Lighting 29" deep reef tank

[ebayes11]

Regarding deep tanks (29" in my case), what is the most effective (in the power, economic, and spatial senses) way to adequately light a reef tank? I would like to keep sps near the top of the aquarium, and clams on the sand bed, and some lps in between. I know that metal halide or T5 are the way to go, but I have read some conflicting info about the T5s and whether they would be effective as a stand alone lighting method.

Currently, my thinking is two 250 watt metal halides with 2-4 T5 actinic supplementation. If I went entirely T5, wouldn't I need 8 bulbs over-powered by IceCap ballasts?

Also, would there be a noticeable heat difference between the MH/T5 combo and T5 routes?

Thanks,

 

[rodd1rj]

I have a 31" deep tank right now with 6 T-5 bulbs with individual reflectors on them. It seems to do the job with everything I've needed.

 

[ebayes11]

what kind of livestock do you keep in it?

By the way, my tank is 48" long and 24" wide (140 gal)

 

[ebayes11]

Would 4 T5s run on a ballast other than IceCap be sufficient to provide actinic support for the MH in the tank?

 

[GSMguy]

dude t5 unit would allow you to keep any and all but there is no 30inch model only a 24inch that would be ok if you had it hanging above the tank i would say it might be easier to just get a 250w halide pendant with a 20k bulb

 

[GSMguy]

the only reason people use icecap ballast is thats what t5s run on i think they make other ballasts but they are the same price as an icecap

 

[ebayes11]

I wouldn't need a 24" fixture. I would need a 48" one. My tank is 48" left to right, 24" front to back, and 29" top to bottom.

Are you saying that with only T5s, I would be able to keep everything at every depth, or that my stocking plan of sps up top and lower light corals and clams down low?

 

[GSMguy]

dude sorry i sow 29d and thought oh damn 30inch tank,


oh then for the 48inch tank any of the aquatinics fixtures should be enough or an 8 bulb tek .
i would say that you could keep clams and everything else with the aquatinics or 8 bulb teklight
any depth, softies would have to stay at the bottom for the most part.
you can keep everything you keep with halide with clams and the t5s bring out nice color
but if you want to have the sparkle and some spots brighter than others go halide but for even cool running long lasting lights go t5

 

[h20cooled]

I have a 26" deep tank with no sand bed, I use the icecap 660 ballast and their SLR reflectors. I have primarily and LPS and they do great, some of my light loving SPS are even in the bottom part of the tank and they are growing great with awesome color.

 

[GSMguy]

see there you go t5 with no problems

 

[ebayes11]

Thanks a lot guys.