Lighting help

[jculver]

I have a 75 gallon that has been running for 7 weeks now. Right now I have the marineland reef capable led as the lighting. My question is, should I add any ho t5's in addition to the LEDs? If so, what kind? I would like to have corals (mostly soft and lps but possibly some sps if my lights could handle it. Thoughts?

 

[theatrus]

Softies would be fine under that light, though critters on the sand bed would be marginal (you'd need to run at 100%)

To put it simply, you're on the minimum light levels. You can either swap to a higher output LED unit or adds T5s which will crowd the top of your tank. Do you have a hood? I'd personally swap out.

 

[jculver]

Lighting help

If I were to add t5's how many should be added? I don't have a hood.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Consider the t5 as the only light and the Marineland leds as just mood light. Over a 24" deep tank they are VERY marginal.

 

[colorful1180]

Consider the T5 as the only light,what length width height is your tank?

 

[jculver]

Ok. Thanks guys. Do you think the reef breeder led photon 48 would be a good light? I'm a teacher and working with a budget from a grant I received to fund the tank so I'm trying to go as good of quality as I can with what I have to work with.

 

[jculver]

18L x 48w x 21 high

 

[theatrus]

The Reef Breeders and OceanRevive units are both great bang for the buck, and have good local support.

Adding T5s requires a dedicated fixture, you can look at ATI. Retrofits are not in play as you lack a hood.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You really don't need a 48" fixture for a 48" tank. Save a few of those dollars and get the OR IT2081 or the RB Photon32. They are more than enough fixture and both are well made by EverGrow in China. I've been using 3 of these since Dec 2012 and I've had no issues at all.

Oh, and in less than 2 years they paid for themselves in electricity savings (fixture itself, chiller use and house A/C) and bulb replacement.