T-5 Lighting

[CB]

I do not know anything about T-5 and would like to know how much is needed for a 55 gal tank?

 

[jnsnams]

for fish only= just 2-4 bulbs, if you want coral you might want to get my metal halide iam selling...400 watt..is this a 36 wide or 48 wide 55gal tank?

 

[Lytehouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12928387#post12928387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnsnams
for fish only= just 2-4 bulbs, if you want coral you might want to get my metal halide iam selling...400 watt..is this a 36 wide or 48 wide 55gal tank?

work it, work it !!!:rollface:

 

[BrianOKC]

4 T5's would grow just about anything u wanted in a 55 aslong as the sps was on the top portion of the tank. I'm not sure u can even fit 6 t5's across a standard 55 gal tank in a canopy if u have 1.

 

[cweber]

6 woudl be a tight fit. 4 should definatly be plenty.

 

[birdman1979]

4 icecap overdriven t5's would be awesome!

 

[cweber]

Very nice!!

 

[ToddP]

i have 8 4ft T5's on a 55 no problems except you need sunglasses to observe the tank.

 

[scubajsm]

Depending on the canopy, if you have one?? On my old 55 the way my canopy was made I could one fir 2-T-5's, which all my corals grew so quickly within the first year I had to upgrade to a bigger tank. If your canopy (assuming you have one) is a single piece I would think you could fit 4 max. HTH

 

[TulsaReefer]

I just got a set of the Aquatinic reflectors in this past week. I've heard really good things about them, they are the same ones used in their fixtures and they are only 2" wide, so it's much easier to pack more of them in a smaller space (which is why I'm using them). I have always used Icecap reflectors in the past, and they are 2 1/2 inches wide, which is pretty good, but 2" is even better. The Aquatinic are made with Miro Silver, which is supposed to be about the most reflective material available for reflectors. I'll be mixing them with my current Icecap reflectors on my 220 as I set it up. They are a bit more expensive, but it will save me 2" total for the 4 over the Icecaps, which is well worth the few extra dollars to me.

As for how many over a 55, if it's an 18" tank, I'd probably do 4. It gives you more options for playing around with the color as you'd have more tubes to play with. And it would allow you to put an Actinic in and not worry about cutting down your PAR too much. I have 4 - 24" over a 29G that is 18" deep, and everything grows quite nicely in it.

 

[bigB]

I have 4 aquatinics retro reflectors abd useing icecap 660 over my 55 frag tank. love it

 

[cweber]

TulsaReefer, what site did you get the reflectors from? Im thinking about doing 7 48" 54 watt T5s over my 135. In a staggered pattern of coarse.

 

[TulsaReefer]

I got mine from Debbie over at DiyReef(dot)com. She had them in stock and she's really quick to ship and I had a few other things that I needed to order from there anyway (T5 tubes). I heard over in the Aquatinics forum that any Aquatinics dealer should be able to order them for you though if you have a dealer you like to use.

 

[SoonerReefer]

We run a 4 bulb Tek over our 55 its the perfect fit for that tank.Its been in use over 4 years and grows Sps very good top or bottom of tank..

Donny
OMAS

 

[bigB]

i got mine from dustin combs