Lighting fixture/tank covering -newbie...go easy!

Hey all, After 20 years of being away from fish only marine tanks, I am about to re-enter this awesome hobby and plan on doing it the right way with the help of people like you. Thanks!

Tank: 55 gallon reef

First question: I plan on purchasing a t5 4x54 lighting system and have heard and read all kinds of mixed reviews. Light quality is not the issue, but the sturdiness of the mounts is one concern. How do people fasten them so they are SECURE? Secondly, I have only used cheap hoods with simple flourescents in the past so covering a great deal of the surface wan never an issue. With the lights that I am looking at, and they are all nearly identical, what additional coverings are used (cut glass?)

Secondly, on filtration... Are UG filters out of the question..I mean do they eventually lead to such high ammonia levels that it could kill some of the livestock? Does anyone here know of others that still use UG filters and what are the results?

Thanks a lot and if I left out any pertinent info, I will update and I plan on growing as many different types of corals as long as they are thriving.

Nick in Broward Co.

 

ok nick, most of the time, good t5 fixtures come with mounting legs that mount the fixture about 4 inches or so above your tank. As far as covering the tank, this is not recommended due to the oxygen exchange at the surface of the water.(where the critters get o2) UG filters are not recommended as they just don't do what they are intended to do. (they do ok in fo systems and freshwater) but not in the reef tank.

 

Thanks Daniel...I saw the mounting legs and read some user reviews that claimed they were "shaky" and that if even bumped slightly, they would go into the drink. No additional stabilization is necessary iyo? Also are the splash guards sealed well?

Is evaporation incredibly more rapid with such little covering?

Thanks man, N

 

Good luck and let us know what you end up doing!

 

the evaporation is more rapid, but gas exchange is SOO much more important.

 

The LFS here switched from MH to an 8 bulb t5 fixture on one of the shallow reef tanks. The livestock appear much less tense and there was virtually no bad algea, like cyano or hair, visible in the tank. Maybe just a coincidence but it made me think about t5's. Also the are much more energy efficient, and do not increase the temp in your display tank, so you don't have to add a chiller just because of the "pretty lights" lol.

 

Thanks to both of you and here is my last dumb question......

Hanging is not an option for me... what is meant by retrofitting...do you mean installing the new t5 lighting unit into something I could build?

 

yeah it means adding the light to a canopy that you either purchase or build. When I did my 150 gallon, I built a canopy and added a mh retro to it.

 

cool...later all, and I'll be back!