T5s Q&A

You could go with that fixture to grow soft corals, LPS, and possibly SPS high in the tank. What size is the tank?

As for individual reflectors, lots of fixtures are designed so there's not enough room to fit them, even if you wanted to add them on. Try looking at reefgeek.com, championlighting.com or bulkreefsupply.com .

 

thanks, the tank is 75g. i checked the clearance between bulbs and it is 1 1/4".

 

All of the individual reflectors I've seen are like 2.5 - 3 inches wide.

 

Hey everyone its been awhile since i posted anything but its time to switch out my bulbs again.
I have all giesemann:
2 aquablue +
2 attinic +

I have decided to switch over to ati.
I looked at reef geek and they list the ati aqua blue special as a 15000k and bulkreef supply list it as a 12000k so which is it?

I plan on going with:
2 ati aquablue special
2 ati blue +

here are the links:
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...54W_Aquablue_Special_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI
54W -48IN 12000K ATI Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent Bulb - English

 

The aquablue is a 12000K bulb

 

Try Hellolights.com - Your Aquarium Lighting Superstore!.

Probably can do LPS and SPS on top. With individual reflectors it should be able to do SPS in top 2/3 of tank.

 

Is the TEK Elite 48" 8 bulb fixture worth the extra 120 and compared to just getting the standard model?

I'm not sure if the fan is worth that much.

 

It definitely is. It'll keep the ballasts from heating up too much, and same for the bulbs, which means they're good for longer.

 

Sorry if this has been asked and answered before, I tried to skim the thread but it is now quite lengthy.

I currently run 4 48" t5s on 2 icecap 660 ballasts and reflectors on my 55 gal. I am getting ready to upgrade to a 90 gal and build a new canopy to fit. I have a couple of questions.

1) what is the optimum distance from the water to have the bulbs to get the best results?
2) with the icecap ballasts and reflectors overdriven to about 85 watts I believe that should run about total 340 watss or 3.7 watts per gallon. Would you consider that still enough on a 90 gal to keep a variety of corals? Currently I mainly keep LPS and softies. I do Have a monti cap and a scroll. I havent been bitten by the acro bug yet but you never know.

 

Irrumatter

based on research done and own experience , there is not much light reduction due to air space between lamp and water surface
you can have them either directly over the top of the tank - thus 2 - 3 inches or you can raise them up to 8 inches or so should you have legs on a typical canaopy style fixture

a general rule of thumb with T5 lighting is that you want 1 tube for every 3 inches of tank width - so if its a 15 inch wide tank 4 would be OK
If its an 18 inch wide tank - 6 would be better

but IME and seeing what others have acheived on this site and other sites
an 18 inch tank with 4 tubes is also effective, and coral placement is key
you obviously dont want corals to high up in an area outside of the scope of the lamps you have as they would not benefit from said lamps

Steve