantageous for narrower tanks and especially for pairing with supplementation. I saw them at the CRS but they were attached to a "retro fixture" by Hamilton I believe. I think one of our locals here just recently picked one up as well. As it stand for me and my 30g I just picked up a tek reflector to supplement my 30 but with the PFO reflector Im using Im lucky to squeeze just one. And this is just me assuming what your using, to looking back. Quite a few reefs were going for a long time with just flat pannel reflectors, where you could cram more bulbs closer. So basically depending on the bulbs and there relative reflectors you decide to use along with your current equipment.
If you just browse through the various lighting etailers just jot down the dimensions and Im sure you can come up with something that works with your particular setup, as every tank has there own obsticles to account for, especially physical ones(like both of mine!). The possibilities are crazy and I wish I could try them all!
best of luck guys. Hope both of you update this thread with some tank and light shots. I always appreciate seeing the fruits of discussion 
-Justin
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