t8 vs t5 lighting

[reeftanker84]

ok now this may be a stupid question,but here goes,what diferance is there between the t5s vs the t8s
can you still grow corals on t8s? if so what kind? and do they need reflectors? does anyone have a t5 setup for sale?and one other question,does it matter if its a 2 bulb or do i need a 4 or 6 bulb on a 55 gallon,and what wattage should i get? 39 watt or 54 watt?

[Chameleon Bob]

I'm running 4 T-5's on my 55 g all Ice cap bulbs 2 twillight, 1 pure acintic and 1 one 10,000 bulb. At 3 inches off the bottom of the tank I have 4,500 lux mid tank 5 - 8,000. I've kept some acropora and trying a maxima clam now which seems to be doing fine. I will probably not got to a six bulb since I don't keep SPS.

[reeftanker84]

so i would only need a 4 bulb setup then? as long as my bulbs were good i could keep sps at the top? what wattage are your bulbs and are they HO

[Chameleon Bob]

Yes you can keep some of the sps with a 4 bulb, but sps is a little more picky about flow and water parameters. My first frag didn't bloom ever and died and the second took almost 2 months to bloom. But found out I didn't have enough flow in the tank. My bulbs are 54w ice caps which are made to be over driven to 80 watts if using their ballast. Mine run at 54w with advance ballasts.