Should I do 10 t5 bulbs or 8?

[tcfab]

I am in the process of building my new rimless tank. The tank measures 48"x30"x22" tall. The tank is going to be SPS dominated. I am having a hard time deciding on doing (8)- 54 watt bulbs or (10)-54 watt bulbs? What would you guys do?

 

[_Alex_]

If your going to over drive them with a icecap ballast, or use an ati pm iIwould think 8 would be enough depending on the width of the fixture.

 

[skinz78]

Are you looking for a complete hood or are you looking for a DIY type fixture?

I have a standard dimension 75g with a six bulb setup on it and my sps are doing great. I used one of these setups from Hello Lights plus another 2 bulb, I think you would be fine with two of them. If you have just basic knowledge of putting stuff together you can do this DIY light, pretty much you just screw the endcaps down and plug it in.

Hellolights 48" 4 Lamp T5 Retrofit Kit (Bulbs Included)

 

[inactive]

10 bulbs for the win.

 

[milkman]

I have eight bulbs in my TEK over a 120 gal 48x24x24 and it's great. The extra 6" width might warrant the extra two bulbs. Because you are only 22" deep, the eight bulbs might be fine.

You most likely will not have a lot of SPS near the front glass, so I think you could do it with eight bulbs and just center the fixture over the SPS.

 

[JR's Reef]

10 bulbs for the win.

I agree! The tank Im going to built is close to the same as yours mine will be 53x32x18 and Im going to do 10 bulbs

 

[inactive]

My tank is 36x18x25... old tank(t5 lit) was 48x13x20T and I used a 6 bulbx54w TEK fixture... grew SPS and everything, everywhere...

 

[tcfab]

The whole light is going to be custom built so I can spread out the bulbs to my liking. Here is a picture of the Aluminum fixture right now. I still need to weld the seams and then I am going to sand it smooth and give it the brushed alumium look and clear coat it with automotive clear coat. First pic is the fixture just sitting on my stand.

 

[Troylee]

8 is plenty IMHO...
I run a diy 8 bulb fixture on my frag tank with cheap reflectors and ballast... Bleaching sps all day long...
Just buy good bulbs..

 

[tcfab]

I am kind of leaning towards 8 bulbs. Thats what I am worried about Troylee, I wondered if I would get bleaching with 10 bulbs

 

[Troylee]

Up top you prolly will... Mid to lower tank should be fine...

 

[Aloha Corals]

10 Bulbs = 540w
10 Bulbs Overdrven = 850w

2x 14k pheonix 250w MH will save you electricity.

Shimmer FTW!


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[solitude127]

I have 8 x 54 watt ATI PM on my 30" wide tank and wish I got the 10 bulb. 8 bulb gives plenty of light but I would have like the 10 for more front to back coverage. But since you can space them out, I'd go with 8.