upgrading from power compact to t-5..

nychris351 · 06/17/2009, 08:23 PM

can i expect better growth for my anemones , mushrooms, and zoas? or will it be the same

Tangweed · 06/17/2009, 08:24 PM

my two cents but I would think so. If you can upgrade the watts also

nychris351 · 06/17/2009, 08:44 PM

well im getting a 48' fixture with 4x54 watts..is that sufficient

nikon187 · 06/17/2009, 09:10 PM

yes, I would also cut back the lighting so your animals can adjust to the new lighting. Make sure you get a fixture with individual reflectors for each bulb. 4 X 54w may be suffcient depending on the depth of your tank but i would do 6 just to be safe. ( Plus you get a much better choices when it comes to bulb combos for colour)

Tangweed · 06/17/2009, 09:11 PM

For a 150... that's not enough. I have a 90 with two 150 watt MH's. Compared to many other set ups on RC I'm 200 watts low. I think the rule of thumb is 3 to 4 watts per gallon of your tank. 4 to 6 watts for SPS. It all depends what you want to keep. Get more feedback before you buy your lights.

Your Occupation reads $$$$ so money is no object

acrouse · 06/17/2009, 09:37 PM

I just upgraded about a year ago from PC's to T-5's and the increased growth rate was unreal. I could not be happier. As others have mentioned, just make sure you increase your watts according to size of tank. Sorry cant help you there.

I acclimated my tank to the new lights by cutting out several (5-6) layers of old window/door screens the length of my tank, and layered them on top. Then every 2 days, I would remove a layer of screen. I never had any problems with any of my corals.

Hope this helps
jolene

mat167 · 06/17/2009, 11:46 PM

For a standard (6 ft) 150 gal you might want to look into getting 4 x 80 watt bulbs, the longer (5 ft) length will give you better coverage. Individual reflectors are important, definitely aim for those. That should be fine for soft corals and many lps. If you want to keep more light demanding coral and clams, you might want to set up 6 x 80 watt bulbs or even better 8 x 80 watts if you have the space and $$.

jenglish · 06/17/2009, 11:49 PM

I don't think that wpg really means that much. For a 150 I would look at getting a 6 bulb setup with good individual reflectors like tek or icecap. I may even consider overdriving them because of the depth of the tank. If you get T5HO with just a single sheet reflector the improvement over PC will not be huge IMO. It is the shape of T5 that allows more efficient reflection that allows them to be so effective.

06/17/2009, 08:23 PM	#1
nychris351 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: BROOKLYN Posts: 319	upgrading from power compact to t-5.. can i expect better growth for my anemones , mushrooms, and zoas? or will it be the same

06/17/2009, 08:24 PM	#2
Tangweed Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mohnton, PA Posts: 1,002	my two cents but I would think so. If you can upgrade the watts also __________________ Thanks! Jeremy Current Tank Info: 90 gal with 40 gal breeder sump / fuge, Octo skimmer, lights and some water.

06/17/2009, 09:10 PM	#4
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	yes, I would also cut back the lighting so your animals can adjust to the new lighting. Make sure you get a fixture with individual reflectors for each bulb. 4 X 54w may be suffcient depending on the depth of your tank but i would do 6 just to be safe. ( Plus you get a much better choices when it comes to bulb combos for colour) __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

06/17/2009, 09:11 PM	#5
Tangweed Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mohnton, PA Posts: 1,002	For a 150... that's not enough. I have a 90 with two 150 watt MH's. Compared to many other set ups on RC I'm 200 watts low. I think the rule of thumb is 3 to 4 watts per gallon of your tank. 4 to 6 watts for SPS. It all depends what you want to keep. Get more feedback before you buy your lights. Your Occupation reads $$$$ so money is no object __________________ Thanks! Jeremy Current Tank Info: 90 gal with 40 gal breeder sump / fuge, Octo skimmer, lights and some water.

06/17/2009, 11:49 PM	#8
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	I don't think that wpg really means that much. For a 150 I would look at getting a 6 bulb setup with good individual reflectors like tek or icecap. I may even consider overdriving them because of the depth of the tank. If you get T5HO with just a single sheet reflector the improvement over PC will not be huge IMO. It is the shape of T5 that allows more efficient reflection that allows them to be so effective. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

06/17/2009, 08:44 PM	#3
nychris351 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: BROOKLYN Posts: 319	well im getting a 48' fixture with 4x54 watts..is that sufficient

06/17/2009, 09:37 PM	#6
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	I just upgraded about a year ago from PC's to T-5's and the increased growth rate was unreal. I could not be happier. As others have mentioned, just make sure you increase your watts according to size of tank. Sorry cant help you there. I acclimated my tank to the new lights by cutting out several (5-6) layers of old window/door screens the length of my tank, and layered them on top. Then every 2 days, I would remove a layer of screen. I never had any problems with any of my corals. Hope this helps jolene

06/17/2009, 11:46 PM	#7
mat167 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Montreal, South-Shore Posts: 473	For a standard (6 ft) 150 gal you might want to look into getting 4 x 80 watt bulbs, the longer (5 ft) length will give you better coverage. Individual reflectors are important, definitely aim for those. That should be fine for soft corals and many lps. If you want to keep more light demanding coral and clams, you might want to set up 6 x 80 watt bulbs or even better 8 x 80 watts if you have the space and $$.