T5 vs. MH vs. LED?????

[FF Rainwater]

I am starting a new tank that is 8'x2.5'x2.5'...will be doing a reef tank on it..have two 6' t5 fixtures with four bulbs a piece from my last tank...is that enough light for the new tank or should I look into something else? Don't have a chiller so I was thinking maybe led? What do yall think?

 

[footboard]

An expert on lighting I'm not so I will wait for people in the know to fill in your direct question. In the mean time you might want to add what type of reef you are looking at to get a better answer to your question - SPS, LPS, soft, shrooms, mixed.

 

[gibbus123]

IMHO 8 x 80watts or 10 x 80 watt sunpower should be good. Depending on what corals you use. Heat also is much less if hung 8-10" awl.

 

[James77]

I think it would work fine, though you may need lower light coral on the ends with the missing 12" of coverage on each side. Can be a good thing though....

 

[FF Rainwater]

I'd like to do a mixed coral reef...right now its only soft corals thou..thanks for the input!

 

[tozzi]

I think what u have is fine to start with. If u go crazy with sps all over in the future, add or switch to led or mh

 

[jbannick18]

I think what u have is fine to start with. If u go crazy with sps all over in the future, add or switch to led or mh

Why switch T5 has been proven over and over to provide amazing color and growth.

 

[Anemonebuff]

If money is not an option go LED. The lack of added heat and power consumption, plus long stretches without need for replscements.