PDA

View Full Version : Lighting for my 120 gallon


KellerMike
09/24/2011, 02:36 PM
hey all
i have decided to go with a T5 setup for my reef tank that im going to be setting up, the only question is how many i should be using for it? i want to
keep mostly soft corals, but maybe some hard corals, my tank it 4ftx2ftx2ft


Thank you

Blayz77
09/24/2011, 04:02 PM
i am also about to start setting up a 120g, im interested in why you are choosing to go with t5 instead of mh or led?

KellerMike
09/24/2011, 04:46 PM
price is mainly the concern,

maddmaxx
09/24/2011, 07:06 PM
6 to 8 t5s on that tank would be plenty for anything you wanted...i too am setting up a 120. im goin with 8 t5s myself. why am i personally choosing this light set up over led or mh is because it has less heat than a mh and very good par readings, so with a 2 foot deep tank. theres no need for mh to penetrate down to the bottom of the tank, the 8 t5s will get down there just as easy. and leds just seem complicated and prices as $h*t...

Blayz77
09/24/2011, 07:40 PM
fair enough i agree on the price of led they are way up there unless you get an older unit but who wants to do that when getting a new tank. ive only used mh and i dont like how they heat the water up so much

GrampaDon
09/24/2011, 07:41 PM
6-8 would be about right.
10 if you have real dark sunglasses for viewing.

milkman55
09/24/2011, 07:48 PM
6 bulbs for soft and lower light corals. 8 bulbs if you want some SPS.
I have an 8 bulb TEK fixture on my 120 gal tank mounted on legs and it will grow anything.

James77
09/24/2011, 07:51 PM
8 is the max you would ever need, 6 would keep most anything as well.

KellerMike
09/25/2011, 01:23 AM
Thanks guys, 8 it is. I just wanna try findin a used set up to save some dollars. The first thing I'm focusing on is lighting, then filtration, then water flow,

KellerMike
10/01/2011, 08:05 PM
I actually picked up a aqualight pro for a decent price. It has 2 150w metal Halides and two 90x PC acintics, im hoping this is going to cover me. Im taking the old bulbs out and gettin phoenix 14k bulbs