Lighting Upgrade

[Reefer2727]

I was wondering what my options were for adding MH lighting to my tank. The tank is 75 gallons, and I am currently running T5's. It is the 4 bulb set up. (4 x 54W).

I would like to continue to use this but would like to add MH in some form. Are there clip on set ups or something else that may work? Something I could attach to the tank rim? Even a smaller light which is meant for nanos would help.

Any suggestions?

 

[nikon187]

yes there are clamp on MH but they would interfere with your T5 lighting that is allready there. Coralife aqualight clamp on, Viper JBJ 150w/250w clamp on.

 

[Reefer2727]

Will my current T5 lighting (4x54w) be sufficient? What are the limitations using this light? Is is possible to run a lightly stocked reef tank without MH?

 

[Paulairduck]

you deffinitely can tun a reef tank without MH, a lot of people are moving to T-5 nowadays.

Using PC you can keep anything under except SPS

 

[DarG]

What T5's are you running? Is it a fixture? Which one? Or a retro?

Not all T5 is the same. The reflector is the most important part.
With a good 4 lamp T5 setup (meaning quality reflectors) you could probably keep anything you wanted but would need to stay with higher par bulbs. A quality 6 lamps setup would work great and give you more bulb flexibility. For example, allow you to use some super actinics for color which is a lower par bulb.

You could always sell the T5's and go with a metal halide/T5 combo fixture and be set. If you have a full canopy, you could use a smallish but good pair of halide pendants (reef optic for example ... 9.5" wide) and possibly keep all 4 T5's (more likely 2 T5's) depending on how much space you have in canopy and assuming you are using a T5 retro kit now. Not if you are using a fixture.

Personally, adding metal halide clip ons to a 75 would not be the way I would go.

Depends on what you have now and what you have to spend or want to spend. Lots of options. But a quality T5 retro with 6 lamps for example has a lower setup cost than a quality halide system. If you are going to do halide, you may as well do it well. Otherwise, stay with T5 and maybe add a couple more lamps.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[Logzor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15021051#post15021051 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer2727
Will my current T5 lighting (4x54w) be sufficient? What are the limitations using this light? Is is possible to run a lightly stocked reef tank without MH?

Use a mix of aquablue special and blue plus bulbs and you can keep anything you want. I would not waste the money on a new setup.

 

[Reefer2727]

I think this lighting might be ok then. Good to know. This is what the fixture is:

Current USA Nova Extreme T5 - 48" (4 x 54 watts)

* Two 54 Watt SlimPaq 10K and two 54 watt 460nm Actinic Blue T5 HO fluorescent lamps
* Dimensions: 48" x 7.25" x 2.5"
* 216 Watts/1.86 Amps
* Cooling fan
* NEW STYLE individually contoured parabolic reflector (20% more output)
* Performance driven electronic ballasts. Independent control over 10K and Actinic lamps.


Hopefully this light will suffice. Mine also has the LED Moonlights. Should I continue to run those bulbs? Should I have 2 actinic and 2 white ?

 

[DarG]

The 460nm "actinics" are actually blue lamps. The blue lamps have pretty good par. The 10K's have good par.
The 420nm "actinics" are what most would really call actinics. They give off a purple/blue light. They are low in par.

If you like the color of the tank, stay with what you have now in terms of bulbs. When it comes time to change bulbs, consider replacing with the better quality T5's like ATI or Giesemann for example, in the same colors (The ATI Blue plus is a higher quality brand of the same 460nm color Current USA lamp). The brands I mention are german made lamps and are better quality as well as having a bit better par than the Current USA lamps.

If you want a slightly bluer look, you can replace the 10K lamps with the ATI Aquablues for example. They are white with a slight blue tint. They have strong par although not as strong as a high quality 10K (or lower K lamp).

If everything does well under the lighting you have, then you are fine.