Opinions

[JosefDevaty]

Are there any SPS that you can keep under T5's? I had been told by an LFS that some montipora can be kept at the top of the tank this way. So what does everyone think?

 

[JosefDevaty]

Keeping in mind I am talking about 4x54 watt t5's.

 

[markandkristen]

yes if you have the individual reflectors..
perry on the tampa forum had great success

 

[chrisstie]

I've been keeping SPS, clams, anemones you name it under a Teklight T5 system with the individual reflectors in my tank for the last year and few months.

Here's a growth pic to show

this pic taken in April from behind the coral (island tank setup)

Here's the same coral but the pic taken from the front of the tank this month:

One of the really nice things about T5s is their low power consumption. They do put out a little bit of heat but nothing like MH- I haven't had to put a chiller on this tank yet and probably wont ever have to.

 

[JosefDevaty]

Hmm so it sounds like I would have to have individual reflectors, which the current nova does not.

 

[chrisstie]

That's the real key if you do research on T5s - the individual reflector on each bulb increases output around.. 300% or so? I can't recall the actual number but its a HUGE boost, otherwise your T5s might as well be PC bulbs.

its definitely worth investing into those reflectors or a system that has them

 

[orb]

yea, i used to have a t5 setup w/icecap reflectors. i had great growth in my tank. yes....it all depends on the reflectors used.

 

[plyle02]

I would reccomend ind. reflectors myself.... Thanks for the kind words Mark... Here are a couple of pics of my old 75 under a tek 6x54 watt unit. Got to love the ability to have a variety of spectrums and bulb combos..... BTW, KZ bulbs are phenomenal! Almost all these corals started as small frags, this was at the 1 year mark for my 75.....

 

[JosefDevaty]

After looking around a bit 350 - 400 seems to be the going rate for the teks. Are the ones you see on the hydroponic sites the same as on the reef sites? Seems like they are. Anyone know a good source for the tek fixtures?

 

[rdmpe]

I have a 24 gallon aquapod with the stock compact flourescent lighting and I have monti cap and birds nest growing in it with decent color. Also have 3 or 4 other sps doing decent, growing, can't remember what right now. A valida, a tort I think...
Just frags that came out of my 180 that I tend to stick into the nano.