T5 fixture length

[cubbyman60]

I had a question about T5 and fixture length.

My tank is a 72 inch 120 gallon tank. Currently mixed with LPS/Soft coral. I have always questioned the quality of my T5 light set up. The tank is lit by two 36 inch 6 bulb fixtures side by side. The fixtures are old and do not dim and have no active cooling.

The question is...what are the optimal ways to light the tank with T5.

1) Two 36 inch T5 in the current setting. I question this because there has been some debate about the seemingly weaker output of 36 inch bulbs- even though I think, in the past, I have had too much light for most LPS I want to keep (also compounded by no ability to dim the fixture for coral acclimation). As an aside, does this create too much light in the center, or would it be equivalent to one longer fixture.

2) A single 72 inch fixture- which does not come with a dimming feature, at least form ATI.

3) a single 60 inch fixture with 6 inches left at either side, which can be dimmed and programmed.

Appreciate any input. Thank you.

[drummerboyevil]

for LPS and soft a 60" would be PLENTY of light. I grow SPS in my 60" 150 gallon with a 48" 6 bulb (plus one reefbrite in front).

[cubbyman60]

Do you have a problem with shading???

[drummerboyevil]

Do you have a problem with shading???

No. Lighting looks uniform. Par shows an expected end dropoff at the ends of the tank, which is where I keep the few lower light corals that I have.

[cubbyman60]

Interesting. Thanks for your input.

[solitude127]

I have a 48" fixture on a 60" tank and have no issues with keeping LPS on the edges and lower light SPS. I think it depends on your aquascape as well. my rock are about 3" - 4" off the glass all the way around so essentially, I only need lighting for a 52" wide tank.

[rodneyri]

Here is a pic of my 7' tank with a 5' light on it...its worked great and looks much nicer than having multiple light units hanging over the tank IMO. Also half the bulbs to replace than having two fixutres

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x302/rodneyri/IMG_1090.jpg

[kupadupapupa]

I'm going to follow this thread since I am also interested in t5. My tank is 6 ft long with 3 led fixtures over it, growth hasn't been that great and one led fixture might have a bad bulb so I'm thinking about changing to t5 provided I find an excellent deal on one. I was looking at some fixtures and they are still around $500, it's like they didn't go down in price at all.

What would you guys recommend for a 125g tank housing only soft corals with the future possibility of lps? I would like the shortest one with the least amount of bulbs that I can get away with. Thanks.

[drummerboyevil]

Why would the go down?


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[kupadupapupa]

Why would the go down?


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I assume this was to me. Because of closeouts and new models being released.

[drummerboyevil]

Ati does a scratch and dent sale now and then in their sponsor forum. Not sure if it's here or the other big forum.


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[Bpb]

I'd do the 5 foot 6 bulb ATI sunpower. Correct me if I'm wrote but aren't there no 72" t5ho bulbs out there?


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[m0nkie]

go with ATI that's 1 foot shorter. They will be plenty enough. You will need to have shades around the corner for some low light LPS.

I have a 150gal with a 4ft ATI 8 bulb. It can reach 200+ par on the sand bed if needed.

and I believe the 60" is the non dimmable and everything else is dimmable.

[Bpb]

Yeah honestly unless you wanted acropora in each corner it will be helpful to have a 4 foot fixture. I have an 8x54 watt sunpower on my 4 foot 90 gallon and I struggle to keep anything other than light loving stuff. Even in corners. I have even sps bleaching in the lower corners. Having a 48"x18" light over the 72"x24" footprint will actually allow you to have areas of 100-150 par to put things that you otherwise would just flat out not be able to keep at all. Yeah it's exciting to be able to have 350 par in every square inch of the sandbed but it starts to become limiting and prohibitive


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[drummerboyevil]

Yeah honestly unless you wanted acropora in each corner it will be helpful to have a 4 foot fixture. I have an 8x54 watt sunpower on my 4 foot 90 gallon and I struggle to keep anything other than light loving stuff. Even in corners. I have even sps bleaching in the lower corners. Having a 48"x18" light over the 72"x24" footprint will actually allow you to have areas of 100-150 par to put things that you otherwise would just flat out not be able to keep at all. Yeah it's exciting to be able to have 350 par in every square inch of the sandbed but it starts to become limiting and prohibitive


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I had the same problem with my 6 bulb on my 75 gallon. Couldn't really keep anything other than SPS on the sandbed, and even then I couldn't get great colors out of stuff that only need 200 par (PC rainbow) for the best example of their coloration.