T5 Lighting May Be For You
- Thread starter gregt
- Start date
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Last I knew RJ was still running T5's. Did he cross over? I am pulling a Darth Vader on my new tank--- Back to fluorescents. Just like them better.
rjwilson37
New member
Hi Everyone,
Yes... it is true... I passed on to using MH with my switch over to a 90g tank which is 24" high. When you get to 24" and above, you need to start thinking MH or a lot of T5's and I just did not have the bucks for the T5's I needed to be able to do anything I wanted in the new tank.
Here is a picture of my tank with the T5's and a new picture from today with the MH and no supplimental lighting. I am going to go with T5 for my supplimental lighting when I get some more money to do it, but for now I am just running 2x250w PFO using 14k bulbs.
T5's 4x39w 2 Aquablue 11k, 1 Actinic, 1 Blue Plus.
MH 2x250w 14k only bulbs so supplimental lighting.
Yes... it is true... I passed on to using MH with my switch over to a 90g tank which is 24" high. When you get to 24" and above, you need to start thinking MH or a lot of T5's and I just did not have the bucks for the T5's I needed to be able to do anything I wanted in the new tank.
Here is a picture of my tank with the T5's and a new picture from today with the MH and no supplimental lighting. I am going to go with T5 for my supplimental lighting when I get some more money to do it, but for now I am just running 2x250w PFO using 14k bulbs.
T5's 4x39w 2 Aquablue 11k, 1 Actinic, 1 Blue Plus.
MH 2x250w 14k only bulbs so supplimental lighting.
rjwilson37
New member
My Green Acro is responding very well to the new lighting, which was another reason for switching over to MH. I just did not have enough T5's I think for doing Acro's even on my old 55g, they do need more intense light. I would have needed the 8 bulb T5 setup and with that sitting 2" above my tank, I would have to move them every time I get in to feed, clean the glass and such. I built a nice canopy for the MH and have feeding doors where I can get in and do everything I need without taking the lighting off of the tank. This comes in very handy for my wife to maintain the tank since I am gone 4-5 weeks this winter for training in Wisconsin alternating weeks till December.
rjwilson37
New member
You can see above that there is not a huge difference, except the colors have deepended a little, so T5's are a great alternative to using MH with lower heat. It cost me $125 to make the canopy with 2 4.5" fans blowing inside the canopy, $400 for my lighting which included my choice of bulbs. It would not have saved me anything to go with T5's which another reason for using T5's, so I just decided to go with MH. I do get a 2 degree swing in my tanks temp from 81 at night to 83 during the day, which means I do not need a chiller thank goodness. The was a big worry for me, was that I may have needed a chiller, or another small fan to blow across the back inside the canopy.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
My new tank is a 5 foot long, 22" tall 105 gallon. I am toying with the idea of normal output T6 lamps with Ice Cap reflectors just to see what happens. I still have my 6x80 system ready to go as well but I want to try something different.
obarrera
Active member
rjwilson37 said:Here is the latest picture of my 55g, you can see that I have done some serious fragging and removed a few things. I am preparing for the move to my new 90g, and the LFS's will only take a few things at a time, so I started the fragging early. Nothing better than trading in corals for additives, frozen food and salt mix, it definately keeps your cost down.
You really had that Raccoon Butterflyfish in there?
I thought they weren't reef safe.
But anyway looks nice, and I really like the 90g.
rjwilson37
New member
You will notice that there is no Racoon Butterfly in there now.obarrera said:You really had that Raccoon Butterflyfish in there?
I thought they weren't reef safe.
But anyway looks nice, and I really like the 90g.
superswimmer
New member
How is that Seio working? I hear they can be potentially fatal to the tank as they are prone to breaking down
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
I have a Seio 1500 that is more reliable than my Tunze 6060 after pwer outtages if you can believe that
rjwilson37
New member
It is working well... I just never power it off and have 2 MJ900's in my tank as well incase of a power failure. They will start back up with a little help if for some reason they don't start back up on there own.superswimmer said:
Obi-dad
Active member
The 'potentially fatal' problem is not with the Rio Seios, but with the older liquid filled Rio powerheads. The Seios are not liquid filled, and the only problem they seem to have is not restarting if stopped and restarted too often (as on a wavemaker). I have mine shut off for an hour every day for feeding and it restarts no problem.
superswimmer
New member
Seriously? That's cool.. now i may not have to buy a tuzne. Gosh those are expensive! I really want to get into some SPS. I have a pocillopora and a portie with some worms in it right now. Both have had amazing growth! My sqaumosa clam has put an inch of shell all the way around on! I love T-5s!
Obi-dad
Active member
I really lke the my Seio 1100. In my 75 gallon tank, the flow around the whole tank just from that is very cool. I shut off my closed loop pump during the day (a Mag9.5) because it is noisy, and the seio gives plenty of flow even with the CL pump off. It causes all the polyps in the tank to sway, even at the opposite end of the tank.
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Nice tank.
I am not sure but your Zenia looks like clove polyps to be. Could be wrong.
I am not sure but your Zenia looks like clove polyps to be. Could be wrong.
ga_reefer_guy
New member
Hey RJ I have a question for you. I am setting up a 65 gal 36"x18"x24" and I want to know how many bulbs i would need if I planned to keep a dersa clam on the bottom. Or would you suggest going with the mh set-up you have now?
Thank for the advice.
Thank for the advice.
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