T5 bulb layout/suggestions

[The Hurricane]

I'm picking up a 6x54w bulb fixture tomorrow and need help with bulbs. The guy has three daylight and three actinict (?) Bulbs. There are only two ballasts so I can turn on/off three bulbs at a time. It also has mom lights running down the side. Any suggestions for a mixed reef tank. Thanks.

 

[The Hurricane]

Bump

 

[jdraider75]

Are you looking for a new bulb combo? If you are here's a link for popular ATI combos.

http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php

 

[The Hurricane]

Thank you. Does it matter on a layout? Or am I just over thinking things.

 

[gus6464]

Put the color you prefer as the first bulb unless it's a true actinic then it won't matter. This is just for visual preference. What are the dimensions of the tank?

 

[The Hurricane]

60"L x 30"D x 24"T. I'm thinking I can get away with a 48" fixture if I hang it about 8-12" off the glass.

 

[gus6464]

6 bulb is not enough for a tank that wide. You need at least 8 bulb and realistically around 12.

 

[The Hurricane]

6 bulb is not enough for a tank that wide. You need at least 8 bulb and realistically around 12.

At that point would I be better to go with metal halide with some black box leds. I wan't to be able to ramp up and down. I had some fish jump because the lights didn't ramp.

Thanks for your help. I'm drowning in light options. Plus the above mentioned fixture died after about 2 hours off use.

 

[scooter31707]

I have a 6 bulb light fixture on a 48x24x24, 120 gallon and it does the job on the coral. Coral are growing (sps, lps, softies). I use ATI bulbs which is as follows:

Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+

 

[gus6464]

At that point would I be better to go with metal halide with some black box leds. I wan't to be able to ramp up and down. I had some fish jump because the lights didn't ramp.

Thanks for your help. I'm drowning in light options. Plus the above mentioned fixture died after about 2 hours off use.

What fixture was it? Since it's a T5 unit it can be fixed easily with new ballasts and possibly tombstones. T5 lights are a very simple thing.

 

[The Hurricane]

I haven't found a name on it yet. It worked when I got it home. Then after dinner everything was dead. The control panel and lights and it was hot to the touch. It's a cheap fixture that doesn't have any fans and when I pulled it apart the wires were sparking. Not sure its worth trying to fix. I can use the ballasts and tombstones to retrofit something.