Enough Light?

[ReeferMO85]

I want to get a RBTA and was wondering if I have enough lighting. I have a 24" NOVA HO T-5 fixture with 4 tubes producing 24 watts each, with a total of 96 watts. 2x24w T-5 Slimpaq 10,000k and 2x24w T-5 Slimpaq 460nm Actinic.

All this over a 29 gal. tank. Is this enough for an RBTA? Can changing the bulbs help? Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[ReeferMO85]

Should I get bulbs with a deffernt Kelvin rating? Seriously, any help would be great.

 

[dantodd]

I don't know much about T5s. I suspect if you put all daylight or 10000k bulbs you'd probably be ok is you have individual reflectors. There are some folks here who have much more experience with T5s who I am sure will chime in.

 

[ReeferMO85]

I hope, I want to give my clowns something to host really bad

 

[rw24]

Metal Halides would be the best for a RBTA to really do good. IMO I think your lighting would probably be a little too low for a RBTA to do well. Some more experienced people may think otherwise and I would like to here their opinion.

 

[ReeferMO85]

So would I

 

[Wryknow]

I have T5s on my tank and my RBTA is doing great. I do have the parabolic SLR s and ICECAP ballasts though so my T5s are producing more light than your 4 bulb Nova set-up will.

If I were you, I would change out the 2 actinic bulbs with GE daylight 6.5K bulbs, make sure that there is a nice rock out-cropping near the top of the water (directly under the bulbs,) and give it a try. My logic being that the GE bulbs produce a TON of PAR value relative to actinic bulbs. There are 2 potential concerns with this:

1) Your aquarium light will be more yellow than it currently is. The 6.5K bulbs produce much more useful light (PAR) because they are at the lower end of the visible light spectrum. This may or may npot be a problem for you. Some folks like their tank to look blue and don't like the way 6.5K bulbs look. Others like the 6.5K bulbs just fine and prefer them because of the higher light output.

2) Monitor the BTA carefully. If it starts to lose color while it is in your care then you may have to upgrade your lighting. You will need to be prepared for this contingency financially.

 

[ReeferMO85]

Ya, the financial thing is going to be a problem. I'm a poor, poor, dirt poor college kid. I think I'm going to get out of the hobby for awhile, even though I love it. The timing is just not right.

Thanks everyone for all your help!