Considering adding a BTA

[lcs]

I have a 56g w/20g sump that has been set up for 3.5 years now and I'm considering adding a BTA. My biggest concern is my lighting setup. I have 4 t5s with 96 total watts. Is that enough? The top of my rock stack is about 18" from the lights.

 

[cet98]

what's the dimensions of your tank?
what type of T5 fixture are you running and what bulbs?
how is your water quality?

 

[lcs]

The tank is 30"Wx18"Dx24"H. The fixture is a Current that was available a couple of years ago and for bulbs I have a GE 6500K, Geismann Actinic+, ATI Coral Plus, ATI Aquablue special. I think that's the order I have them in anyway, I'm at work at the moment.

My water quality isn't perfect, but it's not bad. I do have some PO4 as evidenced by hair algea and some cyano and my NO3 is 5 or 10ppm, which I am in the process of bringing down before I add anything.

Temp 80
SG 1.026
pH 8.0
alk 8.9

 

[cet98]

verify your water parameters before anything...get them right and maintain them.

as for the lighting, IMO I think the 4 lamp fixture may barely be sufficient with a 24" deep tank.
if you could upgrade to a 6 lamp fixture like an ATI or TEK I think you would be in much better shape...
FWIW I would also recommend replacing one of those white lamps with a Blue+...
the Coral+ and ABS are almost identical lamps

 

[lcs]

the Coral+ and ABS are almost identical lamps

Yeah, I realized that after I installed one of them; definately more white than I would like.

Thanks for the fixture recommendation. Assuming the 'nem stayed at the top of the rocks (hah!) would the 54watts then be enough?

 

[cet98]

you mean 96 watts right? :lol:
like I said, I'm not positive but it may be if it finds a happy place up top.
if there's a way for you to use a PAR meter and check your PAR values, that would help in determining so.

 

[lcs]

you mean 96 watts right?

Heh. Yeah. Not so much with the arithmetic skills.

Thanks so much for your help. I think it's just decision time.

 

[cet98]

no problem...good luck

one last question though........Jets, Giants or Bills? :lol:

 

[lcs]

I have to say Giants if only in support of my brother-in-law, I can't stand the Bills, and actually I used to be a Redskins fan. As in back before there were free agents. *sigh* The good ol' days!

 

[cet98]

good answer!!!!!......

oh the good 'ole days......:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: