watts per gallon for sps
- Thread starter EvilE
- Start date
RichConley
New member
are the T5s HO, or NO? Do they have individual reflectors?
plyle02
Active member
IMO, as stated above WPG, really is not the best approach to answering your question. IME, although ligthing plays a major role in the success or your reef, I would start with water quality 1st. What are your params, (CA, DKH, NO, PO4, MG,)? How visibly clear is your water? Can you tape a sheet of white paper on one vertical side of your tank, and then look through the opposite, and still clearly see the same sheet of paper showing the same color? Now, the reason why is that light can penetrate the water better, the clearer it is. So, with pefect water, I would say that your setup would perhaps work. I use 6x54watt t5 HO, on my 75, and have fairly nice water, and had to move the fixture over 6" off water. Are the bulbs on individual reflectors? This of course has been shown to improve your total light output. Some things to think about relevant to your question. Good luck, and watch out for the sps addiction....lol...
Justin/TiV
New member
I'm not much of an expert on T5's, but I think they need to be alot closer to the surface of water
undertai
Active member
You should invest in the ho lights instead of the no. The ho's put out more light than the no's and they should be around 6 inches from the water surface. I have a 55 gallon tank and run 2 175mh'sand 2 65w pc's. Mh are around 6 inches from surface and pc's around 8 inches. I have around 8 watts per gallon. I want to invest in the vho's to replace the pc's to get around 10w per gallon.
The canopy you use have any reflective materail in in or just bare wood? If bare wood consider painting it write to get more light in the tank.
You get get good growth from the t5's and t6's just move closer to water surface and upgrade to ho bulbs.
Picture of my tank with mh and pc's.
http://www.myreeftank.info
The canopy you use have any reflective materail in in or just bare wood? If bare wood consider painting it write to get more light in the tank.
You get get good growth from the t5's and t6's just move closer to water surface and upgrade to ho bulbs.
Picture of my tank with mh and pc's.
http://www.myreeftank.info
reefkoi
Premium Member
It sounds like you are underlit. You may keep a few sps alive but I don't think the color or growth will be there. I think for a 55 you'd want atleast 8 t-5 HO with 3-4 different spectrums and individual reflectors for each then you'd have a really nice looking setup for sure. I'd stuff as many t-5's in the hood as you can then you'll have enough light.
undertai
Active member
aluminum foil could work but; I would go with mylar paper. It looks like aluminum foil but made thicker and more effective at reflecting light. Its the same things plant nurseries use in their stores and sell to customers. Its reflects light better than aluminum foil and with stands heat better to. I wouldn't use it with mh lights I have some in my canopy with a 3 inch space between the paper and mh bulbs. Still the bulbs burned a hole in the paper 
, it was only $3 for 4 square feet of the stuff on ebay.
White paint acts the same as the mylar paper just cheaper and bulbs want burn through it.
, it was only $3 for 4 square feet of the stuff on ebay. White paint acts the same as the mylar paper just cheaper and bulbs want burn through it.
RichConley
New member
Can people who dont understand lighting please not make comments on it.
1. You can't fit 8 T5HOs over a 55.
2. If you could, you would kill EVERYTHING. You could put tables on the sand, and they'd still bleach out and die.
3. People need to get it through their heads that T5s are NOT LOW LIGHT.
RichConley
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10169365#post10169365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by undertai
aluminum foil could work but; I would go with mylar paper. It looks like aluminum foil but made thicker and more effective at reflecting light. Its the same things plant nurseries use in their stores and sell to customers. Its reflects light better than aluminum foil and with stands heat better to. I wouldn't use it with mh lights I have some in my canopy with a 3 inch space between the paper and mh bulbs. Still the bulbs burned a hole in the paper
White paint acts the same as the mylar paper just cheaper and bulbs want burn through it.
White paint is nowhere near as reflective as aluminum foil, let alone mylar.
You need to buy the high heat mylar. The regular cheap stuff will just burn off.
plyle02
Active member
Rich,
I was thinking the same thing. As stated in one of my previous posts, I have a 6x54 tek unit and had to raise it more than 6" off the water, due to too much light/ heat. BTW, I have a sps dominated reef that has tons of growth. 8x54 watts on ind. reflectors for a 55 gallon, I was very much confused by this responders data. My unit covers my 75 completely, so even if you did have 8 bulbs over a 55, only 5-6 would of the bulbs would be effective anyway. Too many people out there still don't realize how powerful T5's are.....
