t5 or pc lighting?

[bshow24]

Ok, so I am looking into a possible lighting upgrade on my 28 gallon.

Currently I have aa 2 x 65 watt power compact fixture with one 10k bulb and 1 actinic.

The light I found is a 4 x 24 watt T5 HO fixture with individual reflectors. It comes with 2 10k bulbs and 2 actinic bulbs.

or for $60 more I can get an 8 x 24 watt fixture with individual reflectors.

I know watts per gallon is not a good rule, but would this light be a good light to look into? I am trying to get this tank setup with some corals and possibly an anemone for my clown fish. I was able to keep one long ago under the PC lighting but I feel that it was pretty lucky, and I do not want to try that again.

 

[leveldrummer]

either of those fixtures are going to be a HUGE step up from the power compacts you have now. i think the 6 bulb would be fine for anything you could put in there, if you really want to, the 8 bulb would really work great too. but might not be needed.

 

[a.browning]

What are the tank dimensions? I would think 8 bulbs would be way too much for a 28, depending on the brand of the fixture. Either way a huge upgrade from PC, which are essentially obsolete nowadays.

 

[madean]

I just bought an 8 bulb 24 watt ATI dimmable sunpower for my tank build. My tank is going to be 36"L x 30"W x 20"D. That's about 3 times the size of your tank. I'm not trying to keep sps in every inch of my tank, but this fixture would be overkill in my eyes on a 28. I have a 28 and I know it would be overkill. Unless you plan to use the fixture later and get the dimmable version than maybe.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

4 bulb would be great. If your upgrading later you could buy a bigger fixture. What brand? Reef geek had some good deals in their specials on t5 fixtures. Also look at getting ATI bulbs/ and or ATI fixture. There worth it IMO. I just set my used 6 bulb ATI up today I picked up last week, and it kicks out more visible light than my 8 bulb nova extreme pro.

 

[bshow24]

the tank dimensions are 24 x 15 x 21. It is the nova extreme. I am looking for anything that gives me a deal so I will look into the ATI as well.

 

[grigsy]

2 x 65 watt Compact Fluorescent bulbs is more than enough light for a 28 gallon tank.

Dont consider yourself "lucky" to have kept coral under PC bulbs. They are a lot better than what some people on reef boards will tell you.

I have a nano with 2 x 36 watt PC bulbs and it does great.

10 years ago, I had an Custom Sealife 4 x 96 watt fixture and did great with it - kept just about anything except SPS. Clams and everything else did great under it.

I do like the look from 460nm blue PC bulbs and 10,000K white. Good combo.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Check the width of the new T5 fixture, if its a few inches less than the width of your tank you are just fine, you do understand a 8 bulb T5HO fixture is around 18-20" wide, right?
You don't need a fixture the exact length & width of your tank, especially if its ATI.

 

[bshow24]

it looks like im going with the 4 x 24 watt nova extreme t5ho lighting. I am hoping to be able to put some 14k bulbs in when the 10k white lights run out as I do like the blue look a bit more than the white. I think this should easily be plenty of light to run any corals as well as an anemone for the clownfish so hopefully all goes well!

 

[Twisted]

With four bulbs I would suggest talking to the guys at reefgeek.com I'm pretty sure they are in Southern California,tell them what you have, what kind of corals you have, or want to have and if you want to go for color, growth or somewhere in between.

I only suggest this because a couple years ago I had a 6X54w T5HO Tek light from them, and with their bulb suggestions on a 55 gallon and they were spot on with their suggestions.
The guys there know what works from customer feedback, and experience.

 

[bshow24]

With four bulbs I would suggest talking to the guys at reefgeek.com I'm pretty sure they are in Southern California,tell them what you have, what kind of corals you have, or want to have and if you want to go for color, growth or somewhere in between.

I only suggest this because a couple years ago I had a 6X54w T5HO Tek light from them, and with their bulb suggestions on a 55 gallon and they were spot on with their suggestions.
The guys there know what works from customer feedback, and experience.

sweet sounds good. i will definitely talk to them then.

 

[Twisted]

Just so you know, with 6X54wT5HO on my standard 55 gallon I was capable of keeping pretty much any SPS I picked up anywhere in the tank. I had mine set up more for color than growth.
So while I doubt the T5HO would provide the growth a halide or newer LEDs might. It did a great job sustaining the corals and providing great color.

 

[bshow24]

That is exactly what I am looking for. If i want growth I have a 70 watt metal halide over my 8 gallon tank. It does get diffused by a couple things, but it definitely gets things to grow. For this 28 gallon, I am just looking at sustaining the corals I have in there.

My overall goal would be to get some corals and put them in the 8 gallon, then after they grow I would look to frag them and put them into the 28. I feel like 96 watts of t5ho with ir's for each bulb should do the trick!