What named SPS do well under T-5's?

Fcamdog

New member
I have a well established frag tank, 40g breeder, and am about to upgrade to a six bulb T-5 retro. I would like to grow a few SPS but want to start with a few that most people have been able to grow under T-5's already. I'm not a newbie to SPS, so water chemistry is not a question, or factor. For this question lighting is the only variable.

I guess an equal flipside question would be what "named" SPS have you ONLY been able to grow under MH?

Please drop off your two cents if you've had success growing SPS under T-5's and please don't forget to add the "name". Thanks,

Fcamdog
 
If you get a good quality set up you can grow what ever you want. I have a ATI PowerModule over a 30" tall tank and grow sps in the sand bed in the shade.
 
so how many watts are those t5's (total) and what size tanks are they over that you are growing them in the sandbeds? also the names of the sps would be helpful also..... pictures wouldn't hurt either....
 
I have 10 over my 36x36x27 Cube. They are 6 ATI Blue+ running on Workhorse ballast and 4 ATI Aquablue Special running on an IceCap 660. I'm able to grow SPS close to the bottom with no problems.

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I have 540 total watts on a 200 gallon tank. 60X30X30 Notice the Maxima clams in the sand bed, both have doubled in size in less than one year.


My only beef with this fixture is it's way too powerful. I have to be very careful after I replace my bulbs and when I add new sps. I've burned more sps than I care to mention wth this fixture.


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Awesome! I bought the best T-5 retro ReefGeeks offered, individual reflectors, etc... I guess I'll take the plunge. Thanks,

Fcamdog
 
I have been running T5 (Aquanitics) on my 75G SPS for about 6 month and recently changed to 250W Radium, from my limited experience, T5 will bring up insane vivid color of SPS due to wider spectrum from bulb combination. PAR is not a issue at all, I can see noticeable growth almost everyday.

But some corals just don't look good under T5, due to the fact that T5 does not induce same glowing effect from certain MH bulb, such as Radium. Thus for some corals which are famous for glowing & subtle contrast, for example Raspberry Lemonade, ORA pearlberry , Granulose.....they may not look good under T5.

That's why I changed to Radium, within week of change, my Oregon Tort, ATL glowing jade Horrida started to glow. My granulose become nice-looking again after it lost glowing under T5.

I am sure there are lot of corals looking better under T5, maybe you just need to avoid the ones which do not look good without glowing.

I think the best is combine of the MH and T5.

If you want to look at my tank, see this thread
 
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