need your lighting expertise

padgett152 · 03/18/2009, 09:55 AM

i have a 75 g FOWLR tank with a few fish and mushrooms. currently, i light with PC fixtures (260 watts total) wanting to add easy care corals such as polyps and xenia, etc.. Should I upgrade to T5.? I do want to have the best lighting for my coraline growth and health. thanks

amay121 · 03/18/2009, 09:59 AM

T5 all the way.

ATI PowerModule
ATI SunPower
Aquactinics Constellation or Solar Flare
Sunlight Supply Tek

Depending on what you want to grow, I'd just go with at least a 6 bulb fixture, or 8 if you can afford to (that way, you can grow SPS, clams, etc. etc., whenever you'd like to).

padgett152 · 03/18/2009, 10:11 AM

if i go with T5, how many watts would i need?

Henry Bowman · 03/18/2009, 10:17 AM

My tank has 5.3 watts per gallon and I keep sps. I wouldnt recomend anything below 4 wpg for softies and then you'll have to keep the light lovers a little higher in the tank.

I can also tell you that when I put mushrooms in my T5 tank, they'll contract. bleach and melt even on the bottom of my tank (26" from the light)

Sooooo. 4-4.5 wpg would seem about right for softies and mushrooms. I think ?

RotaryGeek · 03/18/2009, 11:10 AM

Dude i keep mushrooms in my sump under a 100 watt lightbulb. If all your looking to keep is softies then you could get away with adding a 2x54 watt retrofit kit (You did say 75 gallon right?) or getting a GLO t5 fixture to add to yours. Softies are easy and dont require much light at all.

Henry Bowman · 03/18/2009, 12:49 PM

^^^^ I agree with the Geek.... If you are looking for a retro, go for an IceCap set up.

03/18/2009, 09:55 AM	#1
padgett152 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 335	need your lighting expertise i have a 75 g FOWLR tank with a few fish and mushrooms. currently, i light with PC fixtures (260 watts total) wanting to add easy care corals such as polyps and xenia, etc.. Should I upgrade to T5.? I do want to have the best lighting for my coraline growth and health. thanks

03/18/2009, 10:17 AM	#4
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	My tank has 5.3 watts per gallon and I keep sps. I wouldnt recomend anything below 4 wpg for softies and then you'll have to keep the light lovers a little higher in the tank. I can also tell you that when I put mushrooms in my T5 tank, they'll contract. bleach and melt even on the bottom of my tank (26" from the light) Sooooo. 4-4.5 wpg would seem about right for softies and mushrooms. I think ? __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

03/18/2009, 12:49 PM	#6
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	^^^^ I agree with the Geek.... If you are looking for a retro, go for an IceCap set up. __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

03/18/2009, 09:59 AM	#2
amay121 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: WV Posts: 182	T5 all the way. ATI PowerModule ATI SunPower Aquactinics Constellation or Solar Flare Sunlight Supply Tek Depending on what you want to grow, I'd just go with at least a 6 bulb fixture, or 8 if you can afford to (that way, you can grow SPS, clams, etc. etc., whenever you'd like to).

03/18/2009, 10:11 AM	#3
padgett152 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 335	if i go with T5, how many watts would i need?

03/18/2009, 11:10 AM	#5
RotaryGeek Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 713	Dude i keep mushrooms in my sump under a 100 watt lightbulb. If all your looking to keep is softies then you could get away with adding a 2x54 watt retrofit kit (You did say 75 gallon right?) or getting a GLO t5 fixture to add to yours. Softies are easy and dont require much light at all.