MH to T5 transition but how much for SPS???

[stevereef]

After reading a few TOM and considering the many advantages of a T5 setup. I think I'm going to convert my MH/VHO/T5 setup to an all T5 setup. I just have a quick setup questions, I was hoping fellow reefers could help me factor a few data points as I make a decision.

1) Will 6x54w be enough lights to grow SPS in a 4x2x2 (120g) tank?

Because of canopy design (see photos), I can only fit the follow setups:
(a) 6x54w
(b) 6x54w and a 2x39w
(c) 8x39w
(d) others?????

My aquascaping, for the most part is centered in the middle of the tank and spans out about 36". Equal spacing of open space in the front and back, and same concept on the sides. Also worth mentioning is I have 13"-14" from the top of my canopy to the waterline.


2) After the transition do I have to raise the lights to transition the new lights?


3) What's the recommended photo period?

4) Light bulb recommendations. (photos would be helpful)


Thank you in advnace for all your help, knowledge and experience sharing.

[stevereef]

It should be noted I have a center overflow box?

[Saadatski]

hey buddy im wondering the same thing, so ill be reading this thread.

[jk1138]

If it helps, I have 960 watts of T5 lighting on my 225g tank and 3 of the blue stunner (6 watt each) LED strips. This gives me 4.27 wats of light per gallon just on the T5s. I can keep just about anything under this light, and my electric bill was hardly effected, mayby $20 a month on just the lighting.

If you did 54 watt x 6 you would only have 2.7 watts per gallon. IMO not enough for most corals. Try to get closer to 4-5 wats per gallon if you can.

[mdog3000]

I was just wondering this and came on to ask about it.

[Supernova26]

I would def. cram as many T5 as possible in there. so 6x54 + 2x39 should give you a decent amount of light to grow SPS in the upper 2/3 of the tank IMO. Take a look at the ATI Blue+ bulbs instead of using actinic. Here is the bulb lineup I would recommend.
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue +
ATI Purple + (or Fiji purple)
Ati Blue +
Ati Aquablue
Ati Blue +
Ati Blue +

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by jk1138

If it helps, I have 960 watts of T5 lighting on my 225g tank and 3 of the blue stunner (6 watt each) LED strips. This gives me 4.27 wats of light per gallon just on the T5s. I can keep just about anything under this light, and my electric bill was hardly effected, mayby $20 a month on just the lighting.

If you did 54 watt x 6 you would only have 2.7 watts per gallon. IMO not enough for most corals. Try to get closer to 4-5 wats per gallon if you can.

Watts per gallon is totally useless. Forget all about it. I had less than 2 watts per gallon on my 40 breeder and I had to shade all LPS and start all SPS on the very bottom. It is all about PAR.

For a 120 gallon tank I would want 8 bulbs but I would get them within 8" of the water line. Make sure you get enough fans to cool the label ends of the bulbs as well or you will lose a ton of PAR and bulb life.

Use LET reflectors and you should be able to get 8x54w over a 120. If not get the 2x39w to make eight fit. For 8 bulbs I would run 5 ati blue plus, 2 ati purple plus and 1 ge 6500k.

[z3r0ko0l]

[QUOTE=Supernova26;19071222]I would def. cram as many T5 as possible in there. so 6x54 + 2x39 should give you a decent amount of light to grow SPS in the upper 2/3 of the tank IMO. Take a look at the ATI Blue+ bulbs instead of using actinic. Here is the bulb lineup I would recommend.
QUOTE]

+1

Should work fine, just dont put any light hungry guys on the sand. I also like the ATI BLUE+ its a great bulb. While an 8x54 setup would be better you can make the 6x54 (+ 2x39) work.

[jk1138]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Watts per gallon is totally useless. Forget all about it. I had less than 2 watts per gallon on my 40 breeder and I had to shade all LPS and start all SPS on the very bottom. It is all about PAR.

For a 120 gallon tank I would want 8 bulbs but I would get them within 8" of the water line. Make sure you get enough fans to cool the label ends of the bulbs as well or you will lose a ton of PAR and bulb life.

Use LET reflectors and you should be able to get 8x54w over a 120. If not get the 2x39w to make eight fit. For 8 bulbs I would run 5 ati blue plus, 2 ati purple plus and 1 ge 6500k.

While I will agree measuring par with a par meter is more accurate, watts per gallon is not useless, especially in larger tanks. It is an older method, but still has value.

A par meter will do better in testing the different types of lights and the depth they penetrate. IF you do not have access to a par meter then watts per gallon is your best method.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by jk1138

While I will agree measuring par with a par meter is more accurate, watts per gallon is not useless, especially in larger tanks. It is an older method, but still has value.

A par meter will do better in testing the different types of lights and the depth they penetrate. IF you do not have access to a par meter then watts per gallon is your best method.

Watts per gallon has no meaning anymore. Trust me, if you put 5 watts per gallon over your tank with LEDs, you will FRY everything in the tank. Same goes for a good T5 setup. Watts per gallon may hold some value with metal halide but even that has changed with the better bulbs and better reflectors.

I will repeat again, I had under 2 watts/gallon on my 40 breeder and I melted some high light SPS in the beginning. You don't need 5 watts/gallon with a good T5 setup to keep high light corals. Watts per gallon is useless and I am not the only one who thinks so.

[James77]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Watts per gallon is totally useless.

Originally Posted by rtparty

Watts per gallon has no meaning anymore. .

Cannot be said enough. WPG means NOTHING.

My current LEDs have scorched some coral, even running them at less than 1 WPG. T5s have been too much at 2-3 watts per gallon. Even halides cannot have WPG used as a guideline, there are just far too many variable in the equipment and tank to make such a broad recommendation....like ballast and bulb combo, reflector quality and height off tank, tank water depth and clarity, bulb age. With T5s, there is whether or not there is cooling and if the reflectors are SLR or not. With T5s there is optics.

A far better way is to base your needs off the depth of the tank and the animals you plan to keep. Factoring in to the depth would be optics on LEDs, reflectors on T5s and halides. Then just use an adequate amount or reflector size to cover the surface area.

Originally Posted by jk1138

IF you do not have access to a par meter then watts per gallon is your best method.

A PAR meter is not going to do much good picking lighting, since you need to actually have the lighting to get a reading. There is more than enough info out there to help choose lighting based on coral needs, ligthing type and quality of the equipment. That is the best way to gauge your lighting.

[James77]

Originally Posted by stevereef

1) Will 6x54w be enough lights to grow SPS in a 4x2x2 (120g) tank?
.

8 bulbs would be more ideal for coverage and bulb selection....but spacing the reflectors out a bit would help if you can. I had an 8x54 powermodule and it was ALOT of light for my tank. Active cooling and high end reflectors are a must.