Coralife T5 Fixture to LED upgrade

[Lt4Mike]

I have a soft coral 55 gallon tank that has been running for about 5 years. I no longer want to change out t5 bulbs and want to upgrade to Leds. I currently have a 48” Coralife 4 Bulb T5 fixture. I do not plan on going lps or sps. I really would like to add a clam to the tank. So it must be able to support that. I’ve looked at 3 AI Primes or 2 Chinese black boxes but I really want something easy to mount to the tank. No hanging. Let me know what you guys think. Cheaper the better but really don’t want to go over $1000.

 

[WIReefer]

I know you want to upgrade to leds but I started with leds and switched to a t5 fixture and never been more happy. Just think how many bulb replacements you can do for 1,000 dollars.

 

[Lt4Mike]

I know you want to upgrade to leds but I started with leds and switched to a t5 fixture and never been more happy. Just think how many bulb replacements you can do for 1,000 dollars.

I know $1000 isn’t chump change but I worry that my 4 bulb t5 isn’t strong enough for a clam. Maybe upgrade to a stronger t5 setup then? More bulbs?

 

[WIReefer]

I know $1000 isn’t chump change but I worry that my 4 bulb t5 isn’t strong enough for a clam. Maybe upgrade to a stronger t5 setup then? More bulbs?

Is it a standard 55? I also run a standard 55 I run a ati sunpower 6 bulb and my par is ridiculous.

 

[Lt4Mike]

Is it a standard 55? I also run a standard 55 I run a ati sunpower 6 bulb and my par is ridiculous.

Yes it is a standard 55. So maybe I have to upgrade to a 6 bulb.

 

[Bpb]

6 bulb will be a lot of wasted light on a tank of those dimensions. I would give serious consideration to a reef breeders photon 48. Will give you perfect full coverage and as much or as little light as you need. If not that, I would opt for some of the led strip lights like the Orphek, reefbrite, or reef breeders in some combination of blue/white

 

[Lt4Mike]

6 bulb will be a lot of wasted light on a tank of those dimensions. I would give serious consideration to a reef breeders photon 48. Will give you perfect full coverage and as much or as little light as you need. If not that, I would opt for some of the led strip lights like the Orphek, reefbrite, or reef breeders in some combination of blue/white

I checked out reefbreeders. Very nice piece, easy to install and seems to have all the par I would need for anything. Only thing that concerns me is if I go to a different size tank then I won’t be able to use that light. I think something modular may be better suited for me. Any suggestions?

 

[Radicalrob1982]

I have a soft coral 55 gallon tank that has been running for about 5 years. I no longer want to change out t5 bulbs and want to upgrade to Leds. I currently have a 48” Coralife 4 Bulb T5 fixture. I do not plan on going lps or sps. I really would like to add a clam to the tank. So it must be able to support that. I’ve looked at 3 AI Primes or 2 Chinese black boxes but I really want something easy to mount to the tank. No hanging. Let me know what you guys think. Cheaper the better but really don’t want to go over $1000.

For a tank that big you can use t5 or led. It really all depends on what you like the look of. Do you want blanketed light or shimmer or the contrast of led? It's really a matter of choice and what you want to see. I have an AI prime and a aquaknight v2 on my 20 long. I use to use a 4 bulb t5 grow light with ati bulbs but I didn't trust it on when I wasn't home. So I use my LEDs because they have a nice sunrise and sunset feature and built in timers. Plus you can adjust the spectrum. And I get a nice shimmer too. I've heard many good things about the photon. I would run both LEDs and t5 if my tank was wider. But at only 12 inches wide my options are limited.

 

[WIReefer]

My 6 bulb sunpower is 12.5 inches very minimal light spillage if any. Great par

 

[X-37B]

Take a look at the Orphek light bars if you want leds.
You could get by with 2 and grow anything for around $400.

 

[X-37B]

My 6 bulb sunpower is 12.5 inches very minimal light spillage if any. Great par

Mine was 4" off the surface with zero light spillage and high par.
A 4 bulb used ati running 2 c+ 2 b+ would work well too.

 

[WIReefer]

Mine wa 4" off the surface with zero light spillage and high par.
A 4 bulb used ati running 2 c+ 2 b+ would work well too.
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Mine wa 4" off the surface with zero light spillage and high par.
A 4 bulb used ati running 2 c+ 2 b+ would work well too.

mine is roughly the same and the par is ridiculous I can grow acros on the sand bed lol

 

[WIReefer]

Mine wa 4" off the surface with zero light spillage and high par.
A 4 bulb used ati running 2 c+ 2 b+ would work well too.

Yeah it’s crazy mine is roughly roughly the same I can grow acros on sand bed lol

 

[X-37B]

Yeah it’s crazy mine is roughly roughly the same I can grow acros on sand bed lol

I never measured par but I ran 8 at 4" 4 c+ 4b+ and could grow acros on the bottom easily too. I run MH now!

 

[WIReefer]

I never measured par but I ran 8 at 4" 4 c+ 4b+ and could grow acros on the bottom easily too. I run MH now!

There is a nice Giesemann fixture right now For sale mh/t5 hybrid I’ve thinking about it.

 

[X-37B]

There is a nice Giesemann fixture right now For sale mh/t5 hybrid I’ve thinking about it.

I switched because I had them from startup and went T5's. I run no t5's now.
I may add an Orphek light bar for dawn dusk as I really like them. A friend runs all Orphek light bars and they are nice.
I say go for the Halides!
I run a giesemann 6 bulb T5 on my frag system

 

[X-37B]

Here is an idea I used for my T5's if you ran Orphek bars and have a rimmed tank.
Works well and you can slide it out of the way to work in the tank.