Lights for a 75g reef

Does anyone have any experience with the WavePoint T-5 Light Fixture 48" 4 x 54 Watt 460NM/12,000K. I currently have 4*65 watt powercompacts over it and want to upgrade lighting. I want to be able to keep some of the easier SPS.

 

Personally, I wouldn't keep any SPS under 200W of light. I recently went with MH and will never go back. My SPSs have seen major improvement since the upgrade. They seem to love the higher Par levels.

 

I don't know anything about this fixture but if the reflectors are good and you get good bulbs you will be able to keep SPS under them. I just did a quick little bit of research and couldn't find much, it sounds like they have individual parabolic reflectors so that's good. I have no idea what the par coming from their brand of bulbs is though so unless you can find a reliable person who's tested it I personally wouldn't buy it.

There are plenty of tried and and true T5 fixtures that are available in a few price ranges. Tek, ATI etc. that can definitely keep SPS under them. Buying new tech without good info on them and their performance is very risky.

 

Yea I know that they are a new fixture so there's not really too much on them but I have heard dome pretty good things about them from the people that have them. I can get the fixture brand new for 250

 

If it works out and you purchase the fixture, mabey you could post a review?

 

No problem I don't know when it will be but when I upgrade lights I will post a review

 

i've got a 75, and put a current usa outer orbit on it about a year ago. this has 4x54 t5's and 2 150 watt MH's. the lighting looks great, but sps has been slow to grow, and ever since putting it in i've wished i had paid the big $$$ for a 250 watt MH fixture.

if you want sps to grow, go ahead and blow the cash up front on high watt MH's, IMHO.

 

sps takes more than just light to grow. I had 175 watt mh over my 24 inch deep 150 gallon tank and saw great growth with my sps. The only reason I upgraded was the ballast and sockets were given to me. That's the only reason I went to the 400 mh.

 

true, and with the 150's i don't have to worry about a chiller

 

SPS DO need more than light, water quality and zooplankton are also needed for fast growing colorful SPS.
On a 55 you could get away with a 4x54w T5, granted the spread would be small but it'll do for easier less light demanding SPS.
A 5-6 lamp T5 would be the way to go if you want to go T5. The TX5 would be a great option as would the SolarFlare or Constellation. Granted these are more pricey than say a Tek but there are more pros to these fixtures including fans and better quality more reflective aluminum.
Don't get me wrong, I am NOT an ANTI MH guy, there is some great benefits to them, but in my eyes T5 is an easier transition and lighting style for the entry level to intermidiate keeper. Don't get me wrong the advanced aquarists will have success with T5 also, I just find that MH can be too much for some who are used to say PCs. The cost and heat and so on of the MH can be overwhelming to some.
Honestly, while I do think 250s are a good option, unless you are very adept at reef keeping and husbandry I can imagine bad things happening to a 55 with 500w of MH over it, algae, bleached corals and so on, not to mention heat and $$.
I would say 150 or 175 with supplemental blue lamp t5s would be a good start. Whether you buy a fixture or a retro that would be a good place to start.

Remember just because you are cranking light into a tank does not me it will grow and color up the way you want it to. The only thing it will do for sure is line the pockets of your local energy plant's board of directors.

Happy lighting!