Question about T-5's and reefs

[Tate]

Already posted in the equipment forum, hoping for more response. I'm totally new to T-5 lighting.

I was looking at getting a T-5 fixture with two bulbs, each with individual reflectors, putting out 108 watts. I can get this cheap and it's 48" that I want to use on a standard 55g tank.

I was just wondering if I'd be able to keep softies and LPS with this light? I know it has less wattage than a comparable PC fixture, but I've read that T-5's have a higher lumen output than PC's.

I'm only concerned about softies and LPS. I'm not going to attempt SPS with this setup.

 

[Zackb911]

I really would step up to 4 48" t5's if possible although 2 might do *ok*

 

[stereomandan]

Make sure they are 54W bulbs and ballasts. If I remember right, some of the old T5 48" bulbs were 28W and you can find those ballast/bulb combos for cheap.

It should be o.k. for almost all LPS and softies. At least one bulb , preferrably both, should be a daylight bulb to get the light output you need. If you go with two daylight bulbs, you will need some other actinics to make it look decent, otherwise the color will be too yellow/green.

 

[thor32766]

i run 8x54watt t5' on my 220 gallon tank, with all kinds of softies and clams, have had them all over a year, just to give you an idea.

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8054062#post8054062 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thor32766
i run 8x54watt t5' on my 220 gallon tank, with all kinds of softies and clams, have had them all over a year, just to give you an idea.

How do you have them set up? I'm upgrading my tank from a 90G to a 180G (6x2x2). I plan on reusing the 6x54W that I have on the 90G. I was planning on adding two more bulbs.

If they are staggered, the two ends would have 1/2 the lighting that the middle does. The left and right 2' of the tank would have 4 bulbs of coverage, and the middle 2' would have 8 bulbs of coverage.

This would give me a high lighting zone in the middle, lower lighting on the ends. Is this how yours is set up? If so, is the difference from the middle to the ends noticeable?

 

[atvdave]

Tate.

Post the question on this page

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=878433

There's a guy on there called the Grimm reefer. He can answer just about anything on the t-5 lights.

Also read the post's. It will help you out.

Dave

 

[Tate]

That's a big T-5 thread. Oh and the fixture I'm getting is two 54w bulbs.

Thanks for the link atvdave.

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8054733#post8054733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tate
That's a big T-5 thread. Oh and the fixture I'm getting is two 54w bulbs.

Thanks for the link atvdave.

What fixture is this?

If it is the Aquatrader/Jebo/Odyssey unit don't get it. It is no better than a cheap pc light.

 

[Tomzpc]

I would go for the 4 bulb personally for a 55 gallon, even if I didn't plan on keeping any sps or clams. 2 bulbs is not only less light but it gives you less ability to adjust the color how you like it using various bulbs.