Is 4x39 Watt T5 fixture enough?

mtb888 · 04/05/2009, 05:57 PM

I just put a new Aquaticlife 4x39 watt T5 fixture on my 40 gallon breeder tank. Wondering if it is going to be enough lights for my LPS and softies. Want to have the best environment possible for my animals. Changed from a 2x96 watt PC fixture.

jlt23 · 04/05/2009, 06:16 PM

I have that on my 45G and it works greak. I haven't had luck with acros though, but I think that's because I didn't have enough flow and my skimmer might not have been up to par. But my LPS and my monti's are doing great.

kgross · 04/05/2009, 06:32 PM

For lps and softies that will be fine.

Kim

NeveSSL · 04/05/2009, 07:02 PM

If that fixture has individual reflectors on the bulbs, you can grow anything under it.

I have an Icecap 4x39w T5HO retrofit kit on my 45g tall (25" deep) and I have SPS and crocea clams on my sandbed that are growing great.

Brandon

mtb888 · 04/05/2009, 07:19 PM

What type of bulb configurations are you ladies and gentleman running? I was running two- 420/460nm bulbs, 1- 14000k, 1-1200k but my algae turned a funky pale green color. I switched my bulbs to 2-10,000k and 2-420/460nm bulbs. Trying to get that nice dark purple encrusting algae.

noboddi · 04/05/2009, 07:21 PM

I run 2 ATI Blue +, 1 ATI Aquablue Special, and 1 GE 6500k Daylight on my 40 breeder for BTAs

mtb888 · 04/05/2009, 07:32 PM

whats BTAs

NeveSSL · 04/05/2009, 07:36 PM

I have a UVL Super Actinic, ATI Blue Plus (absolute favorite bulb), UVL Actinic White (75/25 I think), and an ATI Blue Special. Looks like around 11k or so. I like it.

Brandon

NeveSSL · 04/05/2009, 07:37 PM

BTAs are Bubble Tip Anemones. They come in a variety of colors, including gold, green, and rose. The RBTAs (rose bubble tip anemone's) are generally the most expensive and most desired. I have one and love it. They're really beautiful and my clowns love it!

Brandon

mtb888 · 04/05/2009, 07:41 PM

what type of algae growth do you get with that combination? Like I said after a week with 14000k, actinic white, 2-420/460 was pale green and decrease in my purple corralines.

NeveSSL · 04/05/2009, 07:43 PM

I've always had great coralline growth, until I overstocked my tank and it went a bit down hill. Still recovering from that one.

Brandon

noboddi · 04/05/2009, 07:47 PM

If I had a 5th slot I would have used a Super Actinic. I am trying to maximize PAR though, and not much PAR in an actinic

Bet both setups look good though

mtb888 · 04/05/2009, 08:02 PM

Im just trying to get the best dark purple corraline algae growth and color from my corals and wondering what combo works great for both.

NeveSSL · 04/05/2009, 08:20 PM

More than light, your water chemistry is probably going to affect your coralline growth.

Brandon

kgross · 04/05/2009, 08:21 PM

Another thing on coralline to be honest, it does better under dimmer light than brighter light most of the time.

Kim

NeveSSL · 04/05/2009, 10:04 PM

That's very true, Kim.

I have friends who have used T5s that caused their coralline to bleach out a bit.

Brandon

noboddi · 04/05/2009, 10:40 PM

I have an Aquatic Life on my 40 Breeder and I keep anemones fine.

I have a TEK 6 bulb fixture on my community SPS tank, and it bleached out my coralline, and although it came back it did not come back like before, and I get little growth. I get more coralline growth in my refugium under low lighting. So I know the water chemistry is right.

The coralline growth in my nem tank is not great, but I suspect chemistry there. It is a species tank and I do not use any kalk or two part calcium supplements.; But what I do get is deep purple, almost blue.

Mike92 · 04/13/2009, 03:31 AM

I'm looking into the aquaticlife fixture and was wondering how you guys are liking it. Do the fans work well, are they loud or anything? Timers seem reliable? I'm assuming the reflectors are pretty good for you to be keeping anemones, right?

04/05/2009, 05:57 PM	#1
mtb888 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 55	Is 4x39 Watt T5 fixture enough? I just put a new Aquaticlife 4x39 watt T5 fixture on my 40 gallon breeder tank. Wondering if it is going to be enough lights for my LPS and softies. Want to have the best environment possible for my animals. Changed from a 2x96 watt PC fixture. __________________ mtb888 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder, 4x39 watts T5 fixture, Aqua C-Remora Protein Simmer, Hagen hang on filtration, soft & lps, cleaning crew, 50 lbs of mixed live rock, occelaris clownfish, royal gramma, bared goby, scooter blennie, cleaner shrimp,

04/05/2009, 06:32 PM	#3
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	For lps and softies that will be fine. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

04/05/2009, 07:02 PM	#4
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	If that fixture has individual reflectors on the bulbs, you can grow anything under it. I have an Icecap 4x39w T5HO retrofit kit on my 45g tall (25" deep) and I have SPS and crocea clams on my sandbed that are growing great. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

04/05/2009, 07:19 PM	#5
mtb888 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 55	What type of bulb configurations are you ladies and gentleman running? I was running two- 420/460nm bulbs, 1- 14000k, 1-1200k but my algae turned a funky pale green color. I switched my bulbs to 2-10,000k and 2-420/460nm bulbs. Trying to get that nice dark purple encrusting algae. __________________ mtb888 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder, 4x39 watts T5 fixture, Aqua C-Remora Protein Simmer, Hagen hang on filtration, soft & lps, cleaning crew, 50 lbs of mixed live rock, occelaris clownfish, royal gramma, bared goby, scooter blennie, cleaner shrimp,

04/05/2009, 07:21 PM	#6
noboddi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 813	I run 2 ATI Blue +, 1 ATI Aquablue Special, and 1 GE 6500k Daylight on my 40 breeder for BTAs __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham Current Tank Info: 55 gallon (36x18x20), 40 gallon sump, 25 gallon refugium, TEK 6x39w fixture, Osmolator, Kalk Reactor, Vortech MP20, 2 Koralia 3s on controller, Acropora, Anthelia, Montipora, Starry Blenny, Yellow Watchman, Rainford Goby, Tiger Gobies

04/05/2009, 06:16 PM	#2
jlt23 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 712	I have that on my 45G and it works greak. I haven't had luck with acros though, but I think that's because I didn't have enough flow and my skimmer might not have been up to par. But my LPS and my monti's are doing great.

04/05/2009, 07:32 PM	#7
mtb888 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 55	whats BTAs __________________ mtb888 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder, 4x39 watts T5 fixture, Aqua C-Remora Protein Simmer, Hagen hang on filtration, soft & lps, cleaning crew, 50 lbs of mixed live rock, occelaris clownfish, royal gramma, bared goby, scooter blennie, cleaner shrimp,

04/05/2009, 07:36 PM	#8
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	I have a UVL Super Actinic, ATI Blue Plus (absolute favorite bulb), UVL Actinic White (75/25 I think), and an ATI Blue Special. Looks like around 11k or so. I like it. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

04/05/2009, 07:37 PM	#9
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	BTAs are Bubble Tip Anemones. They come in a variety of colors, including gold, green, and rose. The RBTAs (rose bubble tip anemone's) are generally the most expensive and most desired. I have one and love it. They're really beautiful and my clowns love it! Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

04/05/2009, 07:41 PM	#10
mtb888 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 55	what type of algae growth do you get with that combination? Like I said after a week with 14000k, actinic white, 2-420/460 was pale green and decrease in my purple corralines. __________________ mtb888 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder, 4x39 watts T5 fixture, Aqua C-Remora Protein Simmer, Hagen hang on filtration, soft & lps, cleaning crew, 50 lbs of mixed live rock, occelaris clownfish, royal gramma, bared goby, scooter blennie, cleaner shrimp,

04/05/2009, 07:43 PM	#11
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	I've always had great coralline growth, until I overstocked my tank and it went a bit down hill. Still recovering from that one. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

04/05/2009, 07:47 PM	#12
noboddi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 813	If I had a 5th slot I would have used a Super Actinic. I am trying to maximize PAR though, and not much PAR in an actinic Bet both setups look good though __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham Current Tank Info: 55 gallon (36x18x20), 40 gallon sump, 25 gallon refugium, TEK 6x39w fixture, Osmolator, Kalk Reactor, Vortech MP20, 2 Koralia 3s on controller, Acropora, Anthelia, Montipora, Starry Blenny, Yellow Watchman, Rainford Goby, Tiger Gobies

04/05/2009, 08:02 PM	#13
mtb888 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 55	Im just trying to get the best dark purple corraline algae growth and color from my corals and wondering what combo works great for both. __________________ mtb888 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder, 4x39 watts T5 fixture, Aqua C-Remora Protein Simmer, Hagen hang on filtration, soft & lps, cleaning crew, 50 lbs of mixed live rock, occelaris clownfish, royal gramma, bared goby, scooter blennie, cleaner shrimp,

04/05/2009, 08:20 PM	#14
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	More than light, your water chemistry is probably going to affect your coralline growth. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

04/05/2009, 08:21 PM	#15
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	Another thing on coralline to be honest, it does better under dimmer light than brighter light most of the time. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

04/05/2009, 10:04 PM	#16
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	That's very true, Kim. I have friends who have used T5s that caused their coralline to bleach out a bit. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

04/05/2009, 10:40 PM	#17
noboddi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 813	I have an Aquatic Life on my 40 Breeder and I keep anemones fine. I have a TEK 6 bulb fixture on my community SPS tank, and it bleached out my coralline, and although it came back it did not come back like before, and I get little growth. I get more coralline growth in my refugium under low lighting. So I know the water chemistry is right. The coralline growth in my nem tank is not great, but I suspect chemistry there. It is a species tank and I do not use any kalk or two part calcium supplements.; But what I do get is deep purple, almost blue. __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham Current Tank Info: 55 gallon (36x18x20), 40 gallon sump, 25 gallon refugium, TEK 6x39w fixture, Osmolator, Kalk Reactor, Vortech MP20, 2 Koralia 3s on controller, Acropora, Anthelia, Montipora, Starry Blenny, Yellow Watchman, Rainford Goby, Tiger Gobies

04/13/2009, 03:31 AM	#18
Mike92 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 472	I'm looking into the aquaticlife fixture and was wondering how you guys are liking it. Do the fans work well, are they loud or anything? Timers seem reliable? I'm assuming the reflectors are pretty good for you to be keeping anemones, right?