T5s Q&A

a 6 lamp T5 fixture is superior for the following reasons
1 - if you have individual reflectors you can get majority of light where you want it - in your tank a PC with the twin tubes means some of the light is directed towards the tube next to it - they dont make reflectors for PC that are as effective as refleftors made for T5s
2 - lamp life - T5 tubes have a longer life in terms of output power - they stay true to Kelvin temperature longer and thus many people suggest you change PC lamps every 6 - 9 months wheras 12 - 15 months is typically suggested with T5
3- for corals like SPS , it would be difficult to imagine to much T5 light to be honest and if 8 tubes would fit accross your tank then that would be great - but 6 lamps has been proven effective by many people in terms of maintaining and encouraging growth ( growth may be improved under 8 tubes and the thread starter Dr Fragenstein has 8 tubes and achieved some great SPS growth)

hope the above helps

before you decide on your lighting needs - decide on the corals you want to keep. but with having T5s now, even if you do go for the easier less light demanding soft corals species, having that lighting capability will mean you can progress, without a secondary lighting investment IMHO

Hope that helps
Steve

 

awesome Steve thank you very much!

 

alright folks, good work on frying my little brain with this thread but also thanks for the great info. I think i have at least skimmed this entire thread and have gotten a lot of great info form everyone. BUT. as i stated above my brain is now fried and i am left looking at a website selling Giesemann T5s and I am unable to choose which bulbs i should buy .
I have a Nova extreme 48' 6 bulb fixture. currently running 3x 10k, 3x 460 actinic (came with fixture .

simply: looking to replace my bulbs with a combination that will promote best growth for my LPS & softies.

Question: i understand that having a wider array wavelength will be beneficial but will having 3 different rated nm bulbs (i.e. 1x pure actinic, 1x actinic +, 1x Aqua Blue +) not provide enough of any particular wavelength? meaning, would it not be better to have say 2 or 3 of the same bulbs to provide more of 1 particular wavelength (say 460nm)?

Also: should i stick with the 10k bulbs or move up (14-20k)? i know this will add a blue tint but are 10k bulbs not the best for overall LPS growth? i realize i am generalizing with the term "best for LPS growth" but what do you say? would having a combination of 10k 14k or 20k bulbs do any good?

I apologize for my incoherent rant/question but I'm thrown through a loop here.

I love reading these threads but i just get lost sometimes... bless these smilies.

 

and THANK YOU DR. F in-particularly for the great Q & A!

 

I am setting up a new 125g 6 ft long tank. I have finally decided to go with a T5 setup. 12-39w 72" lamp (6 - 700K Daylight, 6 - 450nm atinic's) full complete fixture, LED's, timer's all built in. (Aquaticlife). But i am worried. Is this enough light for my tank? I have Softies, LPS, and a few SPS now. But upgrading to this new tank and currently i have MH 150 with 39w T5's. (Tank - 20x high). New tank is big, and that means Big lights, (power and heat).

Any thoughts out there?.

 

hey dr. frag excellent thread by the way. i just purchased the g-man retro fit kit 48", and discovered their reflectors are huge. (like 3" across) i could make them fit in my existing canopy but i wouldn't be able to mount all of them on the lid like i wanted. my question which reflectors would you reccomend that would fit in the spot i want to put them. the spot by the way is 10" 5/8 across.
thanks in advance,

brent

 

i have a t-5 fixture with 2 t-5s and they have both individual reflectors, and i have a tall 40 gallon is that strong enough for corals like the pearl torch coral near the bottom. 1 light is white and 1 light is actinic.

 

I believe those corals require a good amount of lighting (more than what you have). What type of fixture and bulbs do you have (more specific on the bulbs)?

 

10k white t-5 420-460nm blue actinic t5 both 39 or 36 watt.

 

Fischkid2
Dr Frag seems to be busy elswehere - fortunately I had a very similar situation myself and got some PM advice from the good Doc

I had 3 x 10k and 3 x actinic
I now have 2 x 14k , 2 x 15k and 2 x 22k lamps over my 5ft - the 14 and 22 are Geisseman lamps and the 15k are aquamedic
the good Doc informed me that the par on the Geisseman lamps would be more than adequate for my LPS and softy needs in the lower half of the tank and still be enough for the SPS corals I wanted in the upper half

Steve

I believe you will definitely be able to support/ encourage growth from the corals you mention using the T5 set up you described as the tank is only 20 inches deep