T5 and LED combo for SPS

[BD_Saltlife]

Hey Y'all,

I was seeking some advice. I just set up a 55g tank over the weekend. Tank came with a current orbit LED marine set. Was planning on getting coralife duel t5 HO lights along with the orbit led (combo). Planning on getting some sps.

Currently have equipment :
Coralife super skimmer 65g
Octopus phosphate reactor MF300B
Current orbit marine LED

Life stock:
Maroone clown fish 1
Black oculus clown 1
Yellow tail damsel 1
Village damsel 1
Blue damsel 1
Royal gramma 1
Golden hammer
Frogspawn
Kenya tree
Toadstool
Blue tip hammer
Pink tip torch
Some mushrooms
BTA anenome 2
And pink tube anenome

Any thoughts as to if the the t5 and led combo would be enough for sps?

 

[Hentz]

Ehh.. I wouldn't really rely on those two. Sell it off and get an ATI 6x54 Fixture. You'll get almost no where with SPS with that lighting setup. You'd be able to get away with Softies.

Or Invest in 3 Hydra 26HD's or Radion XR15w's.

If budget isn't an issue, go for the ATI Hybrid.

 

[BD_Saltlife]

I kinda have a budget though. Every where I've read it's say go sps growth to get T5 fixture and I just figured I'd keep the LEDs for extra colors. 2 × 54w HO T5s aren't enough to promote sps growth?

 

[Hentz]

2 T5's are not enough to promote SPS growth, especially in a 55 Gallon Tank.

IF you're on a budget, I'd highly recommend selling the LED fixture and purchasing a T5.
You don't need the biggest and baddest, but for SPS you'd want a fixture thats able to properly cool the bulbs along with having great reflectors.

You can get SPS growth with LED's, T5's, or Metal Halides. I've had outstanding success with both LED's and T5's individually AND together.

Lighting is one of the most important things needed for a reef. Whatever your budget may be, this is something I'd highly highly recommend you spend as much as possible on. You can find plenty of very nice USED fixtures. I found an ATI 6x54w T5 which will easily grow any SPS I want in my new system for $300. Seeing a Coralife Dual T5 48" Fixture will cost you about $140, for only $160 more or even less you can find a MUCH better fixture that will allow you to grow what you want.

 

[BD_Saltlife]

I understand now I think. What your saying is I need at least 6×54 t5ho for the depth of my tank in order to support sps

 

[Hentz]

Correct. I believe you MAY be able to get away with a 4-bulb T5HO IF the fixture was a high-quality fixture such as ATI or equivalent.

Though if you're looking to especially save money, a used AquaticLife 6x54 or TEK 6x54 may be your best bet as you can usually find those around $150-200 used from what I've seen locally.

 

[BD_Saltlife]

How about two Marz aqua led 165 watts each for the sps?Will that work?

 

[BD_Saltlife]

Or galaxy hydro's

 

[Hentz]

They're all the same so I'm sure they would.
I believe I've seen some people using Marz. Though I see even more people using SB Reef Lights which seem to work great. A local gentleman runs a very nice tank with a lot of high end Acropora using SB Reef Lights

 

[BD_Saltlife]

Thanks for all the help I found two marsaqua light 165 watts each for $185. I think that my best bet until I save for some monster upgrade.

 

[Borntrippn]

Agreed

 

[Radioheadx14]

I have a mars aqua over my frag tank. Colors are not as good as my MH and T5 in the DT but those definitely grow sps

 

[Don440]

hi ? can a Ocean Revive T-247 in a Im 24gl Nuvo is that light good for Sps ?

 

[plyle02]

Hi guys,
I want to point out that with SPS, likely more success will come if you choose proven equipment. Aquaticlife makes a hybrid 4xt5 retrofit option where most LED can be installed. This of course is a great option to have the best of both. If I were to run straight t5 and with led accent, I would choose ATI, Pacific Sun, Geisemann, as they are proven to do well in the t5 range. If my emphasis were on LED, Radion, AI, GHL, and Orphek. Filtration and Lighting quite important for colorful sps, not an area worth skimping on. Sure, you can, with perfect husbandry do anything, but for the average joes, like myself, proven equipment goes a long way