Is this too much light for a 57g?

[Aaarrrggg]

I want to get a 6 bulb Tek light for my 57g. The tank plan is to have brightly coloured softies like zoas, leathers and mushrooms… plus a RBTA.
I was thinking of following Archies TotM scheme:

• 2 x 40 watt normal output actinic lamps (14 hours)
• 2 x 65 watt actinic power compact florescent lamps (12 hours)
• 2 x 65 watt 10,000 Kelvin power compact florescent lamps (10 hours)

Would this be too much for the mushrooms?
Would it be enough for the RBTA?
Can I even fit this selection of bulbs in a Tek x6 light (4ft)?
Anything I’m missing here?

Thanks for your suggestions/comments

[ssmith45]

That should be fine for everything. I personally would only keep a RBTA under halides or T5s but some may think it's enough light. RBTA are very sensitive, so you want to make sure your tank is well seasoned before you add one. I always say patience is best.

[Aaarrrggg]

Ah I'd thought they were T5s! All this wattage stuff confuses me

I have 2 T5s and the moment and would rather use them. Could I have 2 white and 4 blue T5s or would that be overkill? Or should I get a 4 bulb Tek, maybe 2 of each? I'd like to get more blue than white to make the colours really pop. Argh decisions decisions! Are there any lighting threads about?

[ssmith45]

Oops my bad, those are T5s.

I think you'd be fine then.

[Aaarrrggg]

Ah whew, thanks!
Don't want to spend a fortune just to melt everything hehe

[Im Lon 2]

I think the lighting will work fine.

I have seen mushroom do great even under MH, but it may take some time to get use the lighting.

The RBTA should also do great under the lighting you talked about it.

And like ssmith45 said... patience is best.

[Aaarrrggg]

I agree, just want to have everything perfect for when it is RBTA time. I’m having enough fun collecting different coloured zoas and yumas at the moment anyhoo. Do I need to slowly acclimatize them to the new lights? (up from 1 white and 1 blue T5…I’m afraid I can’t remember the wattages and they don’t seem to have them written on the bulbs…I asked for the brightest I could get.) Say a new bulb a day or would that be too fast?

Thank you both very much for your time & advice

[Im Lon 2]

I'm not sure where you can get it, or what kind they use, but some people use multiple screens to go between the tank and the bulbs and then every 5-7 days pull a screen out, till you no longer have a screen left..

[kau_cinta_ku]

that wattage is not T5HO watts which you want. for 4' bulbs you need to find the 54 watt bulbs. the bulbs your talking about are pc wattage bulbs

[Im Lon 2]

Originally posted by kau_cinta_ku
that wattage is not T5HO watts which you want. for 4' bulbs you need to find the 54 watt bulbs. the bulbs your talking about are pc wattage bulbs

I thought he was using those bulbs as an color Example, but kau_cinta_ky is right if you want these Wattages above (65Watts) they are not T5 lighting and there is a big difference between PC and T5's

[Aaarrrggg]

Aha! Lucky I checked!

Could anyone recommend a lighting scheme please? I'm keen on having more actinic's than white so the colour really pops (that's right isn't it?)

Thankyou again for your patience and counsel, I know lighting isn't the most fascinating subject.

[danch]

Check out the T5 Q&A thread in the equipment forum. The Grim Reefer has given many many suggestions on tube combinations. Enough to make your head spin and leave you just as confused, only about more things

[Aaarrrggg]

Sounds perfect, I'll go check it out now. I keep forgetting how many different boards there are here. Thanks!

[Aaarrrggg]

I'm having trouble finding the FAQ. All the stickys seem to be about MHs... and search never works. I don't suppose you have a link do you? Even if its just a thread with The Grim Reefer (hehe good name) in so I can find his past theads(?) Thanks!

[danch]

It's just a regular thread - not stickied. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1032804