T5s Q&A

hi dr.frag. i just got my online order in last night. i went with 1 6000k geismann daylight bulb , 2 actinic plus and 3 aquablues. i didnt go with 2 daylight bulbs because i wasnt sure what the "yellow" would be like. im looking forward to gettin them in my lights. figure 2 each week? again thnx for you much regarded help.

guy

 

2 each week would be fine. I am swapping out my 8 lamp unit now and I did the 4 "blues" first and when I get my lamp back that was shipped broken I will swap the other four...
Time will depend on how old your existing lamps are, what type of corals you have and how close the lamps are to the water... Oh, and I guess how nervous you are about photoshock!

 

Hi Doc, If I am understanding this right you and I have pretty much the same size tank. You reccomend an 8 bulb wide fixture. Can you suggest one in a 72"? Or are you using 2 36" ? I have decided to go the T5 route, mostly to try to avoid adding a chiller. I do wish to keep some SPS, but I also love some of the softies. Will this work for me ya think ?

Kim

125 gal

40 lbs Live rock

80 lbs Base rock

80 lbs fine Argonite

55 gal sump

(2) Magdrive 7

(2) Hydor Koralia 3's

G3 skimmer

(2) ViaAqua 200w titanium tube heaters



1 - Black Clown

2 - Nakid Clowns

1 - Yellow Watchman Goby

4 - Red leg hermits

 

hi Kim

Dr Fragenstein uses 60 inch x 80 watt T5s over his reef tank. its a retro fit for a home built canopy

here is his tank thread that shows how he has it

Steve
http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/dr-frags-t5-lit-180-a-55308.html

 

hello Dr. not to long ago i asked about a light setup for growing mostly SPL's in a 40g breeder and you recommended a few nice light setups and out of the few i was mostly looking at the Tek Elite 6 bulb unit. i chose to wait and take some time before buying a lighting unit to make sure that i was wanting to grow SPS's. being that their isnt to many tanks in the area to look at, it took some time. i finally heard about a place that had both SPS's , LPS's , polyps and mushrooms to look at. so i took a drive for about 2 1/2 hours to get their and after spending alot of time in the shop i believe i would be very happy growing mostly LPS. know i no that alot of different corals fall into the LPS category so pretty much i like all of them on this link: LPS Corals: LPS Stony Corals and other Hard Corals for the Aquarium

Just to put it out their, i do like the polyps as well. Mushrooms well i maybe like one or two at most. i wouldn't mind having a clam. i've noticed a few that are pretty cool. As for the SPS i guess i dont need them.

So once again what light setup? would i still need a 6 light setup or would a 4 light unit be the way to go know that im not doing SPS? maybe something like the Tek 36walt 4 light unit?

ONCE AGAIN THANKS ALOT

 

Hi jfannin

The good Doctor is not on site at present, so I figured I would offer my opinion
4 lamps would be good for softies and some LPS (I have had success with some, but not tried all LPS under 4 lamps so cant say all , Torch, hammer, frogspawn , OK under 4 x 40 watt for me some years back

but if the SPS bug ever does bite, then you will probably want to upgrade
so if it where me, I would go for the 6 lamp now, so as to keep my options open for later

Steve

 

Hum I was thinking that a 6 light unit would be to much/strong for LPS or am I looking at that wrong? I know less bulds would give me less area of coverage.
So for LPS compared to SPS would I want a higher kelven or less waltage? An even better queston, whats the differance in setup for lps compaired to sps?

 

jfannin

LPS corals can be kept under less light, but that does not mean they cant be kept under more light. the people with the 400 watt MH lamps , can still keep LPS corals and many do so

LPS corals are typically kept on or close to the sand bed anyway so dont worry about 6 x T5s being to much for them, IME they appreciate it. (Ive not kept them all, so this statement is based on the ones I have and do keep Hammer, Torch, Elegance, bubble)

the most significant difference between SPS and LPS for me is flow or water movement
because at the turnover required for the more complicated branched species of SPS to keep detrius, sediment settling on them , Many species of LPS struggle as the flow is to strong for them

Steve

 

Ok cool. I guess I will stick with the plan and get the 6 bulb unit as soon as I get the cash together. Thanks alot

 

Sorry folks for the delayed response... I would like to thank Steve for filling in... Between moving an entire pet store over the last couple weeks and my computer not loading this site I have been absent for too long... Thanks all and trust me I will be on much more than I have been... All PMs have been answered...

Thanks
Joe