Help with my 75g reef aquascape

[AcuraCl1]

I have my 75g tank setup. I just rearranged my aquascape and added a bunch of coral and a clam. I would like your thoughts on the setup and where you would put some of the corals. Right now, I am running pc lights. I'm working on putting T5 lights in there, just trying to find the best deal on them. Here are the pics.

Thanks
Scott

 

[AcuraCl1]

I also want to thank Brian, Carl, Norman, and Wayne from MTRC for all their help with the coral. I couldn't have done it without them. They are great people.

 

[DawgDiggity]

Looks good. What lights are you using?

 

[AcuraCl1]

Right now, I am using compact lights. But plan on upgrading to T5s hopefully in a week.

 

[DMBillies]

Looks pretty good. Plenty of swimming space by pulling the rock off of the back glass. Less room for corals though As you add more coral, that might be more of a concern, but that all depends on your goals for the tank and your own preferences.

You definitely won't regret moving to something with more light (I am, of course, a big proponent of T5's, especially with increases in electric costs). A lot of the softies and LPS don't "require" a huge amount of light, but in my experience they do better too (within reason, you don't want to torch them).

 

[AcuraCl1]

Thanks. I will probably add a little more rock.

 

[james3370]

looks good....i like large rocks w/ overhangs & caves

as far as lighting, before i decided to do a retrofit kit in the canopy i am building, i was looking at the Nova Extreme T5 or the Sundial t5 & petmountain.com had the best price & super-cheap shipping

 

[AcuraCl1]

Thanks, I am really looking at doing the retrofit with my canopy also.

 

[sandalscout]

I LOVE my Nova Extreme, and I bought it from PetMountain. It takes about 5 days to get it in, and I did have 2 broken bulbs, but they sent me 2 new ones, and it's been awesome every since. I have a 4x54w over one of my 55s and have plenty of light for anything. My 90 currently has 6 T5s, but I am adding 2 more.

Nice aquascape as well, I'm building out my new 90 right now, will keep this handy for ideas!

 

[DMBillies]

I'd say the #1 thing to consider when you're buying a T5 fixture is to make sure it has individual reflectors. Some cheaper fixtures don't (I'm about 99% sure the new Nova Extremes do but the old ones didn't... in any case verify if you are buying a fixture).

Looks like you are doing retros... in which case no worries.

I'll also go on my typical lighting "semi-rant" and say that whatever lighting option you choose, make sure you can get the lights close to the water (while still being safe). This makes a HUGE difference in the amount of light penetrating the tank (at 10" off of the water surface my PAR was cut in half when compared with 4" with the meter about half way up the tank).

Anyone that's seen my hinged lighting system built inside of a canopy originally intended for halides, will know that I practice what I preach.