View Full Version : T5's & SPS
phenom5
07/05/2008, 04:03 PM
Alright, so I'm just going to go ahead an ask. I know, it's the kind of question that everybody on this board loves, but I've been reading and researching, and I'm still not sure.
4x24W T5 retro (Icecap SLR from reefgeek) over a 20L SPS tank, is it enough light?
The light would be around 4-5" off the water, with the SPS at around 6-9" depth in the water.
I love the look of MH, but I'm sick of dealing with the heat. But I'm a little leary because the T5 retro would run almost double the cost of a 150W or 250W DE retro.
Also, any suggestions on the bulbs?
Thanks...I've looked through some of the T5 Q&A thread...went through 7 splits, still couldn't find the start of that thread, there's almost too much info in that thread.
Ricunger
07/05/2008, 04:07 PM
I have a found respect for t5's because of this mans tanks... http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1215102
Im sure this will be helpful
KniLLifer
07/05/2008, 05:32 PM
phenom5,
That should be plenty of light.
I would use a combination of ATI and UV bulbs.
Front of the tank.
ATI Blue +
UV Super Actinic
UV Aqua Sun
ATI Blue +
There is no doubt that you can keep SPS under (4) 24 Watters in a 20L
Just for fun. This is where I was about a year ago.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee214/KniLLifer/FullTankShot-1.jpg
and now with my T5's
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee214/KniLLifer/Zaydens1stb-day097.jpg
Good Luck!
pIankton
07/05/2008, 07:01 PM
More than enough light - almost to the point where I wouldn't try to keep anything but sps and clams.
phenom5
07/05/2008, 07:22 PM
I have a found respect for t5's because of this mans tanks... http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...hreadid=1215102
Im sure this will be helpful
That's a very nice tank...I wonder if he would even notice if I just "borrowed" a couple of frags from his prop tank. :D
phenom5,
That should be plenty of light.
I would use a combination of ATI and UV bulbs.
Front of the tank.
ATI Blue +
UV Super Actinic
UV Aqua Sun
ATI Blue +
There is no doubt that you can keep SPS under (4) 24 Watters in a 20L
Nice looking tank, and thanks for the advice. I've been very pro MH, but with a small tank, the heat is just a PITA to deal with. Like I said, I'll miss the MH glimmer, but I'm become more & more interested in giving the T5's a shot.
Now I just have to figure out a way to justify (to my wife & myself) the price.
More than enough light - almost to the point where I wouldn't try to keep anything but sps and clams.
That's the idea. :thumbsup:
Reeferdude2
07/05/2008, 11:10 PM
I have several tanks and one has SPS with T5 and the corals look great.I try to get same coral in both SPS tanks 1 with MH and 1 with T5 just to see how they look.
cthedaytrader
07/06/2008, 08:06 AM
I have a 20g Long, I went through the same debate as you did on the lighting. My tank has a ton of sps in it right now, and zoos. I went with the tek 4 bulb t5 fixture.
Honestly, I think it is enough light, my sps are growing and encrusting, but some are bleaching and went pastel colors. I think it is not from my parameters as I have tested them over and over and they have been very stable.
Leaving me with the lighting. I either think it is too much light or too much UV exposure. Right now I have even moved the lights higher above my tank. I thought it migh tbe too little light, but two of my zoo colonies bleached, and one has started to come back when I moved it in the shaded area.
I am not sure what else to do at this point other than try a 150 HQi, which I might or shorten my photoperiod. So the icecap will probably be even stronger. The main ting you have to remember about the 20G Long is it is only 12 inches deep so there arent many places to move corals so they get less light.
My bulb configuration right now is
Blue
Aquasun
Blue
Actinic
which does give a nice look to the tank
cthedaytrader
07/06/2008, 08:24 AM
I will add the t5s really dont add to the heat of the tank at all.
My opinion right now of t5s is that they arent as forgiving as MH setups. I really think you have to do a lot of tweaking to keep great colors in sps.
mikeu
07/07/2008, 11:10 AM
No problem at all keeping SPS in a T5 only tank. It's sometimes difficult finding areas for lower light coral, however because you have the same "intensity" the entire length of the T5 tube.
goreefer
07/07/2008, 11:19 AM
I have a 29 which has the same foot print as a 20L with a 4X24 T-5 system and I can grow anything that i want. I have a ORA Nathans Green Milliepora that I have to frag monthly or it will shade the whole tank. I grow Zoa's so fast that they have to be scraped from the overflow or they will close it up. Green Montipora grows like mad...
So yes you can keep any SPS that you would like.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/goreefer/S6300024.jpg
mcliffy2
07/07/2008, 11:34 AM
I think the emerging theme with T5s is not whether its enough light, but whether its TOO much light. I also had the experience of bleaching some corals when switching from 400w 20k MH, I swapped out a couple bulbs with actinics and shortened the photo period and it seems to be helping quite a bit.
cthedaytrader - try shortening the photoperiod your aquasun and one blu plus are on. Have all 4 lights on for 6 hours max for a bit (one blue plus and actinic otherwise) and see if that helps.
phenom5
07/08/2008, 09:00 AM
Thanks for all the input.
I am really leaning towards the T5's, although I'll probably go with a 4x24 Tek retro over the Icecap retro for cost reasons.
A lot of my corals will be moving on to other tanks, so I'll probably be looking at mostly zoas (most of which seem to be pretty light hungry), and SPS. Maybe the odd acan or blasto for good measure.
Any thoughts on the height of the lights from the water line? I was thinking 4-5", but now I'm wondering if I should go a little higher.
Also, right now I'm running 2 4" computer fans to keep things cool with the MH. Should I still run those in my new hood with T5's?
I think the emerging theme with T5s is not whether its enough light, but whether its TOO much light. I also had the experience of bleaching some corals when switching from 400w 20k MH, I swapped out a couple bulbs with actinics and shortened the photo period and it seems to be helping quite a bit.
Wow...I would have never guessed that. Even running 20KK bulbs, I would have thought that a 400W MH would be more intense then T5's. I guess that should elevate any concerns I had...as if all of the FTS of people's tanks wasn't enough. :thumbsup:
Thanks again for all the help. And as always, great looking tanks guys, the pics always help to keep me motivated to get my tank up to speed.
eederise
07/08/2008, 03:40 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12895534#post12895534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
I think the emerging theme with T5s is not whether its enough light, but whether its TOO much light. I also had the experience of bleaching some corals when switching from 400w 20k MH, I swapped out a couple bulbs with actinics and shortened the photo period and it seems to be helping quite a bit.
cthedaytrader - try shortening the photoperiod your aquasun and one blu plus are on. Have all 4 lights on for 6 hours max for a bit (one blue plus and actinic otherwise) and see if that helps.
I have just adjusted my light cycle a couple days ago(revved down to about 6 hours) and swapped out a couple of "whiter" bulbs for actinics about a week ago in hopes of bringing some of my SPS colors back. About how long did it take before you had a noticeable coloration improvement after you made these adjustments? Also, after the colors came back, did you slowly increase your light cycle or left it at 6 hours?
wiso reef
07/08/2008, 07:16 PM
Hi KniLLifer, wath t5 combination you have now in the 120gls tank,nice tank!
cthedaytrader
07/08/2008, 07:49 PM
Hey mcliffy2,
I started shortening my photoperiod down, well see if that helps, but I do have sunpod and 15 phoenix waiting now which i might try, this way i can put lower light stuff at the edges.
I really think the problem with the t5s is too much light. I did take out the auqua sun as well and put in a at special in it splace to see if that makes a difference, well see. It would be interesting to swithc to MH and see if things get better I just dont want to keep shcoking my tank
Stealth91RT
07/08/2008, 07:55 PM
This was an amazing tank that used T-5's. He is currently rebuilding due to tank leak.
PWhitby's 600 Gal. Reef (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1423726)
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