What bulbs would you use?

[reeftanker17]

I have a 2 bulb t5 on my 75 gallon tank and I seem to have nice growth.... but I bought the tank and we're going to switch out the lights any suggestions? Also are 2 bulbs enough... I only ever hear about 4 bulb + thanks

 

[Joeganja]

Depends what you want to grow. If your aiming for soft corals and lps like frogspawns, any euphyllias, and other lps you should be fine with a blue plus and a coral plus ATI bulb combo. But since it's a 75 gallon your best bet is a 4 bulb fixture. You can do two blue plus, 1 coral plus, and one purple plus or aqua blue special and your corals will thrive like crazy. But with t5s your gonna have replace them 8-10 months or else they will grow algae. So each bulb is around $20 for 48" so your spending $80 every year on bulbs plus $150-250 fixture your better going off with that dual t5 fixture and buying a supplement led strip or fixture.

 

[reeftanker17]

Thanks for the tips... any points on some good led strip to get.... right now I have some frogspawn,hammer, mushrooms, umbrella leather, xenias, but I want a mixed reef so I wanted some montipora and some other stuff!

 

[Joeganja]

Thanks for the tips... any points on some good led strip to get.... right now I have some frogspawn,hammer, mushrooms, umbrella leather, xenias, but I want a mixed reef so I wanted some montipora and some other stuff!

All depends on your budget. If your wanting to grow sps light strips will grow them fine but fixtures will do way better in growth and coloration. But the fluval edge 2.0 marine and reef led, reef brights, there's a whole bunch of strips but those won't give you the pop that most fixtures will. Here's the Aqua illumination hydra 26s

Here is the original fluval marine reef led strip with a four bulb t5 fixture.

 

[reeftanker17]

Thanks for taking the time I'm excited about this

 

[reeftanker17]

here is a ****** pic of my tank.... but I feel it has good light I'm just wondering if I would get better and faster growth with more!

 

[Sabellafella]

here is a ****** pic of my tank.... but I feel it has good light I'm just wondering if I would get better and faster growth with more!

The bulb count basically adds up to the width of your tank. Im sure 2 is enuff if you want to get into some less demanding sps like birdsnest and montis. Just have to keep them highup toward the center of the fixture. You can also Go with high par bulbs, like ati blue+ and a coralplus or aquablue special.

 

[reeftanker17]

Oh got ya ..... because the par on the front and the back won't be as high..... that makes sense..... yeah I definitely want to start with the less demanding corals and move my.way up to some harder ones.... maybe then I will change out my lights for atleast a 4 bulb t5 and led setup!

 

[Joeganja]

Oh got ya ..... because the par on the front and the back won't be as high..... that makes sense..... yeah I definitely want to start with the less demanding corals and move my.way up to some harder ones.... maybe then I will change out my lights for atleast a 4 bulb t5 and led setup!

Do a 2 bulb fixture for now. Like he said. Blue plus with a coral plus and you'll be good. ATI is the leading brand of t5s and they put out amazing colors just gets expensive after a while especially if you have a 4 bulb fixture to replace them every 8-10 months.

 

[reeftanker17]

Thanks guys

 

[Jim C]

I'm in the same boat. I have a 150 gallon with 4 blackbox galaxy hydro LEDs. I'm only keeping softies, LPS, and monti caps. Everything seems fine but I want a little more pop. Would a two bulb T5 fixture be enough?

 

[Bpb]

I'm going to be the odd man out here and say you really should be looking into a 4 bulb or more t5ho fixture, or higher powered LEDs. Yes birdsnest and montipora aren't as demanding from a water quality standpoint, but that doesn't mean they like low light. Under only 2 bulbs in a tank that size, they're going to grow slower than Christmas. 4 bulbs or more depending on your budget.

 

[reeftanker17]

I'm going to be the odd man out here and say you really should be looking into a 4 bulb or more t5ho fixture, or higher powered LEDs. Yes birdsnest and montipora aren't as demanding from a water quality standpoint, but that doesn't mean they like low light. Under only 2 bulbs in a tank that size, they're going to grow slower than Christmas. 4 bulbs or more depending on your budget.

Ok I will Def look into them... I with do a tank thread showing my tank and all my corals and equipment soon...... my story is a what not to do starting out in reefing but so far everything had been good minus a few set backs and learning experiences! I Def would like to have my corals grow faster and if more light will help then that's the route I want to go..... I Def like t5s and leds! Thanks for the comments

 

[Bpb]

I'll also echo what others have said as well though. Regardless of what t5ho fixture you stay or go with, run ATI, Giesemann, or KZ bulbs. Any combination of blue/full spectrum will be adequate

For example

Blue+\coral+ (ATI)
Blue+\aquablue special (ATI)

Actinic blue/aquablue coral (giesemann)
Actinic blue/lagoon blue (giesemann)
Actinic blue/giesemann tropic

Super blue/new generation (KZ)

 

[reeftanker17]

I'll also echo what others have said as well though. Regardless of what t5ho fixture you stay or go with, run ATI, Giesemann, or KZ bulbs. Any combination of blue/full spectrum will be adequate

For example

Blue+\coral+ (ATI)
Blue+\aquablue special (ATI)

Actinic blue/aquablue coral (giesemann)
Actinic blue/lagoon blue (giesemann)
Actinic blue/giesemann tropic

Super blue/new generation (KZ)

Thanks for the info I need to check what I have in there now... it should say on the bulbs right