T5 for corals?

[Twisted]

What corals can a T5 fixture sustain? Can it keep SPS, and clams and such alive? and still have growth? or will I have to go to halides? I was contemplating the 6 bulb 54w T5 set up, but I want to go to SPS in the future.

 

[yetti]

I have a 4 bulb T5 setup on a 30g and an 8 bulb T5 setup on a 150g and I can keep everything. Good color and growth. The superman as my icon is under T5s and doubles in growth every 3-4 months.

 

[zoomfish1]

With a t5 fixture you can keep anything as long as the fixture has individual reflectors. Without them SPS may be hard to keep.

With the individual reflectors I understand they are as bright as Metal Halides. Definately go with something initially that you can keep all corals under. You can always place lower light corals in the shade of an overhang or just on the botom where the intensity is not as much. I think the one you are looking at would be super.

 

[Ti]

You can do it all

 

[Twisted]

Awesome, so is it true, less heat, less electricity cost? And is there a specific brand I should consider? I was looking at a tek light set up that was only like $300 bucks for the 48 inch.

 

[Ti]

yes/no, but you can keep all that under TEK.
I did.

 

[Twisted]

I guess it would be same electricity wouldn't it? 8 54w bulbes would be 432w compared to two 150w halides, and two 65w PC actinics at 430w.

So what Tek lights were you running the 8X54? If so is it 6 daylight, and 2 actinics?

 

[Ti]

well wattage drawn is wattage drawn, but generally the T5 adds up to less wattage than a MH set up.
like 39X4 is less than 2 X 150 halide.

I used 2 aquablue and 2 blue+ cause I had 4X 39

 

[Twisted]

Ok, I was looking at the 8X54w or 6X54w 4 foot set ups. They are $200 to $350 compared to the halide set up that is $700+

 

[Henry Bowman]

Yup Twisted you got it right. Just make sure the set up's have individual reflectors and fans. T5's dont run that hot but lose alot of PAR when their temp rises above 92 or so degrees. AND I agree with Ti. I had 2 250 W MH lights and traded for a 6 Bulb T5 unit and my electric bill dropped significantly.

 

[Twisted]

I was just reading through some of that T5 Q&A thread and that is insane it split like 5 or 6 times.

So to try to clear it up. I am looking for a light set up for a standard 55 gallon tank dimension. Currently I am running 4X65w PC's and I have ended up with quite a mushroom farm, a couple nice zoos, and a trmupet/candy/whatever coral LPS.
What I want to do is some SPS in the top half of my tank, and maybe a clam.

From what I read in that Q&A thread I can do this with the 4X54w, the 6X54w will be on the too much light side, and the 8X54w set up would be extreme over kill, bleaching or killing my softies.
Is this right?

Will a 4X54w set up with two actinic and two daylight be enough to support SPS and a clam? Or should I go with a 6X54w?

 

[prance1520]

I have mushrooms that are doing very well 16 inches down from 6x54ws. The key is acclimating them. I also keep many great looking sps anywhere from 4 to 8 inches down from the surface. Same goes for them, good acclimation.

8x54 is extreme. If you want do keep all the really light-needy SPS, get 6x54. If you just want montis, slimer, other more hardy SPS, go 4x54.

 

[Chipsreef]

I have a 55 with cheapo current usa t5s keeping montis in the top 1/3 of my tank growing well!!! Would much rather have a retrofit setup tho maybe ICECAP or Aquactinics.

 

[Twisted]

Thanks a lot guys! This has been a lot of help. I don't have a canopy so retrofits are not much of an option. I need an actual fixture. anyone know of some good cheap sites. I keep finding the 6X54w fixtures for about $350 to $400. Which is probablly a good price. But I'm always looking for a deal.

 

[chilwil84]

everybody has counted out the current because it doesnt have individual reflectors but i have the 8 bulb over my 90 and have good growth of my sps including acro and i have had to shade many of my lps because of bleaching and for 400 with all 8 bulbs included it is not a bad deal, that said if you might go retro over prebuilt i would go for the retro with the 660 ballast and overdrive the bulbs and not take any chances