T5 and SPS

[NewbyReefer]

Can I keep SPS if I'm only running a 6 bulb 54watt T5HO fixture. I just got a few frags from a friend but never had any growth in the past. I've had 2 green monticap frags for every bit of 6 month with no growth. Its not dieing it just has no growth plate. Its just green. The frags I just got are a red monti cap, stag, blue tip acro, and a red setosa.

 

[BfishLpond78]

IMO I would say you should be able to keep sps, depending what size tank are these lights over?

Water params?

 

[betamed]

depends a little on the quality of the fixture and the depth of the tank, but the short answer is yes. I have an 8bulb t5 fixture and can grow monti on the sand bed. so I would also look into water parameters as a reason for no growth as well.

 

[evh5150]

I do it without any issues. Monti's, Acro's. Parameters are very important

 

[chrystyan20011]

Not to jack the thread or nothing i was gonna ask the same thing about T5s and sps would they be ok over a 110g tall tank?

 

[NewbyReefer]

Tank size is a 42 gal bowfront. I've housed LPS for a while now and have just recently started getting into SPS. Water Par use to be a problem as the rock I'm using is still leeching PO4 due to the fact that its from a FOWLR that I just used tap water to mix the salt. It use to be a HUGE problem but now its down now that I'm running GFO.

Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0
Amonia-0
Sal-1.024
PO4-0.5(use to be to high to get a reading)
Cal-380-400
Alk-10dkh

 

[nbgen12]

High PO4 can mess up the growth. I have a 6 bulb t-5 setup over my 75g and it grows montis and birdsnest corals like weeds. Im tryin a variety of sps now, but its only been a week for new corals

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[BfishLpond78]

I have 8 tubes over a 120. My SPS are growing but at a slow rate as I'm battling a PO4 issue as well. But 6 bulbs over a 42 bowfront is more than adequate. Just need to get PO4 under control.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jcgautreaux]

I use 6 over my 55 and I have acros, montis, birdsnest and I'm getting growth also, water must be stable that's important and low po4...also the big 3 are what I watch alk mag and cal... What's your flow like and how high are your sps?

 

[jcgautreaux]

I just got a green millepora, red millepora, lime in the sky acro, Bali slimer, birdsnest, and a tri color all about midway up to top third of the tank only had them for a week but all are doing well and my sunset is growing

 

[NewbyReefer]

I use 6 over my 55 and I have acros, montis, birdsnest and I'm getting growth also, water must be stable that's important and low po4...also the big 3 are what I watch alk mag and cal... What's your flow like and how high are your sps?

They are all about half way up. Flow is pretty good but nothing crazy.

 

[NewbyReefer]

Heres a quick phone shot of it.

 

[jcolletteiii]

What kind of bulbs are you using and how old are they? What's your Mg level?

 

[dowtish]

A good combo of ATI or Geissmen bulbs with good stable parameters, and you can grow SPS very well

 

[NewbyReefer]

What kind of bulbs are you using and how old are they? What's your Mg level?

6 months old and they're coral life. Its 2 10k white, 3 atinic, and 1 coralglow(purple). Thats the brand my LFS carries. Never tested for magnesium.

 

[jdraider75]

6 months old and they're coral life.ts 2 10k white, 3 atinic, and 1 coralglow(purple). Thats the brand my LFS carries. Never tested for magnesium.

Definately check your mag and get some new ati bulbs. Go to the t5 q&a forum for bulb suggestions.

 

[steely185]

Quality of bulbs will make a big difference. Try some ATI, Giessemann, or KZ bulbs. Even some of the UVL bulbs are an upgrade over your current bulbs for both par and color. ATI would be my first choice. There is a T5 information thread on here that your can search for to get a good idea of which bulbs to use to get what overall look.