Corals under T5 lighting

[Waterloo Kid]

I'm in the first stages of planning a marine tank. It'll be my Rio 400 converted to SW. There will possibly be a sump (depending on if I have the guts to drill the tank), I'm thinking of using a Deltec APf600 skimmer and approx 40kg (88 lb) of live rock. Now, my question relates to the lighing I wil have on the tank. The wife doesn't want an open top tank and I'd rather keep away from MH due to temp problems, running costs and the increased evapouration associated with them. Instead I will be looking at 4x54W T5 lamps. At a mega stretch I could possibly up this to 6 tubes. With this low lighting regime how limited are my coral options?
I assume that I could keep a few higher light species if I stack the rock high and place them up high near the surface but what I really want to know is am I seriously limiting myself due to the lights. I plan on stocking softies and a few LPS if possible. Maybe even a clam if it's possible!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

WK

 

[steelhealr]

Hi Waterloo...sorry if I am from the US. I think you Rio 400 is about 400 liters or ? 100 US gallons? T5 lighting is a getting a new good look over here. At the amount you stated, 216 watts, that's about 2 watts per gallon and is low by most marine standards to support corals for that size tank. There may be SOME low light corals you will get away with like mushrooms or other softies. If you bump it up to 6 tubes, 324 watts, you'll definitely be able to keep what I have....zoanthids, leathers, some LPS, tubipora, actinodisus, ricordea, trumpets (LPS). Unfortunately, clams require EXTREMELY high lighting conditions to survive. Most people keep them under metal halides, specifically tridachna clams. Hope this helped. SH

 

[Waterloo Kid]

Thanks SH. That's exactly what I was after. Not exactly the news I wanted to hear but it is what I expected. I'd quite happily go the MH route as there are plenty of units for sale on ebay at reasonable prices. Problem is the wife doesn't want anything hanging above the tank. Might try to get 6 tubes in then. May be able to get 4 T5s and a couple of PC tubes.

Thanks for the help.

WK