lighting a 58 oceanic with t5s; 4 bulb fixture or 6 bulb?

loyalty · 04/11/2007, 12:09 AM

i'm seeing all in one t5 fixtures that have both 4 39w bulbs or 6 39w bulbs. what would be the best bet for a mostly zoa and softy 58? TIA

klam114 · 04/11/2007, 01:06 AM

4 bulbs will do, 6 bulbs may melt any mushrooms that you have.

bpatrol · 04/11/2007, 10:34 PM

i had a tek 8 bulb on my setup. no mushrooms melted they got used to it in a week.. get a 6 bulb more control over color then a 4 bulb...bpatrol

loyalty · 04/12/2007, 01:24 AM

i was thinking the 6 bulb set up would offer more control, but i don't want to cook any corals..i've got a 55x4 PC settup on the 29 i'm gonna upgrade to the 58

mpcart · 04/12/2007, 03:37 AM

I have an SPS dominated tank with 6x39W T5's. The last couple months I have been running only 4 bulbs and have been getting better color and about the same growth as when I ran 6 bulbs.

I'd still go ahead and get a 6 bulb unit. I think 8 is unnecessary.

-Mike

loyalty · 04/12/2007, 03:40 AM

so you think a 6 bulb settup errs on the caution side?

mpcart · 04/12/2007, 03:45 AM

Yes. I'd definitely go with the 6 bulb unit. The only reason I've been running 4 bulbs is my timer broke on the one set and I've been too lazy to replace it - so I thought I'd see how 4 bulbs looks.

I'm also not a PAR expert, but the four bulbs I run are (2) ATI Aquablues and (2) ATI Blue Plus. Other combinations, such as running actinics, may not give you as much PAR with 4 bulbs.

I also run a single computer fan and have had no problems with heat from the 6 bulb unit.

Here's a pic.

-Mike

Nano's Rock · 04/12/2007, 05:11 PM

Nice tank!

04/11/2007, 12:09 AM	#1
loyalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,742	lighting a 58 oceanic with t5s; 4 bulb fixture or 6 bulb? i'm seeing all in one t5 fixtures that have both 4 39w bulbs or 6 39w bulbs. what would be the best bet for a mostly zoa and softy 58? TIA __________________ your friendly neighborhood casual reefer Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic mostly zoo tank under some T5s

04/11/2007, 10:34 PM	#3
bpatrol Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: tucson,az Posts: 208	t5s i had a tek 8 bulb on my setup. no mushrooms melted they got used to it in a week.. get a 6 bulb more control over color then a 4 bulb...bpatrol

04/12/2007, 01:24 AM	#4
loyalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,742	i was thinking the 6 bulb set up would offer more control, but i don't want to cook any corals..i've got a 55x4 PC settup on the 29 i'm gonna upgrade to the 58 __________________ your friendly neighborhood casual reefer Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic mostly zoo tank under some T5s

04/12/2007, 03:40 AM	#6
loyalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,742	so you think a 6 bulb settup errs on the caution side? __________________ your friendly neighborhood casual reefer Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic mostly zoo tank under some T5s

04/11/2007, 01:06 AM	#2
klam114 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 685	4 bulbs will do, 6 bulbs may melt any mushrooms that you have.

04/12/2007, 03:37 AM	#5
mpcart Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: O'Fallon, IL Posts: 2,465	I have an SPS dominated tank with 6x39W T5's. The last couple months I have been running only 4 bulbs and have been getting better color and about the same growth as when I ran 6 bulbs. I'd still go ahead and get a 6 bulb unit. I think 8 is unnecessary. -Mike

04/12/2007, 03:45 AM	#7
mpcart Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: O'Fallon, IL Posts: 2,465	Yes. I'd definitely go with the 6 bulb unit. The only reason I've been running 4 bulbs is my timer broke on the one set and I've been too lazy to replace it - so I thought I'd see how 4 bulbs looks. I'm also not a PAR expert, but the four bulbs I run are (2) ATI Aquablues and (2) ATI Blue Plus. Other combinations, such as running actinics, may not give you as much PAR with 4 bulbs. I also run a single computer fan and have had no problems with heat from the 6 bulb unit. Here's a pic. -Mike

04/12/2007, 05:11 PM	#8
Nano's Rock Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North West PA Posts: 179	Nice tank!