Shallow sps frag tank, cheap t5ho

scubasteve2580 · Jun 2, 2015

Hey just wanting to get some input on lighting a frag tank where the frags are 6-10 inches down. I've been looking at a 4x54watt t5ho on eBay. Thinking of coupling that with a couple diy blue led strips. Any input? I'll put good bulbs in the fixture of course.

scubasteve2580 · Jun 2, 2015

Actually, also considering running 2 twin bulbs and 3 LEDs strips so I can spread em out to cover 2 foot. For the most part it's monti's and birdsnests. If it works well I'll do it with acros too

scubasteve2580 · Jun 4, 2015

No one?

redfishbluefish · Jun 4, 2015

The issue is the cost of the bulbs. The bulbs you'll get with these inexpensive units tend to be crap. So going out and now having to spend $22 - $25 a piece for quality bulbs, it's no longer a bargain. On top of that you'll need to replace these bulbs, at a minimum, every year. Reconsider LED's. JMTC.

scubasteve2580 · Jun 4, 2015

I'm running LEDs over the system as we speak and I'm just not getting the colors from the sps that I would like to get. I would ideally like to run to Fiji purples and 2 aq specials, and then 48 royals blues over them. I don't mind the bulb replacement I just don't want to spend $400 per fixture when the corals are 6" below the water.

redfishbluefish said:
The issue is the cost of the bulbs. The bulbs you'll get with these inexpensive units tend to be crap. So going out and now having to spend $22 - $25 a piece for quality bulbs, it's no longer a bargain. On top of that you'll need to replace these bulbs, at a minimum, every year. Reconsider LED's. JMTC.

I'm

joshbbert · Jun 4, 2015

I recently switched out 4 bulbs on my t5ho, it will come with 6500k bulbs if its not for a reef, and reds right it was 25 $ per bulb plus around 30 $ for blue strip leds if I had to buy the fixture as well it would have been 2 bills for everything you can get a kessil 160 for that or 2 china leds. I will say that the light is amazing tho lol. I could grow a tree with it 10 inches 25 inches I dont think it matters haha

ronnie · Jun 4, 2015

I run a coralife 24" fixture over my QT (runs all the time) with ATI bulbs.

The whole bulb replacement thing is really blown out of proportion IMO. Just replace them. It's $20 a bulb. Big deal. Buy two now and two in a month and stagger them so you don't burn the corals.

I also run T5's for 14-18 months. I'm not sure when the whole 9-12 month replacement myth started popping up. Maybe when sales dipped.

I would pull the trigger and get the T5s on there. You'll be very happy with the combo. Just be sure to dial down the LEDs a lot so you don't fry them with the PAR increase of the T5 bulbs. Also, T5's don't cause shadowing issues like LEDs, so be aware of that as well. You could burn tissue with the new T5s just by having light in places that haven't had light due to shadowing.

scubasteve2580 · Jun 4, 2015

I've always been a huge fan of t5's and currently run a FOWLR tank with one as well as a small mixed reef.
I was wanting the cheaper fixtures as I am not needing the depth of the other reef tanks and I know the reflectors aren't worth a crap on these fixtures but with good bulbs I can run 4 t5's for about $175. It's only got to penetrate 6" of water, 8" max. I figured the fixtures would be ok just wasn't sure if anyone else had any experience with a similar situation.

scubasteve2580 · Jun 4, 2015

Forgot to mention I will only have 12" of clearance from light to water as well so LEDs, other than diy' would be a difficult hanging job

ycnibrc · Jun 12, 2015

here is a cheap $99 6x24" fixtuxe with 4xATI blue + 1x ATI purple+ and 1xATI coral+. I can grow any frags of any kind of sps. Frag tank is Leemar 22"x30"x12"