T5 lighting questions upon questions?

[dave171]

Hi so I'm getting very close to my upgrade tank and can't quite decide the most important aspect of the tank in my oppinion. What kind of lighting?!?!? I always have leaned toward led but just love the fluorescent look t5 gives! If I do go t5 how many bulbs do I need for 46 bowfront tank, what kind of bulbs etc. Thanks for the help , I know I asked some questions before about lighting but that was for leds and I think I wanna just go t5 also what are the benefits for t5 vs led!

 

[kschweer]

When I had my 46 bow front I ran a 4 bulb fixture with 3 blue+ and 1 coral+ and it worked well. I got a good deal on a 6 bulb and switched to that. I really liked the 6 bulb, the bulb combos with 6 are better than 4. I ran and still run on my new tank 4 blue+, 1 coral+ and a purple+. I love the color and growth from this combo. I also run a reefbrite led strip with my t5's. It provides the "pop" in color that blue LEDs are known for. I love my t5's and it would take me a lot to switch from them.

 

[reefndude]

When I had my 46 bow front I ran a 4 bulb fixture with 3 blue+ and 1 coral+ and it worked well. I got a good deal on a 6 bulb and switched to that. I really liked the 6 bulb, the bulb combos with 6 are better than 4. I ran and still run on my new tank 4 blue+, 1 coral+ and a purple+. I love the color and growth from this combo. I also run a reefbrite led strip with my t5's. It provides the "pop" in color that blue LEDs are known for. I love my t5's and it would take me a lot to switch from them.

I use the same combo minus the purple. 4 blue+ and 2 coral+
Also run 2 royal blue led bars . 27 three watt chips each. I am very happy with this combo. Both fish and coral like it as well

 

[hybridazn]

I think a 4 bulb t5 would be perfect for your tank. I run a 4 bulb on my 40b 3 blue+ 1 purple +

 

[chefjpaul]

Both!

 

[nelson.jdautobody]

How high off the water do you guys like to run your t5's- just curious

 

[reefndude]

About 8" above water line. 21" deep tank

 

[dave171]

When I had my 46 bow front I ran a 4 bulb fixture with 3 blue+ and 1 coral+ and it worked well. I got a good deal on a 6 bulb and switched to that. I really liked the 6 bulb, the bulb combos with 6 are better than 4. I ran and still run on my new tank 4 blue+, 1 coral+ and a purple+. I love the color and growth from this combo. I also run a reefbrite led strip with my t5's. It provides the "pop" in color that blue LEDs are known for. I love my t5's and it would take me a lot to switch from them.

I have a fixture in mind I saw online. It is a 6 bulb t5 ho fixture with 6 blue leds. The question I have now is it comes with three 39 watt t5 ho 12,000k fluorescent bulbs and three 39 watt t5 ho actinic bulbs. Is that enough light for my reef ?Mostly softies , leathers , but want to get an anemone and some other more light demanding corals?

 

[reefndude]

I think it's enough for softies and leathers, but not enough for more light demanding corals. Switching out stock bulbs, the actinics in particular and you theneed you may. What fixture are you looking at?

 

[Diesel]

I would do a combo. ATI has a Power module Hybrid that has T5 and leds, very nice fixure.
By running them both you still can have some nice SPS in your tank.
Note, leave the Red Led at 0.0 it will mess up your pop look later in the day and evening.

 

[Homer Allman]

Thoughts on lighting a 96" x 24" x 30" deep tank. What would you use in mixed reef tank.

 

[reefndude]

2 x 48"×8 ati