Lighting Q

[peel]

My whole set up caught fire and since I have to get new lights why not upgrade? I have had CF's ever since I've started so I'd like to try something else. the tank is a 30 gal and I'm pretty sure I'll be upgrading to a 75 over the summer. I'd like to start SPS as well. My dad wants to go with Mh and CF's but I've been reading up on t5's and they seem to have more Pros. Any suggestions?

 

[coral88]

T5s
You will go back and forth all day long with people saying MH is better or T5 is better You really have to make the choice for your self in the end.

Having said that I've had both single end halides and double ended halides and I now run all my tanks with T5s including my 75 sps only that I just got started.

So I say T5s

 

[peel]

i've been looking at

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+12772&pcatid=12772

would the 48" 432w be plenty?

 

[coral88]

It really depends on what you are going to have under the light. That light doesn’t have individual reflectors. Without them you really don’t get the light you should get out of T5s. I have a sunlight supply Tek light they are nice lights but are going to cost a little more. I’m not that familiar with other brands.

 

[coral88]

The 4 - 6 bulb fixture would be all the light you need. I have the 8 bulb on my 75 but I have only sps I had some lps and zoas in it when I first got it going and had to only run 6 bulbs.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Metal...and-Fixtures-T5-Fixtures/c57_58_63/index.html

 

[peel]

i have zoas, rics, beginner harder corals such as hammer and frogspawn. But i plan on moving into lps and sps once i get the tank back up and running