4X54W T5

[Stampos]

Hi all,

Looking at the lighting for my future upgrade and have decided on a 4x54w T5 pendant in the hope I can keep softies and LPS under these?

Cheers,

Simon

 

[woody88]

They would be fine for softies and some LPS mate. Personally I'd go with 3 daylight and 1 actinic.

How deep is your tank?

 

[jameshughes1989]

I like a blue look so I would go for 2 blue bulbs and 2 high k bulbs (14000k for example). I dont think these is any need for actinics and have also read that they gove a lower par than normals bulbs, this could be wrong though. Then again, I really like blue so that comes down to taste. As woody said, sofites and some LPS corals will be fine under that. Yet this can depend on the height of the tank.

Cheers

 

[sorgan]

i am pretty sure that actanic light encourages coral growth but light isnt my thing so i could be werong

 

[woody88]

i am pretty sure that actanic light encourages coral growth but light isnt my thing so i could be werong

Your weright sorgan, not werong! Lol

 

[jameshughes1989]

From all the stuff I have read a true acintic bulb does produce Par but not as much as a normal white or blue bulb. that is why I suggested blue.

By the way, I am not arguing I dont actually know, its just from what I have read.

 

[Stampos]

Thanks guys

I am thinking a combo of 14k, 6500k (for growth) and some blues to give a nice look - will probably change my mind though, but at least with T5 it's an easy swap to get the colour balance right

 

[jameshughes1989]

With t5's the lower k bulbs wont produce more growth, that is more related to halide lighting. Just try and find a nice colour combo you like that makes the colours pop too.

 

[chr15_8]

From all the stuff I have read a true acintic bulb does produce Par but not as much as a normal white or blue bulb. that is why I suggested blue.

By the way, I am not arguing I dont actually know, its just from what I have read.

I've read that true actinic tubes are just as important for coral growth as normal white tube.

Personally I would go with a 2/2 mix.

I've got 7 tubes in my fixture. 3 are blue and 4 are white. 7 tubes are only on for 5 hours a day. The rest of the day (6 hours) I have 3 blues and 2 whites

Also how deep is your tank? I had some easy SPS under 4 t5's although they were all with 6 inches of the waterline.

 

[jameshughes1989]

From all the stuff I have read a true acintic bulb does produce Par but not as much as a normal white or blue bulb. that is why I suggested blue.

By the way, I am not arguing I dont actually know, its just from what I have read.

I've read that true actinic tubes are just as important for coral growth as normal white tube.

Personally I would go with a 2/2 mix.

I've got 7 tubes in my fixture. 3 are blue and 4 are white. 7 tubes are only on for 5 hours a day. The rest of the day (6 hours) I have 3 blues and 2 whites

Also how deep is your tank? I had some easy SPS under 4 t5's although they were all with 6 inches of the waterline.

Are you talking about blue or actinic? They differ.

 

[Stampos]

Tank is going to be a 48x24x24 Godiva executive - going to Cov aquatics on Tuesday to order!!

 

[Harry1996]

If you rock work is tall then you can have some sps corals right at the top. Like montipora

 

[Stampos]

Cheers Harry, planning on some bommies to give plenty of swimming room (really want a yellow tang) and may try plating montis and hystrix

 

[chr15_8]

From all the stuff I have read a true acintic bulb does produce Par but not as much as a normal white or blue bulb. that is why I suggested blue.

By the way, I am not arguing I dont actually know, its just from what I have read.

I've read that true actinic tubes are just as important for coral growth as normal white tube.

Personally I would go with a 2/2 mix.

I've got 7 tubes in my fixture. 3 are blue and 4 are white. 7 tubes are only on for 5 hours a day. The rest of the day (6 hours) I have 3 blues and 2 whites

Also how deep is your tank? I had some easy SPS under 4 t5's although they were all with 6 inches of the waterline.

Are you talking about blue or actinic? They differ.

Sorry yes I did, My mistake.

 

[jameshughes1989]

Chr15_8- Thats cool, just wanted to check. As I say thats what I have read, dont know how much truth there is in that though.

Stampos- You are a lucky sod, I always wanted a godiva but I just couldnt justify the price at the time. I wanted one smaller than what they do as standard but it would cost the same as the standard size due to the same amount of materials being used and the wastage from that. Thats why I went with ND but in the future if I can help it im going to get a Godiva.

Also out of interest what pendant is it you are going to be getting? Look at the iquatics ones that are coming out, I have just preordered one. For your size a 4 tube unit is £145.99 and a 6 tube unit is £159.99. If your were going for this then maybe look at the 6 tube unit, there isnt a lot of price difference but with 50% more light it then wouldnt restrict what you could keep if you changed your mind in the future.


Cheers