Enough Lite for an Anemone

[Bmgrocks]

Running a Coralife T-5 Aqualight

1 18 watt 10,000k
1 18 watt Actinic
29 gallon Tank

Is that enough Light for an Anemone?

If not I have a spare light strip with 2 55 watt, bulbs, 1 10,000k and 1 actinic, but its 24" instead of 30"

Would 36 watts be enough

or would i be best of combining the two fixtures, 146watts?

 

[saltycreefer]

Go with both lights if you can, and try a BTA.

 

[Mariner]

I'm no expert, but IMO you'd be boderline even with both lights and a BTA. A 29g is fairly deep for a tank with so little volume, and that's working against you too. Of course, the BTA could move up higher toward the light on its own if the rock were stacked high...just a thought.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[Bmgrocks]

yeah, my rock is to the top with 3" clearing space.

 

[Bmgrocks]

btw the 2 55 watt system is power compact..

 

[55semireef]

Does your T5 light have individual reflectors for each bulb? If yes, then you have enough light.

 

[salty3]

simireefer how is 36 watts on a 29 gallon enough? I thought they needed alot more.

 

[redvipe2010]

T-5 lighting is different than PC or MH, I'm not all that familiar with it, so can't say for sure if what you have would be ok for an anemone. I am considering T-5 for a future anemone tank and have been looking into it. T-5 lights are a much lower wattage bulb compared to PC or MH. You need less wattage when using T-5.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8958467#post8958467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salty3
simireefer how is 36 watts on a 29 gallon enough? I thought they needed alot more.

Any fixture that does NOT use individual reflectors the difference between an optomized unit with good reflectors and without, is night and day. T5 fixtures that do not have individual reflectors compared to the Tek T5 fixture that has individual reflectors...well there is a big difference. Each bulb puts out 300% more light with an individual reflector than without.

salty3, say a 4x54 watt Tek T5 fixture is over a 55 gallon tank. And then you compare that with a 250 watt MH lamp. In most cases the tek t5 fixture puts out more par than the MH unit because its more intense. Remember, its not about watts per gallon, but about par. Par is the measurement of intensity. A 36 watt T5 fixture that has individual reflectors can easily support BTAs, soft corals, lps and even some sps. The sps would have to be at the top of the tank though. BUT, if this 36 watt T5 fixture has no individual reflectors, you can basically only keep BTAs, and soft corals really.

 

[Slakker]

But, if i'm not mistaken, individual reflectors can be bought for T-5 bulbs for really not that much cash, right?

 

[GSMguy]

yes

 

[salty3]

Thanks for the explaintion semireef I didnt know that about t-5's.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8959857#post8959857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salty3
Thanks for the explaintion semireef I didnt know that about t-5's.

I don't know that much about them either. You should really listen to the Grim Reefer talk about lighting. Boy, he knows his stuff.