Switching to T5 Question

[Reefpilot11]

So I never really thought I would be doing this but I think I am going to bite the bullet. The ATI units look really sleek and that's something I really like. But my plan is to swap my reefbreeders with my girlfriends kessil a350's to supplement the t5 fixture. Now what I need to know is should I get the 36" or 48" for my 4 foot tank?

 

[oblio]

I don't know what you "should" do, but I used 2 36" t5's because the 48's didn't fit inside the hood. I personally think its just fine. I dont have much on the outer edges so i don't think I lost much. But that being said, if the 48's had fit, i would have run them.

 

[Reefpilot11]

I don't have a hood so they would just hang from the ceiling.

 

[hobbzz]

Most people do a foot shorter on the length due to not keeping much on the sides.

 

[robthorn]

Your girlfriend may dump you if you take her good lights and give her what you plan to. ;-)

 

[Reefpilot11]

Your girlfriend may dump you if you take her good lights and give her what you plan to. ;-)

Ahhh its alright all she has is some GSP, she's more into the fish lol:lmao:

 

[BryanS4]

I think it really depends on what kind of corals you have as well. The unit a foot shorter will give you room for lower light corals on the edges.

I hung two Sunpower units last week a 60" unit over a 6' tank, mainly acros but some zoa and lps on the bottom and edges. The coverage is great, no dark spots on the edges.

The second was a 36" unit on a 3' tank, which will be all acro/milli. I went end to end on this new set up so I could grow acro anywhere in the tank.

I think you will like a 36" unit on a 4 foot tank. Try it about 10" off the waterline and adjust as needed. 10" is where I settled on my 60" unit.

 

[Reefpilot11]

I think it really depends on what kind of corals you have as well. The unit a foot shorter will give you room for lower light corals on the edges.

I hung two Sunpower units last week a 60" unit over a 6' tank, mainly acros but some zoa and lps on the bottom and edges. The coverage is great, no dark spots on the edges.

The second was a 36" unit on a 3' tank, which will be all acro/milli. I went end to end on this new set up so I could grow acro anywhere in the tank.

I think you will like a 36" unit on a 4 foot tank. Try it about 10" off the waterline and adjust as needed. 10" is where I settled on my 60" unit.

Sounds good! I will have kessils on either side as well.

 

[hobbzz]

Another thing to think about is the fact that ATI, the leader in T5 fixtures for years, only makes fixtures up to 5 feet...

 

[robthorn]

^^^^^ because they only make 5 ft bulbs. Longer break to easy.

What happened to the nice donut she bought at the coral show?

 

[janes_mw]

Your girlfriend may dump you if you take her good lights and give her what you plan to. ;-)

Oh Rob, I beg to differ with you. Proof is in the pudding ..... or in the tank!

 

[Reefpilot11]

^^^^^ because they only make 5 ft bulbs. Longer break to easy.

What happened to the nice donut she bought at the coral show?

She ended up not wanting corals so I put it in my tank then sold...