SPS coral lighting

rtaylors3 · 05/15/2009, 08:51 AM

Can SPS corals such as acropora and montiporas be grown under HO T-5s? I have read that aquacultured sps are more tolerant of light variations. That true? -Rachel

thegrun · 05/15/2009, 08:58 AM

Yes, but they may need to be kept in the upper half of your tank depending upon your light intensity and tank depth.

der_wille_zur_macht · 05/15/2009, 09:01 AM

+1. HO T5 is fine for most corals, but it depends on bulb count, reflector design, and coral placement. Can you share with us what make/model of fixture you have? T5 output is pretty dependant on reflector design, and some of the cheaper models don't have good reflectors.

rtaylors3 · 05/15/2009, 09:14 AM

Sure. It's the nova extreme 4 bulb. Just got it.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod.../7/product.web

der_wille_zur_macht · 05/15/2009, 09:18 AM

I'm pretty sure that fixture has individual reflectors in the current model, which is good. However, 4 bulbs isn't a ton over a 75g tank, so IMHO you should keep the more demanding corals high up on the rockwork.

zackdastack · 05/15/2009, 09:26 AM

you should def. be good

rtaylors3 · 05/15/2009, 09:26 AM

Yeah, it does have individual reflectors. I really battle over getting the 6 bulb but hubby wasn't so happy with the money spent on this one. I should have got the 6! Oh well. making due with what I have. Before this I had a marineland 4 bulb and it was used and terrible. It didn't have individual ref. and there were a lot of dark spots.

divewsharks · 05/15/2009, 11:24 AM

you'll want to keep the corals high up in the tank and under the 4 bulbs, and you will want to change the bulbs out at around the 6 month mark with high quality ones. The stock bulbs are not very good.

rtaylors3 · 05/16/2009, 06:22 AM

I guess that opens up another can of worms. What bulbs?

divewsharks · 05/16/2009, 03:58 PM

Depends on what look you like, but I'd go with 2 ATI Blue+'s, 1 ATI AquaBlue Special and either a KZ Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White. Those are all high PAR bulbs, and are good for growth and looks.

There is a T5 Q&A thread that offers alot of good info.

bvoss57 · 05/17/2009, 06:24 AM

Focus on the Montiporas. They are very forgiving on light and water flow. They are a great way to get into SPS. Have fun and start saving for a CA reactor. My last 180 SPS tank sucked an amazing amount of CA after one year.

Stanley-Reefer · 05/17/2009, 08:20 AM

I would look at ATI....there are several growing sps on the sand with those T5s..

Hard to duplicate the pop from T5s too.

rtaylors3 · 05/18/2009, 07:41 AM

Unless you can see the combination of bulbs and colors together, how do you know what the outcome will be once installed? I like a slight blue color but really want it to look more natural AND be of high quality. I tell you it would be nice to see diff. combinations of bulb types and the final color in the tanks themselves.

krowleey · 05/18/2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht
I'm pretty sure that fixture has individual reflectors in the current model, which is good. However, 4 bulbs isn't a ton over a 75g tank, so IMHO you should keep the more demanding corals high up on the rockwork.

that is the fixture without individual reflectors, the nova extreme pro is the unit that has them. but i am willing to bet you can buy the reflectors from reefgeek and with the fans you will be set.

This one

demonboy369 · 05/18/2009, 10:59 AM

The new Nova Extreme 4 bulb does have individual reflectors
http://www.current-usa.com/node/27

divewsharks · 05/18/2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rtaylors3
Unless you can see the combination of bulbs and colors together, how do you know what the outcome will be once installed? I like a slight blue color but really want it to look more natural AND be of high quality. I tell you it would be nice to see diff. combinations of bulb types and the final color in the tanks themselves.

You don't really. In my case I like to play with bulbs so I constantly switch out bulbs to play with different colors. If you look in the T5 Q&A thread, Grim who runs that thread, has done ALOT of testing (bulb combos and fixtures), and various people also post tank shots to show what colors they have going.

phenom5 · 05/18/2009, 12:49 PM

FWIW, I have a 4 bulb TEK (smaller fixture, smaller tank), and I have to be very careful to acclimate corals slowly to my lights. My tank is only 12" tall though.

As far as color goes. My bulb combo is...

FRONT
ATI Blue+
UVL Aquasun
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Blue+

I'm not all that happy with the color of that combo (or with T5's vs. MH for that matter).

Based on what you've said, I would think something along the lines of...

FRONT
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White (12,000K)/ 75.25 (14,000K) or ATI Aquablue Special (12,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or ATI Super Actinic
ATI Blue+

That would give you a crisp, blueish but not too blueish color. You could pick up a 12,000K bulb & a 14,000k bulb and see which works best for you, T5 bulbs are relatively cheap. I plan on switching out my Aquasun with a 75.25 soon. Also, ATI or UVL are just a couple of brands, you could just as easily go with Giesemann or KZ bulbs of a similar spectrum.

And lastly, I highly recommend ReefGeek. Great prices, and great service.

abulgin · 05/18/2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rtaylors3
Yeah, it does have individual reflectors. I really battle over getting the 6 bulb but hubby wasn't so happy with the money spent on this one. I should have got the 6! Oh well. making due with what I have. Before this I had a marineland 4 bulb and it was used and terrible. It didn't have individual ref. and there were a lot of dark spots.

This fixture does NOT have individual reflectors. It has a single parabolic reflector for all 4 lights. Individual reflectors come on the Nova Extreme Pro. I have used this particular fixture, and SPS will NOT do well under it as a general/practical matter.

divewsharks · 05/18/2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phenom5
FWIW, I have a 4 bulb TEK (smaller fixture, smaller tank), and I have to be very careful to acclimate corals slowly to my lights. My tank is only 12" tall though.

As far as color goes. My bulb combo is...

FRONT
ATI Blue+
UVL Aquasun
Giesemann Pure Actinic
ATI Blue+

I'm not all that happy with the color of that combo (or with T5's vs. MH for that matter).

Based on what you've said, I would think something along the lines of...

FRONT
ATI Blue+
UVL Actinic White (12,000K)/ 75.25 (14,000K) or ATI Aquablue Special (12,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or ATI Super Actinic
ATI Blue+

That would give you a crisp, blueish but not too blueish color. You could pick up a 12,000K bulb & a 14,000k bulb and see which works best for you, T5 bulbs are relatively cheap. I plan on switching out my Aquasun with a 75.25 soon. Also, ATI or UVL are just a couple of brands, you could just as easily go with Giesemann or KZ bulbs of a similar spectrum.

And lastly, I highly recommend ReefGeek. Great prices, and great service.

I would not recommend any 'true' actinics, as they offer very little PAR and with that fixture over a 75G you would want as much PAR as possible.

divewsharks · 05/18/2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by abulgin
This fixture does NOT have individual reflectors. It has a single parabolic reflector for all 4 lights. Individual reflectors come on the Nova Extreme Pro. I have used this particular fixture, and SPS will NOT do well under it as a general/practical matter.

if this the NE fixture that does not have individual reflectors, then I would avoid any SPS. I know the NEP offers them, is this what you have?

abulgin · 05/18/2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by divewsharks
if this the NE fixture that does not have individual reflectors, then I would avoid any SPS. I know the NEP offers them, is this what you have?

The fixture shown in the link posted by the OP i the Nova Extreme--it has a single reflector for all 4 bulbs. I would not use this to light SPS or an anemone in a 75g--pretty much doomed to failure.

This is the NE fixture (the Nova Extreme Pro) that has individual reflectors--considerably more expensive:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/3958/product.web

demonboy369 · 05/18/2009, 04:51 PM

if you go to the link i posted you can see that the new fixtures have single lmap reflectors which means each light bulb has its own reflector. there are even pictures of the reflectors. its not just the pro anymore.

this is copied from the site...

Powered by an advanced electronic ballast, the High Output T5 lamps are driven to their maximum potential while ensuring long lamp life. The patented circuitry inside each ballast ensures consistent high performance and low energy consumption while meeting FCC standards with EMI protection and low THD. All components are the highest quality available, meeting ISO 9001 standards, and are potted to reduce thermal stress and increase ballast life expectancy. All four lamp Nova Extreme T5HO units now feature a newly designed individual single lamp reflector which significantly increases the light output. Integrated fan cools both ballast and lamps for efficient operation.

once again here is the link... http://www.current-usa.com/node/27

abulgin · 05/18/2009, 07:23 PM

I said the OP's link, not yours. Anyway, it looks from your link to be the case that Current has bent the single reflector 8 times to make 4 reflectors--but I will still tell you, you are wasting your money if you think this is going to sustain SPS in a 75 gallon tank. There are much better fixtures out there for not a whole lot more money--if you can return it, I would. This is not a great fixture, and neither is the Pro. Go to a TEK, Aquactinics or, better yet, build your own with an IceCap retro.

krowleey · 05/18/2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by abulgin
I said the OP's link, not yours. Anyway, it looks from your link to be the case that Current has bent the single reflector 8 times to make 4 reflectors--but I will still tell you, you are wasting your money if you think this is going to sustain SPS in a 75 gallon tank. There are much better fixtures out there for not a whole lot more money--if you can return it, I would. This is not a great fixture, and neither is the Pro. Go to a TEK, Aquactinics or, better yet, build your own with an IceCap retro.

say WHAT?? before you tell people the NEP is a bad fixture that will not work for SPS you should research the mass of peop0le using them for SPS. in fact the NEP seems to perform better than the TEK, it actually has cooling while the TEK does not. If you had a NEP and failed with SPS then you failed, not the fixture.

Nova Extreme Pro Club

demonboy369 · 05/18/2009, 07:52 PM

I wont say anything about keeping SPS as i have no experience there and I will definitely give you credit on there being better lights, I am just pointing out that its not one large smooth reflector.

I am personally getting a 4x24 for my 20g, but it is not going to be an SPS tank. i think its a decent light for my purposes at least.

05/15/2009, 08:51 AM	#1
rtaylors3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL Posts: 224	SPS coral lighting Can SPS corals such as acropora and montiporas be grown under HO T-5s? I have read that aquacultured sps are more tolerant of light variations. That true? -Rachel

05/15/2009, 09:01 AM	#3
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	+1. HO T5 is fine for most corals, but it depends on bulb count, reflector design, and coral placement. Can you share with us what make/model of fixture you have? T5 output is pretty dependant on reflector design, and some of the cheaper models don't have good reflectors. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

05/15/2009, 09:18 AM	#5
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I'm pretty sure that fixture has individual reflectors in the current model, which is good. However, 4 bulbs isn't a ton over a 75g tank, so IMHO you should keep the more demanding corals high up on the rockwork. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

05/17/2009, 06:24 AM	#11
bvoss57 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 13	Focus on the Montiporas. They are very forgiving on light and water flow. They are a great way to get into SPS. Have fun and start saving for a CA reactor. My last 180 SPS tank sucked an amazing amount of CA after one year. __________________ Former SPS Fanatic coming back after a 3 year hiatus Current Tank Info: Getting back into hobby after move

05/18/2009, 10:59 AM	#15
demonboy369 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: west virginia Posts: 360	The new Nova Extreme 4 bulb does have individual reflectors http://www.current-usa.com/node/27 __________________ L0S3R CVRC ------------------------------------------------ To check out my thread on Gorgonia Fragging click my red house Current Tank Info: 2g pico reef with 13w pc lighting stocked with zoos and a small hammer... 29g in progress (diy aquaclear 500 fuge)

05/15/2009, 08:58 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Yes, but they may need to be kept in the upper half of your tank depending upon your light intensity and tank depth.

05/15/2009, 09:14 AM	#4
rtaylors3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL Posts: 224	Sure. It's the nova extreme 4 bulb. Just got it. http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod.../7/product.web

05/15/2009, 09:26 AM	#6
zackdastack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: bethel Posts: 249	you should def. be good

05/15/2009, 11:24 AM	#8
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	you'll want to keep the corals high up in the tank and under the 4 bulbs, and you will want to change the bulbs out at around the 6 month mark with high quality ones. The stock bulbs are not very good.

05/16/2009, 06:22 AM	#9
rtaylors3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL Posts: 224	I guess that opens up another can of worms. What bulbs?

05/16/2009, 03:58 PM	#10
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	Depends on what look you like, but I'd go with 2 ATI Blue+'s, 1 ATI AquaBlue Special and either a KZ Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White. Those are all high PAR bulbs, and are good for growth and looks. There is a T5 Q&A thread that offers alot of good info.

05/17/2009, 08:20 AM	#12
Stanley-Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stanley, NC Posts: 1,933	I would look at ATI....there are several growing sps on the sand with those T5s.. Hard to duplicate the pop from T5s too.

05/18/2009, 07:41 AM	#13
rtaylors3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL Posts: 224	Unless you can see the combination of bulbs and colors together, how do you know what the outcome will be once installed? I like a slight blue color but really want it to look more natural AND be of high quality. I tell you it would be nice to see diff. combinations of bulb types and the final color in the tanks themselves.

05/18/2009, 12:49 PM	#17
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	FWIW, I have a 4 bulb TEK (smaller fixture, smaller tank), and I have to be very careful to acclimate corals slowly to my lights. My tank is only 12" tall though. As far as color goes. My bulb combo is... FRONT ATI Blue+ UVL Aquasun Giesemann Pure Actinic ATI Blue+ I'm not all that happy with the color of that combo (or with T5's vs. MH for that matter). Based on what you've said, I would think something along the lines of... FRONT ATI Blue+ UVL Actinic White (12,000K)/ 75.25 (14,000K) or ATI Aquablue Special (12,000K) UVL Super Actinic or ATI Super Actinic ATI Blue+ That would give you a crisp, blueish but not too blueish color. You could pick up a 12,000K bulb & a 14,000k bulb and see which works best for you, T5 bulbs are relatively cheap. I plan on switching out my Aquasun with a 75.25 soon. Also, ATI or UVL are just a couple of brands, you could just as easily go with Giesemann or KZ bulbs of a similar spectrum. And lastly, I highly recommend ReefGeek. Great prices, and great service. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

05/18/2009, 04:51 PM	#22
demonboy369 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: west virginia Posts: 360	if you go to the link i posted you can see that the new fixtures have single lmap reflectors which means each light bulb has its own reflector. there are even pictures of the reflectors. its not just the pro anymore. this is copied from the site... Powered by an advanced electronic ballast, the High Output T5 lamps are driven to their maximum potential while ensuring long lamp life. The patented circuitry inside each ballast ensures consistent high performance and low energy consumption while meeting FCC standards with EMI protection and low THD. All components are the highest quality available, meeting ISO 9001 standards, and are potted to reduce thermal stress and increase ballast life expectancy. All four lamp Nova Extreme T5HO units now feature a newly designed individual single lamp reflector which significantly increases the light output. Integrated fan cools both ballast and lamps for efficient operation. once again here is the link... http://www.current-usa.com/node/27

05/18/2009, 07:23 PM	#23
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	I said the OP's link, not yours. Anyway, it looks from your link to be the case that Current has bent the single reflector 8 times to make 4 reflectors--but I will still tell you, you are wasting your money if you think this is going to sustain SPS in a 75 gallon tank. There are much better fixtures out there for not a whole lot more money--if you can return it, I would. This is not a great fixture, and neither is the Pro. Go to a TEK, Aquactinics or, better yet, build your own with an IceCap retro.

05/18/2009, 07:52 PM	#25
demonboy369 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: west virginia Posts: 360	I wont say anything about keeping SPS as i have no experience there and I will definitely give you credit on there being better lights, I am just pointing out that its not one large smooth reflector. I am personally getting a 4x24 for my 20g, but it is not going to be an SPS tank. i think its a decent light for my purposes at least. __________________ L0S3R CVRC ------------------------------------------------ To check out my thread on Gorgonia Fragging click my red house Current Tank Info: 2g pico reef with 13w pc lighting stocked with zoos and a small hammer... 29g in progress (diy aquaclear 500 fuge)