4x54 T5 on LPS 90 Gallon?

aastretch64 · 07/03/2008, 10:19 AM

OK, here is the story.

I had an aqualight fixture with (2) Phoenix 250W 14k on PFO ballasts and two 65w actinic bulbs.

The bulbs were getting old and I was never really happy with the industrial un-warm tones of the Phoenix MH.

I recently upgraded to a 48" Nova Extreme Pro (Great Fixture) but it has terrible stock bulbs! One of the problems I see is that the lights are too bright. Yes I said it too bright.

I only keep LPS (frogspawn, goniopora, torch, hammer, etc), mid tank with two clams on the bottom and I was only planning on using 4 out of the 6 bulbs to give it a more subdued look.

ATI Aquablue Special (12k)
Empty
ATI Blue Plus (450NM)
Empty
ATI Aquablue Special (12K)
ATI True Actinic (421NM)

Do you think the combination below will be enough light to sustain the corals happiness in a 24" deep tank.

P.S. I'd really like question answered by someone experienced in t5's as I don't want this to become a MH vs. T5 thread. IMO the t5 are just as good if not better (do to the amazing coloring) as MH. Thanks

This is my goal:

Alex

Wetline · 07/03/2008, 02:11 PM

I have the same set-up (4 T5's on a 90) except my T-5's are running on a Tek retro with IceCap SLR reflectors.

I have

ATI Blue+
URL/ULV Actinic
GE 6500
ATI Blue +

My tank has a crisp white look to it, but like you I think it's too much light. I have a couple of favia brains in the lower 1/4 of the tank and those bleached out pretty bad but seem to be coloring up ok now.

These were the first lights on the tank so I can't compare to MH intensity or coloration.

I'd replace the daylight bulb with another actinic if you are looking for more of a less intense set-up. The only thing with that set-up is some of your lighter colored corals will not appear as natural. I mean they will have a obvious blue tint to them when viewed.

That's my tank but it's more white in person. I haven't got the settings on the camera down right for a true color under the lights.

ganjero · 07/03/2008, 03:19 PM

It depends how deep is your tank. I would say for a typical 90g a nova extreme pro should work ok, and since you have already the fixture I wont suggest other options for T5s but there are better options for a 4 bulbs setup.
BTW the picture that you showed as your goal is full of sps corals, and you wont achieve a tank like that with a nova extreme pro with 4 bulbs.

aastretch64 · 07/03/2008, 04:00 PM

Ganjero,

Both the pictures listed are t5 only tanks with combos of ATI aquablue specials and ATI blue plus. In fact the second picture is a 75 gallon with 4 bulbs.

The 75 is a bit shorter then the 90 though.

I am looking for a more flourescent look without the washouted blue. I have kind of achieved that with the combination below, but I was wondering if I could make it better.

Glo 18k
Emtpy
Current 460NM Blue
Current 460NM Blue
Current 460NM Blue
ATI True Actinic (421NM)

Alex

ganjero · 07/03/2008, 04:40 PM

Oh sorry my bad, when you said my goal is this you meant the color, right?

aastretch64 · 07/04/2008, 12:29 AM

Oh yeah ganjero I meant the color. I had 48 acros at one time, but when switching over to my 90 about 6 months ago my tank crashed and lost almost all the SPS. Disheartened I decided to just stick with LPS for the time being. Maybe one day I will start up with SPS but with over $3000 in coral frags lost its hard to reinvest.

x2uranium · 07/04/2008, 07:01 AM

Go with

Blue +
Aquasun
75/25
blue+

My Combo :
Blue+
Aquasun
Gies Super Act '03
Blue+
Sps, grow like weeds

07/03/2008, 10:19 AM	#1
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	4x54 T5 on LPS 90 Gallon? OK, here is the story. I had an aqualight fixture with (2) Phoenix 250W 14k on PFO ballasts and two 65w actinic bulbs. The bulbs were getting old and I was never really happy with the industrial un-warm tones of the Phoenix MH. I recently upgraded to a 48" Nova Extreme Pro (Great Fixture) but it has terrible stock bulbs! One of the problems I see is that the lights are too bright. Yes I said it too bright. I only keep LPS (frogspawn, goniopora, torch, hammer, etc), mid tank with two clams on the bottom and I was only planning on using 4 out of the 6 bulbs to give it a more subdued look. ATI Aquablue Special (12k) Empty ATI Blue Plus (450NM) Empty ATI Aquablue Special (12K) ATI True Actinic (421NM) Do you think the combination below will be enough light to sustain the corals happiness in a 24" deep tank. P.S. I'd really like question answered by someone experienced in t5's as I don't want this to become a MH vs. T5 thread. IMO the t5 are just as good if not better (do to the amazing coloring) as MH. Thanks This is my goal: Alex

07/03/2008, 03:19 PM	#3
ganjero saiperchémibatteilcorazon Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,027	It depends how deep is your tank. I would say for a typical 90g a nova extreme pro should work ok, and since you have already the fixture I wont suggest other options for T5s but there are better options for a 4 bulbs setup. BTW the picture that you showed as your goal is full of sps corals, and you wont achieve a tank like that with a nova extreme pro with 4 bulbs. Last edited by ganjero; 07/03/2008 at 03:58 PM.

07/03/2008, 02:11 PM	#2
Wetline Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 127	I have the same set-up (4 T5's on a 90) except my T-5's are running on a Tek retro with IceCap SLR reflectors. I have ATI Blue+ URL/ULV Actinic GE 6500 ATI Blue + My tank has a crisp white look to it, but like you I think it's too much light. I have a couple of favia brains in the lower 1/4 of the tank and those bleached out pretty bad but seem to be coloring up ok now. These were the first lights on the tank so I can't compare to MH intensity or coloration. I'd replace the daylight bulb with another actinic if you are looking for more of a less intense set-up. The only thing with that set-up is some of your lighter colored corals will not appear as natural. I mean they will have a obvious blue tint to them when viewed. That's my tank but it's more white in person. I haven't got the settings on the camera down right for a true color under the lights.

07/03/2008, 04:00 PM	#4
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	Ganjero, Both the pictures listed are t5 only tanks with combos of ATI aquablue specials and ATI blue plus. In fact the second picture is a 75 gallon with 4 bulbs. The 75 is a bit shorter then the 90 though. I am looking for a more flourescent look without the washouted blue. I have kind of achieved that with the combination below, but I was wondering if I could make it better. Glo 18k Emtpy Current 460NM Blue Current 460NM Blue Current 460NM Blue ATI True Actinic (421NM) Alex

07/03/2008, 04:40 PM	#5
ganjero saiperchémibatteilcorazon Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,027	Oh sorry my bad, when you said my goal is this you meant the color, right?

07/04/2008, 12:29 AM	#6
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	Oh yeah ganjero I meant the color. I had 48 acros at one time, but when switching over to my 90 about 6 months ago my tank crashed and lost almost all the SPS. Disheartened I decided to just stick with LPS for the time being. Maybe one day I will start up with SPS but with over $3000 in coral frags lost its hard to reinvest.

07/04/2008, 07:01 AM	#7
x2uranium Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pittston, PA Posts: 1,257	Go with Blue + Aquasun 75/25 blue+ My Combo : Blue+ Aquasun Gies Super Act '03 Blue+ Sps, grow like weeds