T5 lighting

[reef master jon]

i have a 75 gal tank and i want to keep corals from SPS and down; and i was wondering if i can use T5 light to house them.
8x54 T5 fixture. if i have to go with MH what would be the best and less cost for the tank of my size. i was thinking of going with 2x400 MN 20k. is this to much



thanks if i can get help it would be great because i am lost



jon

 

[The0wn4g3]

An 8x54W T5 fixture would be great at housing SPS in a 75gal, no problems at all. In the long run, the T5's will be much cheaper than metal halides, plus you won't have as much trouble with cooling the tank. In addition, there are many, many more bulb combinations for T5 fixture than there are for metal halide fixtures.

 

[stones]

With a 75 gallon tank, you would likely be able to get away with even a 6 bulb T5 fixture, however with an 8 bulb, you have more options for supplementary lighting such as adding extra actinics or the orange/purple spectrum bulbs.

2 x 400 watt metal halide would be way overkill in a 75 gallon tank, even if you were running 20K bulbs. Heat would become a major issue. If you do decide to go with metal halide, a 2 x 250 watt combo would likely be your best bet if planning to go with a 20K bulbs.

 

[gws76]

If you go with the t-5's, make sure they have individual reflectors.
I currently run 6 t-5 bulbs over my 80 gal. and have very good growth and color. I also like the color options of the t-5's. But you don't get the glitter lines like MH.

I think stones is right on the 2 x 250 watt MH. You may have to run a couple of t-5 actinics with the MH to get the right color that you are looking for.

If you run 6 or 8 t-5 bulbs the cost of bulb changes will still be about the same as changing the MH.

 

[fivesmallworlds]

I'm running a 4 bulb t5 retro on my 75 right now and can keep pretty much anything. It's important that the fixture you get has individual reflectors! 6 bulbs is more than plenty to keep anything you want!

 

[rainmkr07]

8 T5's w/ individual reflectors would be sweet. I would trade my 2 250w MH's for a setup like that. I think T5s are awesome.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

8 bulbs is overkill though. The tank is only 12" from front to back. You can light that with 6 easily, and 4 if you are careful with your coral placement.

 

[bassist6108]

IMO, it isn't how far the tank is front to back that should dictate how many bulbs you use - it's how deep your tank is. I have a 5 bulb fixture on my 40b, and it is great. Doesn't 'char' anything, but really encourages growth. Even the LPS looks amazing.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13333292#post13333292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bassist6108
IMO, it isn't how far the tank is front to back that should dictate how many bulbs you use

In all reality it will... where else you gonna cram em

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13332461#post13332461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The0wn4g3
An 8x54W T5 fixture would be great at housing SPS in a 75gal, no problems at all. In the long run, the T5's will be much cheaper than metal halides, plus you won't have as much trouble with cooling the tank. In addition, there are many, many more bulb combinations for T5 fixture than there are for metal halide fixtures.

Cost is about the same... heat is about the same... It's all really just preference.

As others have stated, I also like the options T5's give you as far as color. You can tweak your spectrum by swapping out a bulb. Whereas your locked in with MH bulbs, and you'll more than likely need to pick up some T5's for supplementation anyway.

T5's with individual reflectors are every bit as powerful as metal halides... it's not until you get up into the 400w halides and DEEP tanks that I believe halides begin to pull away. Even then... it's debateable.

A 4 bulb unit would do you just fine... 6 bulb... even better.

 

[Tswifty]

oh yeah...

[welcome]

 

[reef master jon]

thanks for the quick reply. so the only thing that i need to know is that i dont need a chiller with the t5 and i can house any and i mean any SPS corals that i want and have perfect color and wonderful growth. and if possible a great brand / fixture / website to purchase it.


THANKS i do fill welcome!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tswifty]

www.reefgeek.com

I like the IceCap VHO Retrofit Kits.

 

[apdonato95]

I have a 135 FOWLR and few soft corals. I am running 3 80 watts T5 ho's (2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 white bulb 10,000k) is that enough?

 

[sjm817]

Heat is not about the same if you do it right. A 6 bulb T5 setup would be more than plenty @ 324W. A 2 x 250W MH if it had 100% efficent ballasts would be 500W. Likely more like 600W.

Ditto on Reefgeek.com. They are really great.

 

[nikon187]

chiller is still up in the air. Where do you live? If your house gets 86 in the summer your tank will also be 86, which would require a chiller to have happy SPS. T5 do still heat the water, its just more spread out over the entire tank. My 6 bulb will easily heat my tank to 82 after 10-12 hours in the summer and i live in Alberta Canada. In the winter it never climbs higher than 79. a watt is a watt, 150w MH, 150w T5, same heat but spread differently.

a fan can fix all of this by the way by blowing over your bulbs and surface of your water

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13337420#post13337420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nikon187
a watt is a watt, 150w MH, 150w T5, same heat but spread differently.

Yes, but the point is, you use typically use less watts of T5 compared to MH.

 

[xskyzx]

t5 is awesome, i have 4 bulbs in a 72bowfront and have some sps in there...hehe

 

[nikon187]

sjm: very true my friend.

was mainly commenting on the def not needing a chiller comment above and not the less watt thing. Yeah there is deff more like 600w getting drawn from a 2X 250 setup then 432w that an 8 bulb t5 would use ( hence less heat) my 6 bulb 4 inches off the water without fan got my tank to 84 one day then i bought a fan

 

[sjm817]

Right. 8 x 54 is not needed. 6 x 54 works great even on a taller 90g. You are comparing ~ 325W to ~ 600W. Big difference.