t5 on a 75

I need to get a t5 light. I want to know if a t5 with 216 watts is going to be enough for most soft corals and an anemone on a 75 gallon tank?

 

If it was me, I would shoot for double that. For the sake of the nem. Mushrooms and such may be okay.

 

I know the whole " 3-4 watts per gallon rule" and I understand that it is general rule and not a requirement because you dont measure light by the watts it uses. I thought t5's were brighter than a PC, and therefore I thought 216 would be ok.

 

A 4 lamp might be OK, as long as your using good bulbs and SLR's, tho 6 would be better. An 8 lamp would be more suited for a 120 and would probably be overkill over a 75.

~Will.

 

I would say 4 x 54 watt T5s would be great for most soft corals and some nems
depending on species

and IMO a nice LPS Torch coral can be every bit as attractive as a nem and does not give you any concerns with wandering about that the nem possibly/ probably will do, sooner or later


Steve

 

well the only reason said an anemone is because I have one that came with the deal I found on craigslist. he is huge, found a spot he likes and has been there for several days. both of my clowns love him, so I am gonna try to keep him. I have a low budget so I bought a light from aquatraders.... I will not do that again. fixture is ok, bulbs were shipped in a serparate box and all of them were shattered in half. so havent heard when they plan on shipping replacements. probably well after Christmas! my own fault for taking a chance.

 

buy new lamps yourself Pecco Xmas gifts! and then when the replacements come, you have your next tube change already taken care of - always good to have a spare or 2, as you can end up with the odd rogue tube that fails to fire up as it should before its specified time is up


Steve

 

I know I could. as many people have said though...for the cost of all new bulbs and the fixture I could have bought a better fixture overall. so because of cost restrictions I have no choice but to wait for them.

 

Get a 6 bulb fixture instead. You won't regret it.

 

If it was up to me i would go for the Nova Extreme Pro ( 6 bulbs ) works great on my 20 long ,38 cube ,40 breeder and my 75 gal.