Clams and T5s
- Thread starter Bret61081
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mikebeasley
New member
I could use some advice as well.I have a 90g tank 48" x 18" and 24" deep. I have 1 light set of 2 x 54w T-5 HO 10,000k and 2 actinics and I'm buying another light set coralife pc fixture 2 10,000k bulbs and 2 more actinics, effectivly making it an 8 bulb light system. Would that be ok to support clams and SPC's,etc? I figure if I have to I can place the clams up high on rock but anyone think they could thrive on sandbed?
This might prove to be a trial-and-error procedure!
You could firstly locate your clammies on the sandbed and observe their reaction. If they seem to retract, lose zooxanthellae or anything negative you could blame low-location and rise them gradually to higher positions on your LR!
This might prove to be a trial-and-error procedure!
You could firstly locate your clammies on the sandbed and observe their reaction. If they seem to retract, lose zooxanthellae or anything negative you could blame low-location and rise them gradually to higher positions on your LR!
Ive tried two so far...
1) (2) ATI Blue Plus and (2) ATI Aquablue Specials
Great combo, very bright, lots of PAR. It was very white... light light blue tint.
2) My current config is (1) ATI Aquablue Special, (2) ATI Blue Plus, and (1) UVL Super Actinic.
A little less PAR...still enough for the clams. Not quite as bright but pretty close. More blue tint than the first config... quite blue actually.
The Blue Plus is my favorite lamp. Love it. The UVL Super Actinic/ Blue Plus combo is great... that is what comes on first. Then a Aquablue special and a second Blue Plus come on.
HTH,
Jesse
critterkeeper
New member
Reefman23
I noticed you said your T5s are brighter and have higher PAR than your 150 MH. Can you post the actual numbers you have for each? What depth are you taking measurements>
Eric Borneman is the only person I know of that has actually used a light meter to measure the PAR of some T5 bulbs and he basically said the numbers were good near the bulb but dropped like a rock with depth and when measured anywhere other than directly under the bulb. Have you found otherwise?
I noticed you said your T5s are brighter and have higher PAR than your 150 MH. Can you post the actual numbers you have for each? What depth are you taking measurements>
Eric Borneman is the only person I know of that has actually used a light meter to measure the PAR of some T5 bulbs and he basically said the numbers were good near the bulb but dropped like a rock with depth and when measured anywhere other than directly under the bulb. Have you found otherwise?
I dont have any meaurements that I have personally taken, but I know that the PAR on the 14k lamp I was running wasnt very high. My tank is only 12" deep too so Im not worried too much about depth penetration although that has also been proven by The Grim Reefer here on this site to be just about the same as MH's. As far as brightness, that is more of a visual thing that I CAN vouch for... especially with the first combo I ran.
Jesse
Jesse
RokleM
Premium Member
You have it in reverse in my opinion. I have had a PAR meter on my system. More than likely that statement was made on a "all in one" hood and not on individual reflectors, which is how many people run them.
My 180 is lit by dual 400w HQI Radium or Hamilton 14k's on a BW7 with LumenMax2's. It is INCREDIBLY bright. With the weaker bulb (Hamilton 14k) it registers almost 800 par just below the water with the lights 13.5" above the water. The darkest spot in the tank (and I only have 2 MH covering a 2x6' area) is 150 PAR. That being said, the MH does drop quite a bit.
My 58 is lit by 4x 39w T5's, not overdriven. The PAR is right at 200 on the water, and 100 on the bottom. Visually, they appear as bright, but the PAR dropoff is less. I might try a clam under them at some point.
Everything is doing great in both of my tanks. I love them both. Not starting a T5 vs MH or vice-versa fight. Just sharing what I've seen personally.
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