T5 lighting for a 30" tank

kitestir · 09-13-2006, 11:50 AM

I am looking at getting a T% setup for my new tank. It is 30" wide and 24" deep. I am looking at getting either a six bulb retrofit kit with individual reflectors or an 8 bulb premade enclosure with 1 polished aluminum reflector. Would like to keep softies, zoo etc and maybe some of the easier SPS's.

The premade would be the easiest as I would not have to build a hood, but would 8 24" T-5 with a single relector be enough light?

Thanks
Shawn

Witfull · 09-13-2006, 12:31 PM

it would be enough light, but the sides will be a bit less illuminated. noting wrong with that though, makes a softer zone for less light needy critters. shrooms will love it.

powdertang05 · 09-13-2006, 01:26 PM

i would say individual ones are the best if you think you will go into sps's otherwise if not in the future then one big one will be just fine.

BoomerD · 09-13-2006, 02:34 PM

An 8 bulb tek-style fixture will give great light for MOST of the tank, but the ends may be a little dimmer. Good place for the lower-light loving species...

Hmm, don't see one in 24". Only 4 bulbs...
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104186.html
Of course, if your tank is wide enough, you could easily have 2 of these, and possibly offset them a bit to cover the ends...

Warnberg · 09-13-2006, 02:35 PM

Defiantly go with individual reflectors and overdrive the bulbs with a Icecap ballast.

Just my 2 cents

billyr98 · 09-13-2006, 03:53 PM

what about the depth of T5 penetrations... I heard they only can go 18" max with efficient light...

kitestir · 09-13-2006, 06:44 PM

these are my 2 choices.
This one willbe 30" with 8-24 watt bulbs and $249
http://www.aquauniverse.com/componen...hop/Itemid,31/

or this on in 6X24 watt for $219:
http://www.aquauniverse.com/componen...hop/Itemid,31/

I talked to the people there and they said that the amount lost by not having reflectors should be made up by the 2 extra bulbs. And that the single reflector is polished aluminum with a mirror finish as well so it really would not make much of a difference.

I know that they are not TEK's but they are in my budget range now

What are your thoughts?

09-13-2006, 11:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
kitestir Tunicate Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2 View Gallery Karma Komment	T5 lighting for a 30" tank I am looking at getting a T% setup for my new tank. It is 30" wide and 24" deep. I am looking at getting either a six bulb retrofit kit with individual reflectors or an 8 bulb premade enclosure with 1 polished aluminum reflector. Would like to keep softies, zoo etc and maybe some of the easier SPS's. The premade would be the easiest as I would not have to build a hood, but would 8 24" T-5 with a single relector be enough light? Thanks Shawn

09-13-2006, 01:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
powdertang05 Midas Blenny Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting for a 30" tank i would say individual ones are the best if you think you will go into sps's otherwise if not in the future then one big one will be just fine. __________________ Dang Lazy Cleaner Shrimp

09-13-2006, 02:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting for a 30" tank An 8 bulb tek-style fixture will give great light for MOST of the tank, but the ends may be a little dimmer. Good place for the lower-light loving species... Hmm, don't see one in 24". Only 4 bulbs... http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104186.html Of course, if your tank is wide enough, you could easily have 2 of these, and possibly offset them a bit to cover the ends... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

09-13-2006, 02:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Warnberg Acropora Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,911 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5 lighting for a 30" tank Defiantly go with individual reflectors and overdrive the bulbs with a Icecap ballast. Just my 2 cents __________________ Dave 240 Gallon Tall Tencor (96"L x 30"T x 18"W) 4 250 Watt MH XM10K bulbs 2-54 Watt T5 Actinic Euro-Reef CS8-2-RC Jetstream 1 Calcium Reactor 4 Tunze Turbelle stream 6000 power heads 7095 Tunze controller

09-13-2006, 03:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,400 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5 lighting for a 30" tank what about the depth of T5 penetrations... I heard they only can go 18" max with efficient light... __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

09-13-2006, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
kitestir Tunicate Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting for a 30" tank these are my 2 choices. This one willbe 30" with 8-24 watt bulbs and $249 http://www.aquauniverse.com/componen...hop/Itemid,31/ or this on in 6X24 watt for $219: http://www.aquauniverse.com/componen...hop/Itemid,31/ I talked to the people there and they said that the amount lost by not having reflectors should be made up by the 2 extra bulbs. And that the single reflector is polished aluminum with a mirror finish as well so it really would not make much of a difference. I know that they are not TEK's but they are in my budget range now What are your thoughts?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)