Lighting 24-30" deep

[Tek]

I am upgrading to a 120 or 150g tank. 28X24X24 or 48X24X30

I currently have 2 X 250w DE MH, but wanted to try out T5s. Will the 250's be sufficient to light 30" down. And are t5s able to reach that deep also using 4ft bulbs?

 

[papagimp]

I've got a 42g and 55g both of which are same depth, a 250w HQI over the 42 and 4 x 54w T5's on the 55g, to give ya an idea of depth penetration I'm seeing, my green button polyps in the 55g (on the sandbed) are nice and big, great coloration, and very short stalks, a fragged colony of the same polyps in the 42g (on the sandbed as well) are reaching with all they have for light, coloration is a tad off but still looks good. I definatly have to take care with the hieght on my T5 fixture as it tends to burn the corals when too close (I have to keep the fixture higher than I keep the MH fixture over the other tank). But my 250w is also a cheapy brand, may make a difference in intensity and all.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Yes and Yes. It's really going to be your personal preference here. I'ld go with T5's personally, but if you already have the MH, you might as well use them.

 

[cmc0814]

I have 120 (4x2x2) and I'm putting my 6 bulb Tek T5 fixture on it. I'll let you know how it looks.

-Chris

 

[Tek]

I have heard lots about the T5s and seeing them in person really showed me how bright they were. With the T5s I can mix bulbs unlike having to settle with 14K bulbls on the MH.

 

[happysak]

I had 7 t5 on ice cap reflectors and ice cap ballast over my 120 gal. Now I'm back to MH and colors of corals are great

 

[Tek]

The corals did not like it? Was it to much light?

 

[happysak]

No, I didn't like it, I missed the shimmer. I put brand new MH bulbs
and I have some bleaching, but otherwise corals look great.

 

[jkhudson]

I have 2 250w MH and 4 t5's over my tank. I replaced 4 96w PC's with the t5's and the light is so much better.

 

[SoonerReefer]

I have a Tek 8 bulb over my 75 and SPS grow like mad,but im going to switch over to the Solar Flare set-up later this fall,so far im happy with the T-5s,but the shimmer on the halides are sweet.I think T-5s will work great even to a 30in depth...

Donny
OMAS

 

[TulsaReefer]

Cichlid67, what mix of tubes are you using on your 8 light fixture? I meant to ask you a while back and forgot. I think that's one advantage that everyone seems to agree on with the T5's is that you can really mix up the tubes to get exactly what you want in light, both for growth and viewing pleasure. I'm hoping to switch over myself this fall from my ancient VHOs, but am now waiting until the current tubes I have are up for replacement before dumping them.

 

[Tek]

How far away from the water line should the T5's be mounted? I plan on going with 4 T5s (maybe 6?) and am debating on mounting with legs or from the ceiling.

 

[mskohl]

I have mine just a few inches off the water. Enough that I can reach in with my arm. I have six bulbs, but I may add another two in the future. So far, I have no trouble with light getting to the bottom for zoas, leathers, and lps.

 

[zxanth]

tek,

I would personally go with the MH. The shimmer and the colors that it brings are so much more different than the T5. I am using the one that I bought from you and using it over a 40 gallon. I moved the corals that I had the T5's into the MH just to see the difference and that's where they stayed. Most of my friends have commented that the MH looks crisper and more colorful and the shimmer is awesome.

 

[jpitts101]

T-5's all the way!! I have 12 on my 180 with corals all over the bottom including a clam ( thats the only place in my tank where he was happy ). The only thing you may miss from the halide is the shimmer effect but you will not need a chiller with them and you can mix and match the colors. one side of my tank is bluer than the other. Wet pets has a 150 ( i think ) with all T-5's and all the corals in there are great also. they also keep clams on the sand bed.

 

[Tek]

I love the MHs, but my house gets very hot in the summer. I just like the lower heat levels and less evaporation. Missing colors is also a big plus for me.

 

[happysak]

I run MH over my tank without a chiller and I know a lot of people who runs MH without a chiller, so to say if you have MH lighting, you will need a chiller is a little bit overstated

 

[jpitts101]

tek, go to a Lfs that has both on a tank and look at the same coral under both lights and you decide. I do alot of my shoping at wet pets in norman, they have a frag tank where one side has halides and the other t-5's. you can move the coral back and forth to each side and see what you like better. Im not takeing anything away from halides, i've had them but i really think the T-5's have added alot of color to my tank. just my 2 cents.

 

[pwhitby]

I just swapped all my MH for T5s.

This is what I have now:

and the tank is 30 inches deep.

Its not just lights tho that make the color. It depends very much on water quality as well.

P.

 

[Tek]

The MH setup I have been using for years was lacking extra actinic. I was at a 14K-15K bulb and it lacked the glow that VHO or T5s added without going to a 20K bulb.

My tank is fine without a chiller, but the lights make the front of my house a lot warmer.

The T5s are on the way and should give me something new to toy with.