View Full Version : Show me your 180g on T5s!
platax88
02/17/2009, 09:58 PM
I am thinking of switching from MH to 6x80watt for my 180gal. Was wondering if anyone is having luck with sps on this type of system??
Please post pics of your tank and lighting .. thanks!
Peter Eichler
02/17/2009, 10:37 PM
I've had great success with my T5's... However, I see no need to switch from MH to T5 or vice versa if you already have one or the other. It would probablky take a very long time to make up the price of a new T5 setup in energy costs.
Success in a 180 is just as easy to achieve as it is any other size tank, so it's very doable to keep SPS under T5's in a 180. It can be a bit more of a pain because there are no 6' bulbs. You'd either have to run 36" side by side or 5' bulbs. For that reason I think a lot of the benefits of T5's are lost when you go to a tank longer than 5', but they're still plenty powerful enough in the right configuration. Over a 180 you'd want either 16x39w bulbs or 8x80w with good individual reflectors, ballasts and bulbs.
Zeus2
02/17/2009, 10:59 PM
This is a 120 on T-5's
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt31/jdukee/fishtank010.jpg
platax88
02/18/2009, 06:44 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14420997#post14420997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
I've had great success with my T5's... However, I see no need to switch from MH to T5 or vice versa if you already have one or the other. It would probablky take a very long time to make up the price of a new T5 setup in energy costs.
Success in a 180 is just as easy to achieve as it is any other size tank, so it's very doable to keep SPS under T5's in a 180. It can be a bit more of a pain because there are no 6' bulbs. You'd either have to run 36" side by side or 5' bulbs. For that reason I think a lot of the benefits of T5's are lost when you go to a tank longer than 5', but they're still plenty powerful enough in the right configuration. Over a 180 you'd want either 16x39w bulbs or 8x80w with good individual reflectors, ballasts and bulbs.
Thanks Peter. The reason for the switch is that i am in the process of buiding the tank in wall and the fishroom will also serve as an office. The room is getting way too hot with the MH. With the tank being built into the wall, i loose some of the width. I only have 20" to play with so i would only be able to fir 6x80. Do you think that is ok?
Peter Eichler
02/18/2009, 11:19 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14422246#post14422246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by platax88
Thanks Peter. The reason for the switch is that i am in the process of buiding the tank in wall and the fishroom will also serve as an office. The room is getting way too hot with the MH. With the tank being built into the wall, i loose some of the width. I only have 20" to play with so i would only be able to fir 6x80. Do you think that is ok?
Yeah, I think it would be fine. Just keep the less light loving corals on the ends of the tank. Also, I'd suggest going with one of the top of the line fixtures since you're doing 6 bulbs over a 24" wide tank. The ATI Power Module is probably the best, and you could even fit the 8 bulb fixture which is only 17.5" wide. The 6x80 retrofit kit from reefgeek would be a good choice as well and the 8x80 would be right at about 20".
This aquatinics is another consideration, but 14 bulbs will get pretty expensive to replace...
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AT-CT57200&Category_Code=Aquactinics
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