T5's too much light for what I want in my 29g

I am brand new to the site, but not too new to the hobby. I have been running a FOWLR 29g for about a year. I am slowly converting to a reef tank and have added a few mushrooms (tag alongs with some rock mostly) and they are doing excellent but I am only running a standard aquarium light at the moment. I want to convert to either a T5 or PC lighting system.

I have read a LOT and know that most people will say the T5's rule over PC's (not everyone but most). What I am looking at is the Current Sundial 4x24 T5HO fixture with individual reflectors and 2- 10K and 2- actinic's. I am comparing this to the Current Orbit 2x65 PC (1-10K/6700K dual daylight and 1- dual actinic).

My plan is to only keep softies, leathers, and maybe some LPS but no SPS or clams or other high light requirements.

My question is this...since MOST of what I would want to keep is of the low light variety, would the T5 light which most say is more intense be TOO intense for the lower light requirement species? Would I be better off going with the PC's?

I know most guys would say I will go with the higher lights so that I cannot limit what I put in the tank too much, I do not want to bleach/fry/kill the types that I prefer to keep anyway......advice?

 

I personally feel that it is better to error on the more intense side then the less intense side. Many corals can better adapt to higher light conditions than lower light conditions. I would go with t5 lighting. That way, if you do ever want to get more light demanding corals, you will be ok. You may be thinking you won't right now, but I went from setting up a FOWLR to a full blown reef tank.

 

+1 you wont regret it I got t-5's and my mushrooms are getting huge, and I even fragged a couple and can't tell them apart

 

I agree with the statements above. I run halides and have several sps and a couple of softies along with my sps and none of them have shown any negative side effects towards the lights. The t-5's will do great with the corals you want to keep. If there is something that is low light that you want to place near the top just acclimate it to the lighting and you will be fine.

 

All I have to say is beware of the 'well I only want low-light corals' bug that can bite. Symptoms may include rationalizing lower light, belief in not needing to get better lights, and a sudden insane love of PCs. Treatments include letting more experienced aquarists talking the inflicted person through it and having some sense smacked into their heads by fellow hobbyists.

Cover all your bases and get the T5s. Not only will you really not have to worry about what corals you keep (excluding some higher level SPS), but better lighting makes lower light corals look better. Sure mushrooms can actually exist under regular fluorescents, but have you seen them under MH or T5? They look amazing. Seen the ones under the fluorescents? They look like crap.

When it comes to lighting anyone who knows jack about lighting will tell you T5 wins out over PC any day of the week, no exception.

If you need more pros though:

T5s don't produce nearly as much heat as PC (another way to show how more efficient they are)

T5s put out way more lumens per watt than PC (this is a good thing, you're corals love it)

Even some LPS can not be kept under PC

 

T-5 and don't look back. I have PC lights for my 20 gallon, and although they are adequate for that tank (FOWLR), I would still recommend T-5 lighting. PCs just don't penetrate very well past 12 inches of depth. I have Current Sundial 4x39watt lighting for my 38 gallon tank, and they are bright. For anything less than clams and SPS, T-5 lights are an excellent choice.


Oh, by the way, this is a good site to purchase them from. Best price i have found so far:

Current USA Sundial T5HO - 10K / 460nm Actinic Light Fixtures

 

Thanks!! Pretty much the responses I expected, but does help me to make the right choice. NOW.....this may need to be a new thread....but I have some really nice mushrooms that are near the top of the tank, I really cannot move the rock they are on because of the structure (took a while to get it the way I wanted it). I am sure I will nuke them once I get the T5's. Can they acclimate to the light it I SLOWLY introduce it? Will they move on their own fast enough to not get nuked? Should I move them myself to another rock? (which I have not attempted before). I think this may need to be another thread but I will leave it here for now. Thanks again everyone who responded.

 

I don't think you'll have a big issue with them under T5's, it's not the super intense light from a MH they'll probably explode with growth if their towards the top but I don't think it'd kill them.

It's always recommended to slowly acclimate in new lighting, going from Pc's to T5 it depends on the fixture, when I put on my tek lite they have 2 ballasts I just ran the one with 2 acintics for a few days, then used the one with the 4 center bulbs, 3 10k's and 1 acintic, then started the normal cycle of acintics for 2hrs in the AM, then all on for 8hrs, then 2hrs of acintics, then darkness

 

i have a 31g, i currently have a mh over it and want rid - i'm looking at t5 3 and 4 tube fixtures.
3 imo is fine - altho i know 4 is great!
So no imo its aint too much light at all

 

yeah i'd do a t5 4 bulb, 2 460nm and 2 10k but thats just me