jedimasterben Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 A Coral Plus and Blue Plus or their Giesemann equivalents. 1 Quote Link to comment
aviator300 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 OK. Seriously thinking of going all T5s or maybe T5s as mains with LED supplement but for now my question is short and sweet. I have a Mr Aqua 7.5 Bowfront dimensions 18" wide---9,5" front to back---10" deep and plan to hang a light fixture. What would be a good quality fixture for this size tank (brand, how many bulbs, etc What quality bulbs to use to achieve an equivalent of 18 to 20k. I have not used fluorescents at all since my freshwater days but love the tanks i've seen with them in LFS's so i need all the help and suggestions i can get. ADD ON....I will have mostly Zoas, Softies, LPS, and some SPS. Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 T5HO realistically start at 24" unless you count the extremely hard to find UVL bulbs that I wouldn't plan on seeing much of in the future, so anything you pick won't really look great since it'll hang over the sides by 3-4". That being said, two bulbs are what you'd need, but that color temperature range will be difficult to get with only two in the mix. Purple Plus mixed with Blue Plus will get a higher color temperature than with Coral Plus instead, but will obviously be a bit more purple in appearance. Quote Link to comment
aviator300 Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I respect your opinion and ya just talked me out of it.. 1 Quote Link to comment
Wiinberg Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I could really use some help here guys. I have to change my PS hybrid, and i'm considering going full T5. But how many tubes would i need? Tank is 34"x 34"x 16". Rock work might be around 28x28 inches and lots of free space in the front for LPS. I wan't to be able to keep SPS at 10-12 inches depth. How many bulbs would you recommend? 8-12? And what size, 24w or 39w? The 39w is a tad too long, but i can make it fit with my canopy. Quote Link to comment
Chadf Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I could really use some help here guys. I have to change my PS hybrid, and i'm considering going full T5. But how many tubes would i need? Tank is 34"x 34"x 16". Rock work might be around 28x28 inches and lots of free space in the front for LPS. I wan't to be able to keep SPS at 10-12 inches depth. How many bulbs would you recommend? 8-12? And what size, 24w or 39w? The 39w is a tad too long, but i can make it fit with my canopy. 24w for sure. 8 bulbs minimum, 12 would be ideal. Quote Link to comment
Wiinberg Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 24w for sure. 8 bulbs minimum, 12 would be ideal. So the spread from 24w should be enough to handle some z's/p's and low light LPS at the 5" on each side? Quote Link to comment
Chadf Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 So the spread from 24w should be enough to handle some z's/p's and low light LPS at the 5" on each side? Definitely, the problem is covering that 34" from front to back. Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I'm doing a temporary grow out until I order my lights I was able to get a t5 fixture with wavepoint bulbs, and I believe it comes with an advance ballast for $30. I am an LED guy, but for this price I couldn't turn it down for temporary use. I was going to hang it from my roof but I was not sure how good it would work and how high above the tank I should put it with the tank being 18 inches deep. Quote Link to comment
plainrt Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I'd think like 6 inches good start Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 And work my way up from there if I have trouble? Quote Link to comment
plainrt Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Correct but I think be ok over that deep of tank. I run a 4 bulb ati fixture 6-7 inches above a 12 inch tall tank. Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Ok awesome thanks for the help dude ! 1 Quote Link to comment
atrox Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I run blue plus in combo with Phoenix 14khalides and the the blue plus are noticeable when they are turned on. The blue plus blend well so I would do a coral and blue plus combo. Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 What schedule do you run on them plainrt? Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I was planning on getting a DIY 2 bulb T5 retrofit, and I was told today by someone who works at my LFS that a 2 t5 bulb retrofit fixture will not be enough for an 18" deep tank with LPS on the sand bed. What do you guys think? Quote Link to comment
atrox Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 http://www.aquatraders.com/20-inch-4x18W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Fixture-p/52302.htm Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 That's a good fixture? No, it's a cheap fixture with basically no lamp choices (it is not a standard size). Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Yeah that's why I asked if it was. I have a 2 bulb T5 retrofit I'm picking up tomorrow as a temp light, but someone at my LFS told me it wouldn't work on an 18" deep tank with my LPS in my sand bed. So I'm asking for a second opinion what do you think? Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 If it's your primary light, you'll want 4 lamps for an LPS tank. Quote Link to comment
plainrt Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 What schedule do you run on them plainrt? I run a dimmable t5 fixture so little different. I'd do 8 hours Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 If it's your primary light, you'll want 4 lamps for an LPS tank. Ok Thanks dude ! 1 Quote Link to comment
plainrt Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I agree. If on budget I'd look for used tek fixture. Quote Link to comment
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