T5's

[Nemo Keeper]

This morning I recieved my new T5 high output lights, 12K day and actinic. I am in AAAAWWWWWWW!!!!! What a difference in the tank compared to the 6K day I had before which were ALOT bigger than the bulbs I have now. Even the colors on the corals are "glowing". I didn't realize lighting makes that much of a difference. Can anyone reccomend what kind of corals I can have with these lights?

[Ninong]

You forgot to give the dimensions of your tank. In particular, we would need to know how tall it is and the depth of the sand bed in order to estimate the height of the water column.

However, assuming it is less than 27" tall, then I think you can keep just about anything you please. Just take a look at the tank pictured as RC's July 2008 Tank of the Month and you will see what I mean. His tank is 24"H and he has a nice DSB that appears to be about 3" deep.

High intensity lighting with just HO T5s (RC's July 2008 TOTM)

Tank dimensions: 64"L x 31"W x 24"H

Lighting: Ten 80w T5 bulbs in Powermodule Ati lamp

As you can see from the tank photos, Szymon Jankowski is an SPS specialist using nothing but HO T5 lamps.



P.S. -- He is using a very expensive fixture but you can get the same results with your T5's provided they have individual reflectors. Individual reflectors are necessary to achieve the full potential of T5 lamps.

[cdearing]

Congratulations on your new lighting. What fixture did you get and what brand bulbs do you have? Did you order online or from LFS? We'd love to see a new photo to compare to your old lights.
Cyn

[Nemo Keeper]

My tank dimensions are 48"L x 18"W x 19"D. I have about 2.5 inches of sand on the bottom. I really can't recall off the top of my head the exact brand of the bulbs but I do know they're from Germany. It's a DIY kit that goes under the hood of the tank. I will take some pictures of it and post it in a bit. I'm hoping these lights will be enough to start placing all types of corals, however, I am COMPLETELY new at corals. anyone have any sites where I can read up on them and how to keep them alive?

[Nemo Keeper]

And yes, they have individual reflectors!!

[Nemo Keeper]

Here are the pics I promised, although it looks alot brighter in person!!!




Pre T'5


Post T5's

[charlie]

Things do look a lot crisper in there, that is nice!!!! Thanx for posting.

Try this site for some basic info on what corals you might want.

www.asira.org - A S I R A

[Nemo Keeper]

Thanks Charlie, great web site!!!! I'm definitley going to start adding some nice coral to the tank. Since I haven't added anything in almost 2 months, I think I'm due!!! LMAO

[charlie]

Just be slow!!!!!!!;;;;

[Nemo Keeper]

Yeah, I learned my lesson about 6 months ago when I first got the tank. I added 3 fish, a cleaner shrimp, 15 snails and 2 starfish all at one time. The 3 fish died of Ick one starfish died and I had like 3 snails left I wanted to cry. Since then I have been adding only one thing at a time every month and a half or so. I refuse to lose hundreds of dollars again!!!!! I figure I'd get one nice coral and let it sit for a couple of months before adding anything else.

[denhay14]

That guy who got TOTM has a pretty amazing tank its so cool. I like the looks of your new lights too.

[Nemo Keeper]

Yeah that tank is pretty bad a**. He used the same lights the only difference is that I only have 2 bubs, 1 day 1 actinic. I thought about getting the 4 buld but I'm kinda glad I didn't, I think it would've been overkill on my size tank.

[Ninong]

Yeah that tank is pretty bad a**. He used the same lights the only difference is that I only have 2 bubs, 1 day 1 actinic. I thought about getting the 4 buld but I'm kinda glad I didn't, I think it would've been overkill on my size tank.

He's using ten 80w HO T5 lamps over his tank. If you're runing only one daylight and one actinic (2x54w) over your tank, then you don't have nearly enough. Your present lighting is suitable for a FOWLR aquarium, nothing more. Sorry.

You will need more lamps than that if you want to keep corals. At an absolute minimum, you should double the number of lamps you presently have but I believe it would be much better to go with five 54w tubes since your setup is DIY and not a ready-made fixture. The ready-made fixtures (U.S. brands) for 48"L aquariums usually come with 4, 6 or 8 T5 lamps.

If I were setting up your aquarium for mostly SPS and clams, I would go with six 54w HO T5 lamps.

Good luck!



P.S. -- I suggest you invest in a couple of good books. There are several websites (e.g. Wet Web Media) that are loaded with information but there is nothing like a good basic book that you can read through for a good basic understanding of the hobby that you are undertaking. I recommend Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals and Robert Fenner's The Conscientious Marine Aquarist (Revised 2008). Borneman's book is about corals, Fenner's book is about aquariums in general and has a lot of information on the various fish.

[Nemo Keeper]

Good looking out Ninong. The only problem I have is that the bulbs have individual reflectors and I don't have anymore space to put more bulbs, and if I tell my bank (wife) I need to cough up another 300-400 bucks, I might have to room in with you...LMFAO!!!! I think I can manage to put another 2 54W on the openning part of the hood but that would max out my space. Any thoughts?

[Ninong]

It's up to you. It's just that you don't have nearly enough light right now for a reef tank.

[Nemo Keeper]

Honestly, I'm not looking to set up an entire reef. I mostly just want to add some soft type coral to add some color to the tank. But once I convert over to my 200 gal tank (in progress) then I will do a full reef and just keep my 75 for a FOWLR.

[Ratpack]

Good looking out Ninong. The only problem I have is that the bulbs have individual reflectors and I don't have anymore space to put more bulbs, and if I tell my bank (wife) I need to cough up another 300-400 bucks, I might have to room in with you...LMFAO!!!! I think I can manage to put another 2 54W on the openning part of the hood but that would max out my space. Any thoughts?

How much did you pay for the 2 bulb fixture? I paid $400 and got a 6 bulb fixture with individual reflectors over my 75g and I keep mostly SPS with a good bit of them in the Acro family.

[Nemo Keeper]

I paid $200 with tax. I jut ordered another set of 4 bulbs to add to the tank.