Who uses what for what (lighting)?

gflat65 · Oct 28, 2007

Well, I'm not sure how this would work out as a poll, so I figured I'd just ask. It seems that more and more are using T5's these days. I'd like to get an idea of how many are using T5's, MH only, MH and VHO, MH and T5, and VHO only and over what kinds of tanks. I guess this could work as a series of polls, but I won't go there...

I'll start.
125-SPS (3)-250W DE 14K Phoenix-mag ballast and (2) 160W VHO 03's-Icecap 430
22-Aussie Acan (attached to 125)-soon to be T5's
120-LPS/Softie/Zoa (2)-175W Ushio 14K-e ballast and (2) 110W VHO 03's ARO mag
40 breeder frag-all corals (connected to 120) (2)-175W Iwasaki 14K's (soon to be 250W AC 14K or Phoenix 14K on lumenarc) mag ballast
20L softie/LPS (2)-75W VHO-ARO mag
10 softie-(2)-65W PC's mag ballast

revhtree · Oct 28, 2007

I have a mixed tank with sps, lps, zoa and I run MH's and VHO's.

twon8 · Oct 28, 2007

180 mixed reef, mostly acros but a few leathers, some lps plus zoas and clams: 2x400w 20k xm's on magnetic ballast and 2x5't5s on an icecap 430, one ati blueplus and one geismann 6000k(plan to add another pair of t5's). i replaced the vho with t5s and like them so much more, so much more light and so many different colors now.

90 mostly sps, one leather, a gorgonian, clams and a few lps:2x250w aquaconnect 14ks on electronics and one 11k ati t5. on a 10 gallon frag tank hooked in i have 250w pheonix on an hqi on a reverse photoperiod.

55g frag tank 2x4't5s on an icecap(atiblueplus and ge 6500k)

fishes2889 · Oct 28, 2007

33g- MIXED 3x54w T5's
40g Brd.-MIXED 250w SE
20L- Rics 150w DE

vvolfe1 · Oct 28, 2007

I have a mixed reef a few zoos, a few shrooms, a few SPS, and a ton of LPS.
For lights I've been running T5's. I thought they'd work the best to get the color I wanted along with growth.

reef-lover · Oct 29, 2007

Tank Full Of Softies- Strictly Mh

edwing206 · Oct 29, 2007

Mixed 60(I think it's actually a 55, they guy I got it from said 60 so whatever...)
Zoas, lps, sps, no softies. 250MHx2.

dc_909 · Oct 29, 2007

2 175w 15k Iwasaki
2 54w T5 ATI B+
2 54w T5 UVL SA

on my 120

gflat65 · Oct 29, 2007

Great info, guys and gals. Keep it coming. I'll figure out how to tabulate this info and get it posted. Fun fun.

anomie · Oct 29, 2007

110 mixed tank with mostly zoas and lps. 2-250 watt DE halides running ushio bulbs on them. T-5's for actnic supplementation.

Smarsh · Oct 29, 2007

I have a 30 gal, LPS and softies 250 watt 14k Phoenix
24 gal 4 x 36 watt T5 mix
180 in the works 3 x 250 watt 14K Phoenix with 4 x 54 watt T5 420 and 460 mix (this tank will be LPS and softies)

Sandy

shred5 · Oct 29, 2007

Right now I have switched all my tanks to t-5 and is my lighting of choice right now.

I have been in the hobby since around 89 and have gone through all types of lighting.. started with N.o. Flourescent because that is what we had. We did not even have lamps for the reef hobby other than the triton. We used grow lamp from the local garden place and philips tl-03 actinc lamps. Then vho and then halide. I was sold on halide and have used them With vho flourescent longer than any other type of lighting... Right now I really like t-5 and hopefully I still do for a while...

Dave

Azurel · Oct 29, 2007

I have a mixed reef with 14k 250 Hamilton SE supplemented with 2x 54w UVI Super actinic T-5s. The comparison to when I had my MH and VHO to what I have now with less wattage is amazing. The T-5 is the way to go in supplementing the MH in my opinion. This is all on a 40g long with the metal halide just off set of the Center to get around the center brace......The colors are just as good if not better then when I had the VHO actinics on the tank.....

gastone · Nov 6, 2007

dc_909 said:
2 175w 15k Iwasaki
2 54w T5 ATI B+
2 54w T5 UVL SA

on my 12

How do you like those T5 SA?

42Hex, 250W 10kXM MH + 2x24W T5 Blue+ (LPS and 4 different anemones)

30 gallon zoanthid/frag growout currently lit by 2x39W T5 (Aquablue and Blue+) and 190W VHO actinic, thinking about switching out the VHOs for more T5s... possibly a UVL SA and the new Pro-Color bulb.

Garrett.

killingseed2000 · Nov 6, 2007

mix of MH and t'5
2x 175w MH
2x 54w t5's; one aquablue, one super UV
over a 75 gl aga

Paintguru · Nov 6, 2007

Azurel said:
I have a mixed reef with 14k 250 Hamilton SE supplemented with 2x 54w UVI Super actinic T-5s. The comparison to when I had my MH and VHO to what I have now with less wattage is amazing. The T-5 is the way to go in supplementing the MH in my opinion. This is all on a 40g long with the metal halide just off set of the Center to get around the center brace......The colors are just as good if not better then when I had the VHO actinics on the tank.....

What did you have previously and what do you notice now with less wattage? I'm thinking of going down on wattage (SE to DE though perhaps), and am curious as to your observations.

sb1227 · Nov 12, 2007

120Gal SPS/some LPS tank- 2 250W DE 12K Geismann Megachrome on Electronic ballasts w/ 2 T5 Blue plus on PFO ballast
75 Gal mixed- half tank has 2-65W PC, the other half has 1- 250W Luminarc with 14K Aquaconnect on electronic ballast.
40 Hex LPS- 4 Tek Retrofit kits with 2 Geismann blueplus, 1 aquablue plus, and 1 UV daylight.