PLS HLP T5, enough for my tank

josenunez1 · 02/01/2010, 10:37 AM

Hi Guys,

I would certainly appreciate some experienced advice for my tank. I have a 48"x19"x24" 90 gallon tank that will be home to live rock and LPS (frogspawn, shrooms, hammers, xenia) corals and no SPS. The corals will be approximately 8-12 inches from the lights. I was thinking about getting a Retro 6x54 watt T5 setup. Would this be enough lights for my type of setup or can you guys recommend what you have in your tanks?

Thanks guys in advance for any info.

Slayer311 · 02/01/2010, 10:45 AM

Definately enough light for the softy lower light demanding corals. It would most likely even be able to handle sps just fine as well. Definately if you go with the icecap retrofit kits but they are pricey. I think you will do just fine with the standard workhorse ballast retrofit kits as well, just make sure your retro comes with individual highly polished reflectors ~ 97% reflective. I ran geisman day+ and actinic+ 1to1 ratio in my 75gallon which is just a bit shorter than your 90 and was able to grow sps on the sand bed just fine.

reefEng10 · 02/01/2010, 10:45 AM

a retro 6x54w t5ho with individual reflectors will be plenty for what you want to keep

LPS and softies will be fine anywhere in the tank ( depending on bulbs 8" might even be TOO close to the lights) and if you wanted, sps in the top 1/3rd of tank should do great.

8x54w would be reccomended if you wanted an sps dominant 90g. 6x54w is a great choice for lps/softies.

tkeracer619 · 02/01/2010, 10:46 AM

what they said.

josenunez1 · 02/01/2010, 11:25 AM

Thanks Guys,

I feel alot better about the 6x54 setup. I will see about the IceCap setup. Any recommendations on bulbs? I tend to like a more blue tint to my tank.

rtparty · 02/01/2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josenunez1

Thanks Guys,

I feel alot better about the 6x54 setup. I will see about the IceCap setup. Any recommendations on bulbs? I tend to like a more blue tint to my tank.

Got to Reefgeek and get the Aqua Illumination retro setup. The reflectors are the best you can get here in the states. They are better than Ice Cap. Get the regular ballasts, you don't need the Ice Cap ballasts. Make sure to get a cooling fan to blow down the label end of the bulbs.

For 6 bulbs I would go with, 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K. Maybe order and extra ATI Aquablue to play with too.

josenunez1 · 02/01/2010, 02:37 PM

Is a 4x54 an option or am I getting below what would be optimal for LPS? Just asking?

Thanks guys,

rtparty · 02/01/2010, 03:18 PM

You will have coverage issues only running 4 bulbs. Rule of thumb is one bulb for every 3 inches, front to back. You can always try 4 and see what happens and add 2 more if needed.

qfrisco · 02/03/2010, 12:34 PM

4x54w should be enough for LPS and with individual reflectors, you should have good enough spread, but what the 6-bulb setup will give you is flexibility in terms of colors of bulbs.

I have the same size tank and started out with 4x54w but overdriven with an Icecap 660. I had no problems keeping a BTA and SPS in the middle to high areas of the tank. I later on added 2 more bulbs, but this time just normally driven, and I've got enough lights to support SPS all throughout.

02/01/2010, 10:37 AM	#1
josenunez1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san diego, california Posts: 39	PLS HLP T5, enough for my tank Hi Guys, I would certainly appreciate some experienced advice for my tank. I have a 48"x19"x24" 90 gallon tank that will be home to live rock and LPS (frogspawn, shrooms, hammers, xenia) corals and no SPS. The corals will be approximately 8-12 inches from the lights. I was thinking about getting a Retro 6x54 watt T5 setup. Would this be enough lights for my type of setup or can you guys recommend what you have in your tanks? Thanks guys in advance for any info.

02/01/2010, 10:46 AM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	what they said. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/01/2010, 11:25 AM	#5
josenunez1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san diego, california Posts: 39	T5 Retro Thanks Guys, I feel alot better about the 6x54 setup. I will see about the IceCap setup. Any recommendations on bulbs? I tend to like a more blue tint to my tank.

02/01/2010, 03:18 PM	#8
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	You will have coverage issues only running 4 bulbs. Rule of thumb is one bulb for every 3 inches, front to back. You can always try 4 and see what happens and add 2 more if needed. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

02/01/2010, 10:45 AM	#2
Slayer311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 201	Definately enough light for the softy lower light demanding corals. It would most likely even be able to handle sps just fine as well. Definately if you go with the icecap retrofit kits but they are pricey. I think you will do just fine with the standard workhorse ballast retrofit kits as well, just make sure your retro comes with individual highly polished reflectors ~ 97% reflective. I ran geisman day+ and actinic+ 1to1 ratio in my 75gallon which is just a bit shorter than your 90 and was able to grow sps on the sand bed just fine.

02/01/2010, 10:45 AM	#3
reefEng10 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 183	a retro 6x54w t5ho with individual reflectors will be plenty for what you want to keep LPS and softies will be fine anywhere in the tank ( depending on bulbs 8" might even be TOO close to the lights) and if you wanted, sps in the top 1/3rd of tank should do great. 8x54w would be reccomended if you wanted an sps dominant 90g. 6x54w is a great choice for lps/softies.

02/01/2010, 02:37 PM	#7
josenunez1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san diego, california Posts: 39	Is a 4x54 an option or am I getting below what would be optimal for LPS? Just asking? Thanks guys,

02/03/2010, 12:34 PM	#9
qfrisco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Area Posts: 1,389	4x54w should be enough for LPS and with individual reflectors, you should have good enough spread, but what the 6-bulb setup will give you is flexibility in terms of colors of bulbs. I have the same size tank and started out with 4x54w but overdriven with an Icecap 660. I had no problems keeping a BTA and SPS in the middle to high areas of the tank. I later on added 2 more bulbs, but this time just normally driven, and I've got enough lights to support SPS all throughout.