I am getting back in to the salt thing again after a short break. I just purchased a 50 gal tank. Dimensions are 48"x13"w X 18"h. My wife loves the softies and I already have 1 dual T5. Would simply getting another T5 be sufficient to grow soft corals? I am getting ready to purchase another light, substrate, and a couple pieces of live rock and really don't want to have to drop a ton of money on lights.. Only helpful advice please.
T5's for soft corals? Advice please
- Thread starter teguc1
- Start date
Check this out:
http://www.specialty-lights.com/new-wave-t5.html
New Wave is the "economy" T5 HO designed for plants. I use it for my tank, and it works great. Individual reflectors for each lamp. For your tank dimensions, look at the 4 feet with 4 lamp configuration.
If you end up going this route, you'll want to order it with the 4 GE 6500k lamps. You'll probably only use 1, and get 3 different bluer lamps. Keep the additional 3 as spares for the next several years. Alternatively, you can order it with no lamps, and kick $56 bucks off of the price (i.e. $14/GE 6500k lamp - that's a good deal too).
I know of no better deal. And to your original question: Yes, you can definitely keep softies with T5 HO lamps, if you have individual reflectors.
Check out the T5 threads. You'll want at least one of those 6500K GEs, because their PAR is so high. You'll probably temper that with 10-12000K companion lamps.
http://www.specialty-lights.com/new-wave-t5.html
New Wave is the "economy" T5 HO designed for plants. I use it for my tank, and it works great. Individual reflectors for each lamp. For your tank dimensions, look at the 4 feet with 4 lamp configuration.
If you end up going this route, you'll want to order it with the 4 GE 6500k lamps. You'll probably only use 1, and get 3 different bluer lamps. Keep the additional 3 as spares for the next several years. Alternatively, you can order it with no lamps, and kick $56 bucks off of the price (i.e. $14/GE 6500k lamp - that's a good deal too).
I know of no better deal. And to your original question: Yes, you can definitely keep softies with T5 HO lamps, if you have individual reflectors.
Check out the T5 threads. You'll want at least one of those 6500K GEs, because their PAR is so high. You'll probably temper that with 10-12000K companion lamps.
iamquockie
New member
with softies and going 4x54 you can probably get away with not having reflectors, it would be better if you did though. You will have to do some major acclimating if you already have livestock in the tank.
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