Will my light support a reef?

T-unit · 09/09/2006, 12:55 PM

I had a earlier thread about this with a poor subject line.... My 70gal tank is 36"x24"x18" and I was sold a 36" T-5 light with 2- 39 watt 10k daylights, 2- 39watt actinic, and also has 3 lunar lights. I was told that the watts are not really the determining fator its the par? I just need to know will this light work for a reef tank? If not, is there anything else I can do besides purchase a new light. My local aquarium store isnt the greatest and on Monday I am going to be over by an awsome store. So if I needed to do something Monday would be the day.

Thanks again, this site is great and exteremly informative.

drives300 · 09/09/2006, 08:23 PM

I do believe that will support some softies and lps as well as the life on the rock. Not sure abour anenomes and sps though. Ive only kept them under MHs myself

T-unit · 09/09/2006, 09:21 PM

So my light is boderline...I guess I should think about purchasing a new light. Is MH really better than the T-5's? It really upsets me off that he sold me a light that is not sufficent.

jag1979 · 09/09/2006, 09:25 PM

t5's seem to be pretty popular right now so you might be able to sell the fixture. Another option is to add more t5's if you have more room 4xt5's should only be about 10" wide so I guess you might be able to add three more?

T-unit · 09/09/2006, 09:45 PM

I could add more T-5's, but I dont have a tank hood. My stand is 30" tall and the tank is 24" tall and I am only 5'6", I would need a stool to feed the fish with a hood. I just have my fixture over my tank, I would need to buy another fixture. Maybe for the time being I will just stick with some soft and lps.

twkenny · 09/09/2006, 09:54 PM

T5's are great lights. I'm not a fan at all of the T5 actinics and if I were you I'd swap them for some Aquablues.
What kind of fixture is it?

T-unit · 09/09/2006, 10:36 PM

What is the difference between actinics ans Aquablues? The fixture is a Current Nova Exterme.

RichConley · 09/10/2006, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drives300
I do believe that will support some softies and lps as well as the life on the rock. Not sure abour anenomes and sps though. Ive only kept them under MHs myself

If you dont know much about T5s, dont commment on them.

Yes, you can keep SPS and anemones under this, if its a T5 light with individual reflectors.

Steven Pro · 09/10/2006, 05:53 AM

What do you want to keep? That is the pertinent question.

Please be specific. For instance, SPS runs the gamut from deepwater Montipora to shallow water Porites. Anemones vary from deeper water BTA's too very shallow water LTA's.

banditfl · 09/10/2006, 05:55 AM

Here is some excellent reading regarding T-5's. This is the third thread split. Lots of pages of reading if you start at the beginning
The T5 Q&A Thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1
some more good reading and goes along with the first thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=918935

09/09/2006, 12:55 PM	#1
T-unit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 31	Will my light support a reef? I had a earlier thread about this with a poor subject line.... My 70gal tank is 36"x24"x18" and I was sold a 36" T-5 light with 2- 39 watt 10k daylights, 2- 39watt actinic, and also has 3 lunar lights. I was told that the watts are not really the determining fator its the par? I just need to know will this light work for a reef tank? If not, is there anything else I can do besides purchase a new light. My local aquarium store isnt the greatest and on Monday I am going to be over by an awsome store. So if I needed to do something Monday would be the day. Thanks again, this site is great and exteremly informative.

09/09/2006, 08:23 PM	#2
drives300 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 961	I do believe that will support some softies and lps as well as the life on the rock. Not sure abour anenomes and sps though. Ive only kept them under MHs myself __________________ Water Param 79 degrees nit 0 amm 0 phos 0 salifers Calcium 450 salifer alk 11 dkh Ph 8-8.1 Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon,reef octopus nw150, 2 oceanflow mods, 2x 250w 10k mh, phos reactor

09/10/2006, 05:53 AM	#9
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	What do you want to keep? That is the pertinent question. Please be specific. For instance, SPS runs the gamut from deepwater Montipora to shallow water Porites. Anemones vary from deeper water BTA's too very shallow water LTA's. __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

09/10/2006, 05:55 AM	#10
banditfl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 324	Here is some excellent reading regarding T-5's. This is the third thread split. Lots of pages of reading if you start at the beginning The T5 Q&A Thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1 some more good reading and goes along with the first thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=918935 __________________ Successful Bubble Algae Farmer. Current Tank Info: 75g Mixed Reef (under development), 30g softie w/20l frag tank, and the original 6g nano (the one the sarted it all)

09/09/2006, 09:21 PM	#3
T-unit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 31	So my light is boderline...I guess I should think about purchasing a new light. Is MH really better than the T-5's? It really upsets me off that he sold me a light that is not sufficent.

09/09/2006, 09:25 PM	#4
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	t5's seem to be pretty popular right now so you might be able to sell the fixture. Another option is to add more t5's if you have more room 4xt5's should only be about 10" wide so I guess you might be able to add three more?

09/09/2006, 09:45 PM	#5
T-unit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 31	I could add more T-5's, but I dont have a tank hood. My stand is 30" tall and the tank is 24" tall and I am only 5'6", I would need a stool to feed the fish with a hood. I just have my fixture over my tank, I would need to buy another fixture. Maybe for the time being I will just stick with some soft and lps.

09/09/2006, 09:54 PM	#6
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,081	T5's are great lights. I'm not a fan at all of the T5 actinics and if I were you I'd swap them for some Aquablues. What kind of fixture is it?

09/09/2006, 10:36 PM	#7
T-unit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 31	What is the difference between actinics ans Aquablues? The fixture is a Current Nova Exterme.