Tuscaquatics
Member
OK. I'm ready to throw down and get proper lighting for my 55-gallon reef. I want to have softies, SPS, LPS, anemones, clams, you name it. I'm really thinking about T5s rather than MH because of the heat issue. The last thing I want to do is get a chiller. Also, I don't want to have to cut down my lighting to only 8 hours a day. I want to see my tank!
I don't have a canopy, so a retro is out of the question. I'm gonna have to get an all-in-one fixture. Will 4x54w T5 be enough? My friend seems to think that 6 will be too much and I might end up bleaching stuff. Is there that much of a difference with only 2 extra bulbs? He runs 4 T5s on a 90 gallon that is much deeper than my 55 and he keeps all kinds of stuff successfully.
What do you guys/gals recommend? ATIs are out of the question as I can't spend that much. I'm thinking about a Nova Extreme of something in that range. Give me your advice. Also, what kind of bulb configuration would you run?
I don't have a canopy, so a retro is out of the question. I'm gonna have to get an all-in-one fixture. Will 4x54w T5 be enough? My friend seems to think that 6 will be too much and I might end up bleaching stuff. Is there that much of a difference with only 2 extra bulbs? He runs 4 T5s on a 90 gallon that is much deeper than my 55 and he keeps all kinds of stuff successfully.
What do you guys/gals recommend? ATIs are out of the question as I can't spend that much. I'm thinking about a Nova Extreme of something in that range. Give me your advice. Also, what kind of bulb configuration would you run?