Design my lights for me please

[izzie]

Im getting rid of my MH lights and going to T5 due to heat issues and the cost of new bulbs for MH and the fact they only last 6 or so months. I have a 55g with SPS clams and LPS. How much lighting am i going to need and what temps of lamps will i need. Kelvins and Watts please. I have 54W t5ho avalable to me so let me know how many of them. Thanks.
Izzie

 

[kodyboy]

If you need a hood get the five T5 54 watt aquactinics hood. Excellent, low heat great reflectors, works! I use three daylights, an actinic + and a super actinic combination.

You want at least 4 54 watt bulbs (5-6 is better, I do not think any more would fit with decent reflectors) and I would go with a two daylight to one superactinic to one actinic + ratio (good color and PAR).

Good reflectors are vitally imporant, icecap makes nice ones as does sunlight supply and aquactinic(don't know if they sell these individually or not).

 

[dwdenny]

Probably get away with 4X54w with good refelctors like the Icecap ones. If you want more you could do 6 and if it is too much remove two lamps. I like a little more blue in my tanks so I like 2 aquablues and 2 blue plus lamps for a 4 lamp or for 6 lamp maybe 1 GE 3 blue plus and 2 blue plus lamps. That would have tons of PAR for the SPS. HTH

 

[atvdave]

I'd vote for the aquactinics. I have there 72" fixture on my 125 and think there great.

My corals have x2 in size in 6 months.