T5's

Reefcraze_1 · 09-08-2007, 07:04 PM

I've been looking into getting new lighting: I'm looking at T5's or VHO fluorescents. I have a 55 gallon 36"/19"/18" tank and I heard that too many t5's can burn soft and lps corals I want to be able to keep soft corals as well as sps and lps and clams so I need a intensity level that wont kill the soft or lps's. A friend told me that lighting for sps's is also sufficient for clams on the sand bed (if this isn't the case please tell me other wise) It would be nice to get a couple of clams.

lcstorc · 09-08-2007, 07:25 PM

As for the softies [ut them under ledges or other low light areas. As far as clams go a lot depends on what kind of clam.

Frankie · 09-08-2007, 07:47 PM

I for one am a big fan of T5's but MH's need to be introduced when your looking at clams. I have seen a few tanks that have clams and lots of sps under T5's that look awesome. But there is the fact that they are dealing with over 12 bulbs and varying wattages.

hma · 09-08-2007, 08:08 PM

The luminous efficiency of T5 lights and MH lights is relatively alike. The flash spectrum is with T5 even somewhat more favorably than with MH however both only with same Watt number. T5 illuminates a tank evenly and works in my eyes somewhat unnaturally. MH produced very natural light effects which me particularly well pleases. Many of my friends in Germany light up their tanks here exclusive with T5. Their tanks are marvelous, them have both SPS and clams. Goes thus both, in the long run is it a question to personal taste.

prow · 09-08-2007, 09:22 PM

T5's will do more than support clams and sps. my chronical needs updating, but all my lps i had to move under ledges and to the corners where less light get to. they where getting burnned up like you heard. i only use 6 bulbs on my 72x18x20 tank. but i overdrive them and they are 80watters with good reflectors. i think it will be a challange to keep a mixed sps-whatever tank because the lighting is evenly spread with T5's. you can always take off a reflector or two or dont overdrive them, that may make your lps and softies happy but then any sps and clams might not like it much. with the even spread of light its harder to do a mixed reef, IMO.

AQTCJAK · 09-08-2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hma

The luminous efficiency of T5 lights and MH lights is relatively alike. The flash spectrum is with T5 even somewhat more favorably than with MH however both only with same Watt number. T5 illuminates a tank evenly and works in my eyes somewhat unnaturally. MH produced very natural light effects which me particularly well pleases. Many of my friends in Germany light up their tanks here exclusive with T5. Their tanks are marvelous, them have both SPS and clams. Goes thus both, in the long run is it a question to personal taste.

I have never looked @ it in that aspect it is a very good one one I really like I just tried to convience Vicki that I have a 744 Watt T5 Setup I did for a customer that I have since upgrades to a 400 Watt LED system avaiable for a expeiment. She does want to run that test against her 750 Watts of HQI because of the cost of electricity. I dont blame her I convinced her HQI are a thing of the past like treating with copper

hma · 09-09-2007, 04:20 AM

T5 is a direkt light like LED light too, very effectiv , much more effectiv as MH light. That is also the reason why an display to to the edge, lit up with T5, is evenly illuminated. All three kinds of light are equally suitable as lighting for SPS/LPS, Softcorals and Tridacnien very well.

I have question however to this topic. In the USA were not also various tests with the different lighting installations accomplished? I think in the USA was certainly also tested. Here in Europe different research institutes have that made with partly astonishing results.

redspot321 · 09-09-2007, 07:09 AM

Tek-light 4 x 54 over a 75g. You cannot go wrong with this fixture, here is the proof. For the first 3-4 months you will have to shield your lps or they will get baked. Then start changing out your bulbs at 1 year. 2 at a time every 6months!(so that the changed bulbs are 1 year old)

See the clam on the bottom, growing like a weed.

email me if you have questions, Im not getting updates for some reason.

Melanie · 09-09-2007, 07:55 AM

That is nearly my set up and I'm so thrilled to see you have a clam! I thought for sure I would never be able to get one because I read so much about them needing much more wt. per gal. Thanks for sharing.

I have T5s 4X54 with 1 actinic and 3 Daylight. Here is my tank (new set up)

forestal · 09-09-2007, 10:58 AM

i am really interested in going over to t5's to save electricity, just a lot of money up front. any suggestions on how much would be necesary for a 120 gallon (currently got 2x250W mh and dual vho)..

nice looking tanks

prow · 09-09-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forestal

i am really interested in going over to t5's to save electricity, just a lot of money up front. any suggestions on how much would be necesary for a 120 gallon (currently got 2x250W mh and dual vho)..

nice looking tanks

what are the deminsions of the tank?

forestal · 09-09-2007, 11:31 AM

sorry that might help

48 " long 24 x 24

prow · 09-09-2007, 11:56 AM

depends on what you are thinking of keeping under them but, 6x54watters, is what i would go with. but you can fit 8x54watt bubls if you want. if you use icecap ballast it overdrives them to 80watts per bulb. so to match the MH
6x54watts(overdriven to 80watts)=480watts is about right

this would give you more light than the current MH
8x54watts(overdriven to 80watts)=640watts

forestal · 09-09-2007, 12:02 PM

thanks... that helps, and i don't necessarily need stronger light, but i do have mostly sps/ afew lps and a few clams doing nicely and clams are near the bottom

just gotta find a setup i can afford

Reefcraze_1 · 09-09-2007, 12:47 PM

K so my 55gallon tank is 36x18x18 I was looking at the sunlight supply 6 and 4 bulb fixtures. And, should I use the 4 or 6 bulb fixture? I was thinking of overdriving the 4bulb fixture but it would be cheaper to run the 6 bulb fixture for like 8 years. I'm just worried that the 6 bulb might burn the lps's and the softies.

09-08-2007, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	T5's I've been looking into getting new lighting: I'm looking at T5's or VHO fluorescents. I have a 55 gallon 36"/19"/18" tank and I heard that too many t5's can burn soft and lps corals I want to be able to keep soft corals as well as sps and lps and clams so I need a intensity level that wont kill the soft or lps's. A friend told me that lighting for sps's is also sufficient for clams on the sand bed (if this isn't the case please tell me other wise) It would be nice to get a couple of clams.

09-08-2007, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,456 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's As for the softies [ut them under ledges or other low light areas. As far as clams go a lot depends on what kind of clam. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

09-08-2007, 07:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,035 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's I for one am a big fan of T5's but MH's need to be introduced when your looking at clams. I have seen a few tanks that have clams and lots of sps under T5's that look awesome. But there is the fact that they are dealing with over 12 bulbs and varying wattages. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

09-08-2007, 08:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
hma Acropora Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 1,733 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's The luminous efficiency of T5 lights and MH lights is relatively alike. The flash spectrum is with T5 even somewhat more favorably than with MH however both only with same Watt number. T5 illuminates a tank evenly and works in my eyes somewhat unnaturally. MH produced very natural light effects which me particularly well pleases. Many of my friends in Germany light up their tanks here exclusive with T5. Their tanks are marvelous, them have both SPS and clams. Goes thus both, in the long run is it a question to personal taste. __________________ Heinz Luck is a good health and a bad memory (Albert Schweitzer) Balling Method : Balling +Plus Video : Centropyge potteri Tools : Balling Calculator My Chronicle and ReefDreams HM-Aquarium Photo Calendar 2008 "IF SHARKS DIE, THE SEA DIES"

09-08-2007, 09:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
prow Manta Ray Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 3,771 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's T5's will do more than support clams and sps. my chronical needs updating, but all my lps i had to move under ledges and to the corners where less light get to. they where getting burnned up like you heard. i only use 6 bulbs on my 72x18x20 tank. but i overdrive them and they are 80watters with good reflectors. i think it will be a challange to keep a mixed sps-whatever tank because the lighting is evenly spread with T5's. you can always take off a reflector or two or dont overdrive them, that may make your lps and softies happy but then any sps and clams might not like it much. with the even spread of light its harder to do a mixed reef, IMO. __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." ........Lao Tzu........ my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html

09-09-2007, 04:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
hma Acropora Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 1,733 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's T5 is a direkt light like LED light too, very effectiv , much more effectiv as MH light. That is also the reason why an display to to the edge, lit up with T5, is evenly illuminated. All three kinds of light are equally suitable as lighting for SPS/LPS, Softcorals and Tridacnien very well. I have question however to this topic. In the USA were not also various tests with the different lighting installations accomplished? I think in the USA was certainly also tested. Here in Europe different research institutes have that made with partly astonishing results. __________________ Heinz Luck is a good health and a bad memory (Albert Schweitzer) Balling Method : Balling +Plus Video : Centropyge potteri Tools : Balling Calculator My Chronicle and ReefDreams HM-Aquarium Photo Calendar 2008 "IF SHARKS DIE, THE SEA DIES"

09-09-2007, 07:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
redspot321 Bryozoan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 57 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5's Tek-light 4 x 54 over a 75g. You cannot go wrong with this fixture, here is the proof. For the first 3-4 months you will have to shield your lps or they will get baked. Then start changing out your bulbs at 1 year. 2 at a time every 6months!(so that the changed bulbs are 1 year old) See the clam on the bottom, growing like a weed. email me if you have questions, Im not getting updates for some reason.

09-09-2007, 07:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's That is nearly my set up and I'm so thrilled to see you have a clam! I thought for sure I would never be able to get one because I read so much about them needing much more wt. per gal. Thanks for sharing. I have T5s 4X54 with 1 actinic and 3 Daylight. Here is my tank (new set up) __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

09-09-2007, 10:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
forestal Torch coral Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 582 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's i am really interested in going over to t5's to save electricity, just a lot of money up front. any suggestions on how much would be necesary for a 120 gallon (currently got 2x250W mh and dual vho).. nice looking tanks __________________ Peace, Dan

09-09-2007, 11:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
forestal Torch coral Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 582 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's sorry that might help 48 " long 24 x 24 __________________ Peace, Dan

09-09-2007, 11:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
prow Manta Ray Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 3,771 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's depends on what you are thinking of keeping under them but, 6x54watters, is what i would go with. but you can fit 8x54watt bubls if you want. if you use icecap ballast it overdrives them to 80watts per bulb. so to match the MH 6x54watts(overdriven to 80watts)=480watts is about right this would give you more light than the current MH 8x54watts(overdriven to 80watts)=640watts __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." ........Lao Tzu........ my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html

09-09-2007, 12:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
forestal Torch coral Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 582 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5's thanks... that helps, and i don't necessarily need stronger light, but i do have mostly sps/ afew lps and a few clams doing nicely and clams are near the bottom just gotta find a setup i can afford __________________ Peace, Dan

09-09-2007, 12:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5's K so my 55gallon tank is 36x18x18 I was looking at the sunlight supply 6 and 4 bulb fixtures. And, should I use the 4 or 6 bulb fixture? I was thinking of overdriving the 4bulb fixture but it would be cheaper to run the 6 bulb fixture for like 8 years. I'm just worried that the 6 bulb might burn the lps's and the softies.

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