T5 for a 60" tank

[jedimaster1138]

Question especially for the T5 experts ...

I'm thinking of switching my lights* to T5 or some kind of T5/LED or T5/MH hybrid. Either way T5 will be a key component...debating the ATi Sunpower, ATi Hybrid LED Powermodule, or perhaps, a T5/MH combo like the Hamilton Cebu Sun, one of the Giessman (spectra, infinity) or Sfiligoi if I could find one.

ANYWAY here's the question:

My tank is a 120g long - it's 60" x 18" x 26". So the foot print is 60x18 with dual back corner overflows that extend 6" towards the center of the tank on either side. My main question is... would a 48" fixture (let's assume T5 only for argument sake) be adequate to light this tank? I'm talking a heavily SPS reef. Fortunately the majority of my rockwork is towards the center so there's that. Here's a picture for reference, also, with those measurements, and my addiction to fancy pants acropora, how many T5 bulbs to maximize growth and color flexibility??

Thanks in advance.

*Yes I'm running LED only now, yes I'm not happy with the color/growth of my acropora (or the ones that have died) No, I don't want to get into a debate about MH vs T5 vs LED vs BBQ etc. Let's leave that for another time and place.

 

[degibson84]

why would you use a 48" fixture over a 60" tank????

 

[degibson84]

here is a 60" fixture that should work. they also sell an 8 bulb for even more power on the SPS
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=71_136&products_id=1424

 

[YoungREEFA]

Off course a 48" will work! It might seem more interesting as a tad bit of shadowing around the edges could occur which looks good to me

 

[Drae]

why would you use a 48" fixture over a 60" tank????

Why not? Who says light doesn't spread? A 48" fixture over a 60" tank is perfectly fine if not preferable to most people. A 48" fixture only leaves you 6" on each side and your light wont rest directly on top of your tank. Look for either a 6x54 t5 or a 2x250 halide with 4x 54 t5 or a 4x54 t5 with reefbrite strips on each side of the fixture or if you have the coin get a 4x54 ati hybrid ( best fixture out imo).

 

[jedimaster1138]

Thanks all for the replies.

Yeah the 48" T5 fixtures and bulbs just seemed to be more popular. Perhaps that's a function of tank sizes, but I also seemed to see a lot of tanks, including incredible SPS ones, with T5 fixtures just one "step" smaller than their tank length. Seems like the 60"s are commonly used for 72" tanks, which makes sense. I just measured my overflow's again...they actually extend even more than 6" into the tank, so yeah. My biggest concern, coming from complete inexperience with T5 was simply the spread. All of my lighting has been LED and depending on height, lenses etc, spread isn't quite as much as I imaged T5 tubes to be.

Anyway I have a lot of acans and such that would probably do fine on the edges in "less than" peak light.

Also my only concern with going T5 only is the need for moonlighting but like you said, there's also the ability to stick an LED strip on there. Heck I have a blue stunner in the closet collecting dust. I could even DIY something if I want to ramp, if I'm ambitious. I'd have to frankenstein it to the fixture, or hang it some how, but there's always that.

Why not? Who says light doesn't spread? A 48" fixture over a 60" tank is perfectly fine if not preferable to most people. A 48" fixture only leaves you 6" on each side and your light wont rest directly on top of your tank. Look for either a 6x54 t5 or a 2x250 halide with 4x 54 t5 or a 4x54 t5 with reefbrite strips on each side of the fixture or if you have the coin get a 4x54 ati hybrid ( best fixture out imo).

Drae - all other things thrown out the window - ie price, heat, need for chilling etc - do you think the ATi T5/LED Hybrid would outperform a 2x250w MH/4xT5 hybrid in both color and growth? I'm assuming the 48" ATi Hybrid in this case and in the MH/T5 case probably something like 2x 14k Ushio or even Radiums with some combo of blue+ / purple+.

I know that's a bit of a loaded question and will likely stir a religious debate, I'm just curious what your experience is. I've been trying to follow the ATi hybrid threads, like you said, it seems like a winner, but the price is... high. If it performs the same or better than a MH/T5 combo though, and uses less power and includes moonlighting built in... yeah. You see where I'm going.

But first things first - actual SPS growth and color.

 

[Drae]

I don't think there is a better lighting technology out than MH. There's not a LED on planet earth that rivals MH's proven performance for growing coral. T5 is on par for growth and color but lacks the natural look of shimmer. LED's by themselves are a ways away from MH and T5 but when used with MH or T5 can look really nice imo. I've seen the ATI in person and WOW!! T5 colors and proven performance with shimmer and added pop of led... Win win imho. I love MH but in vegas I'd absolutely need a chiller so I use t5. One day I'll get an ATI hybrid though.

 

[nickjj]

I was lucky to find a used 60" 8 bulb T5 Sfiligoi Stealth fixture from a local reefer and couldn't be happier. The cost of the used fixture was comparable to one of the 4 LED fixtures I was running for a year that I was not happy with.

Just with the light change to T5 my corals improved quickly in no less than a month. I don't get the glowing actinic look with the LED's in a dusk to dawn mode but overall I am very happy with the switch. The fixture also has three independent circuits to provide the dusk to dawn look with using an external controller.

If you can find a T5 Sfiligoi Stealth you should definitely consider it.

 

[mark54321]

I would go with 48" ATI Hybrid 4 bulbs only, this thing will light up every corner of your tank. It is soooo bright, and the shimmer looks very natural, almost like MH. Control ability is another factor, you can do so many things with it as far as color and intensity. No need for moonlights either, you can program it also with this fixture. I have 36" with 8 bulbs Hybrid over my 48x32 tank and works great. Yes, it is expensive ,but it is relative term, because you get a lot of value for the money.

 

[Reef Raf]

I don't think there is a better lighting technology out than MH. There's not a LED on planet earth that rivals MH's proven performance for growing coral. T5 is on par for growth and color but lacks the natural look of shimmer. LED's by themselves are a ways away from MH and T5 but when used with MH or T5 can look really nice imo. I've seen the ATI in person and WOW!! T5 colors and proven performance with shimmer and added pop of led... Win win imho. I love MH but in vegas I'd absolutely need a chiller so I use t5. One day I'll get an ATI hybrid though.

What about the various side by side comparisons of MH and LED where the corals are virtually identical...some species preferring one light or the other but in general, identical growth and color.

But when compared on long term life and operation cost, the LEDs do win out. In my mind, that is superior performance, no?

Just looking at the market place, LEDs outsell MH (and everything else) by a factor of something approaching 4 to 1 in most markets. What do you attribute those numbers to? I would think if they were not superior, you would have seen early adopters take to LEDS and then people abandon them quickly, but the opposite is true.

I've run both. I've run them side by side. The tank looked great on both sides. Growth seemed fairly even. But I got double the lighting for the power with the LEDs and didn't need a chiller to boot. There is no longer an argument that MH is superior. You can argue they grow coral as well as each other. And some people like the shimmer enough to take that into consideration. But in terms of efficiency and long term cost, LEDs win outright.