T5 Lighting

[Pufferpunk]

I have the opportunity to buy T5 lights for wholesale from one of the mods at my pufferforum. His sister works for these guys: http://www.specialty-lights.com/fluorescent.html

I am upgrading my 55g to a 90g. It has an oak canopy. My questions are:
- Should I go with a 6 or 8 bulb system?
- Should I get the entire fixture, or do I need to buy the seperate parts to mount correctly into the canopy (I'd rather not have to do that)
- What color bulbs should I get? I am keeping mostly zoas, a few leathers & LPS

 

[Bebo77]

can you fit 8 bulbs across the top of your tank ..? if so get them.. i have 2 sets of the 6 bulbs and really like them

if i were you i would get 2 aqualue plus 4 actnic and 2 URI

 

[Pufferpunk]

8 won't cause my zoas & shrooms to shrink? How long are the bulbs good for?

 

[jun_celis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7592030#post7592030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
8 won't cause my zoas & shrooms to shrink? How long are the bulbs good for?

I have a 6 bulb and some zoas didn't make it and some shrooms didn't like it either. I lost some but gain some nice growth and colors. I acclimated for about a month and still had issues... goodluck!

 

[BenjieC]

I had a 75g sps tank in the works that is now on hold. I was going to use t5's on it, b/c I already have a couple IC ballasts. So, I was researching them. Anyways if you ever forsee going to sps go w/ the 8 bulb system, otherwise stick with the 6 bulb. The corals should adapt given time and proper acclimation. Or you'll end up needing to shade some them. The zoa's will be fine, but the shrooms and lps could be trickier.

The bulbs should last atleast 18 mths unless they are overdriven. I don't think the tek ballast should overdrive them. Also if they get too hot it will shorten thier life, so if you put them in your hood a fan is a must.

As far as bulb colors I think it's more of a personal preference. It also makes a difference where they are placed. If it was me I'd get a variety of them and move them around and see how you like them.

Check out the Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment forum. There are several t5 threads always going on. HTH

 

[saltyfun]

I have 2 tanks, both under T-5's.

My mixed tank has shrooms down low and frogspawn and leather in the middle(15" below lights) and I have no problems.

My very small reef tank has SPS, RTBA, zoo's and a clam and do great under a 6 lamp 24" Tek pendant, 10" above the tank.

 

[maurof78]

any chance of doing a group buy?

 

[Pufferpunk]

I can hook you up w/the fellow, but since we're friends (& he "works" for me), that price is just for me. I'm sure he's fair though.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I spoke to my friend & he can probably do 20% over wholesale. If you want in on this, I'll be ordering very soon.

 

[maurof78]

Thanks. I might be interested. Did you decide whether to go with 6 or 8 bulbs? I have a 90 gallon tank too.
Can you forward me the estimated prices?
thanks!

 

[Pufferpunk]

I think 6 would be enough for me, as I won't be doing any SPS & don't want to burn out my softies. I'll ask him about prices.

 

[Sullyman]

I don't think you'll get 18 months out of the bulbs, I was told to expect around 8-9 months. The bulbs are not a lot of money, so it's not a big deal.

 

[saltyfun]

I changed mine at 10 months and noticed no real difference at all but, thats eyeballing it