So I am going t-5, how many do I need?

[Clouded]

I decided to go t-5's on my next tank... it is 48Lx24Dx22H, I want to stock heavy SPS and want good growth as well as color. I plan on having individual reflectors, so how many will I need? I am trying to do this on a budget, so if I only 6 instead of the 8 I was planning on then that would be awesome...

Help me out, thanks.

 

[Covey]

I would go with 8 unless you ran a 6 bulb rig overdriven on a IceCap. I high suggest the IceCap rig as that even when it was overdriving the bulbs it was easier on them than the other brands. The added intensity is also help in having SPS keep there color.

 

[Clouded]

Thank you, Covey. anyone else?

 

[Justin74]

Thatd be a tight fit to get 8 in there. Im successfully keeping a predominantly sps tank with 6 normally driven HO ballast and bulbs.Workhorse ballast at that Im also able to keep them near and on the bottom. There approx. 4-5" above surface with a 2" sandbed on a 20" high tank, also a 50g like yours.

-Justin

 

[Clouded]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8008554#post8008554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
Thatd be a tight fit to get 8 in there. Im successfully keeping a predominantly sps tank with 6 normally driven HO ballast and bulbs.Workhorse ballast at that Im also able to keep them near and on the bottom. There approx. 4-5" above surface with a 2" sandbed on a 20" high tank, also a 50g like yours.

-Justin

no this is my new 110gal tank...it is 24" , so I figure at the average ballast being 2" long I could fit 11 in there...but I do not want to over do it. so you are really getting growth with only 6 bulbs over SPS?

 

[Justin74]

Re: So I am going t-5, how many do I need?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8008171#post8008171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Clouded
I decided to go t-5's on my next tank... it is 48Lx24Dx22H,

22H?

Thats what I was going off of.Although the D had me pondering too

so I figure at the average ballast being 2"

That kinda confused me to, well, ok, not kinda. The ballasts I see are usually 4-5+", if you meant the individual reflectors, youll want to figure in 2.5", so 8 reflectors end to end your looking at 20" across.

Ya, Ive always had pretty decent growth. Good coloring was a different subject for awhile, but things are finally turning around and Im getting great results. Been using em for lil over 2 years now.Just made the move to mostly sps for maybe the last 6 months when its was pretty mixed before. But Ive had a handfull of various montipora for a lil over a year now.Took this shot a few weeks ago, to give you an idea.

-Justin

 

[Justin74]

Heres some montipora on the bottom and near bottom showing great color. And that digi is a mystery. Its not a green one,I have one of those and its totally different, its starting to look like it might turn into a lavender based with green polyps although the polyps are alot bigger than the one I know is lavender and green that I also have. One day I'll get a nice macro shot. Maybe when a buddy of mine comes over, when ever that may be, hint hint!Uh, Alex?

-Justin

 

[Clouded]

thanks man, so PE is good and growth is good?

 

[Wiskey]

If you are going with the SLS setup I would go with 8. If you want to go with the icecap reflectors and overdrive the bulbs then 6 should be cool.

If I remember correctally Dannio SP? (TOTM who had the same tank size) had 8 or 9.

Whiskey

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8008848#post8008848 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Clouded
thanks man, so PE is good and growth is good?

From my personal experience PE has little to do with lights as much as it does waterflow, and quality.

-Justin

 

[RichConley]

I think 6 would be fine. If not, just add a pair more down the road. No big deal.

Icecap SLRs are only 2.5" wide, so you'd be able to fit 8 in fine with a 24" tank

I DO NOT reccomend the icecap 660s though. Every single tank I've seen with issues with T5s and coral lightening is running 660s. There is simply NO need, IMHO.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

I am in the same boat. I am actually running 2 400 watt halides on my tank, but was thinking of going to just T5's. I have a couple 660's lying around, and am thinking of running 8 bulbs with them.

What kind of problems have you seen with using 660's?

 

[Wiskey]

Coral lightning issues, most of the people with them are overdriving the bulbs.

Whiskey

 

[Bidadari]

I have 8 T5 bulbs over my 75g tank, but only run 6 of them.
I have acro, monti, clams on the bottom of my tank & so far no problem with color & growth.