55g FOWLR- Whats my min. Lighting needed?

miserkris · 04/07/2010, 09:54 PM

Hi

I just started a 55g FOWLR tank. Planning to keep some fish, some crustateans, snails etc, star fish , brittle stars.

Also planning on keeping few HARDY corals . I already have Nuc green, Brown Button Polyps, some mushrooms and they are doing ok under my single tube simple 48" fluorecent tube.

My question is whats the min. lighting I need for this setup ie not wanting any hard to keep exotic corals but just a few hardy ones.

If I get a 2 light system: 1 actinic and 1 10000k fluorescent tube - would it be enough ? If so how much would it cost in electricity costs per day say if its 'on' 10 hrs a day ?!

Or do I need a 4 - T5 system?

Thanks
Kris

AaronReeph · 04/07/2010, 10:13 PM

If you just want mushrooms and button polyps (no anemones or LPS) then I would say go with a 2 bulb T5 system. It will be more efficient than two normal output fluorescents, and that should be fine for mushrooms as long as they have good reflectors (Tek or SLR)

miserkris · 04/07/2010, 10:15 PM

But do T5s consume a lot of power compared to 10000k fluorescents or very little difference in costs?...thx

AaronReeph · 04/07/2010, 10:22 PM

I don't know for certain because I haven't measured normal output fluorescents.
But my speculation would be that the T5s will use a little more juice.

However, say the T5s are drawing 80 watts and the normal fluorescent is drawing 60 watts. The T5 is going to give you (lets just say) 60 watts of light in the tank (via efficient reflectors) and 20 watts of heat and or light not going into the tank. (75% efficient)
Whereas the normal fluorescent will give you 30 watts light in the tank and 30 watts heat or light not in the tank. (50% efficient)

miserkris · 04/07/2010, 10:31 PM

So T5's are basically best bang for buck compared to Fluoresents....

AaronReeph · 04/07/2010, 10:33 PM

Yup, as far as fluorescents go. The other cool thing about T5s is that the color combinations are endless. You can swap bulbs of purple, pink, blue, or white hues until you find the exact color you are looking for. A good resource for T5 stuff is Reef Geek.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/

04/07/2010, 09:54 PM	#1
miserkris Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Downingtown,PA Posts: 1,062	55g FOWLR- Whats my min. Lighting needed? Hi I just started a 55g FOWLR tank. Planning to keep some fish, some crustateans, snails etc, star fish , brittle stars. Also planning on keeping few HARDY corals . I already have Nuc green, Brown Button Polyps, some mushrooms and they are doing ok under my single tube simple 48" fluorecent tube. My question is whats the min. lighting I need for this setup ie not wanting any hard to keep exotic corals but just a few hardy ones. If I get a 2 light system: 1 actinic and 1 10000k fluorescent tube - would it be enough ? If so how much would it cost in electricity costs per day say if its 'on' 10 hrs a day ?! Or do I need a 4 - T5 system? Thanks Kris

04/07/2010, 10:13 PM	#2
AaronReeph Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 220	If you just want mushrooms and button polyps (no anemones or LPS) then I would say go with a 2 bulb T5 system. It will be more efficient than two normal output fluorescents, and that should be fine for mushrooms as long as they have good reflectors (Tek or SLR) __________________ Last tank: 180g 3x250W Radiums in LumenBrites driven by BlueWave 7 and BlueWave 3, 2x160W VHO (1 454, 1 Super Actinic) on IceCap 660, 2 MP40Wes, Blueline 70HD return, SRO-3000INT, Apex Current Tank Info: 60g 24" Deep Blue Rimless RR Cube, Hydra 52 w/ Director, 2x MP10Wes, Basement sump w/ 100g Rubbermaid stock tank, RLSS 6i skimmer, Panworld 100PX return, Apex Lite

04/07/2010, 10:22 PM	#4
AaronReeph Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 220	I don't know for certain because I haven't measured normal output fluorescents. But my speculation would be that the T5s will use a little more juice. However, say the T5s are drawing 80 watts and the normal fluorescent is drawing 60 watts. The T5 is going to give you (lets just say) 60 watts of light in the tank (via efficient reflectors) and 20 watts of heat and or light not going into the tank. (75% efficient) Whereas the normal fluorescent will give you 30 watts light in the tank and 30 watts heat or light not in the tank. (50% efficient) __________________ Last tank: 180g 3x250W Radiums in LumenBrites driven by BlueWave 7 and BlueWave 3, 2x160W VHO (1 454, 1 Super Actinic) on IceCap 660, 2 MP40Wes, Blueline 70HD return, SRO-3000INT, Apex Current Tank Info: 60g 24" Deep Blue Rimless RR Cube, Hydra 52 w/ Director, 2x MP10Wes, Basement sump w/ 100g Rubbermaid stock tank, RLSS 6i skimmer, Panworld 100PX return, Apex Lite

04/07/2010, 10:33 PM	#6
AaronReeph Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 220	Yup, as far as fluorescents go. The other cool thing about T5s is that the color combinations are endless. You can swap bulbs of purple, pink, blue, or white hues until you find the exact color you are looking for. A good resource for T5 stuff is Reef Geek. http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ __________________ Last tank: 180g 3x250W Radiums in LumenBrites driven by BlueWave 7 and BlueWave 3, 2x160W VHO (1 454, 1 Super Actinic) on IceCap 660, 2 MP40Wes, Blueline 70HD return, SRO-3000INT, Apex Current Tank Info: 60g 24" Deep Blue Rimless RR Cube, Hydra 52 w/ Director, 2x MP10Wes, Basement sump w/ 100g Rubbermaid stock tank, RLSS 6i skimmer, Panworld 100PX return, Apex Lite

04/07/2010, 10:15 PM	#3
miserkris Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Downingtown,PA Posts: 1,062	But do T5s consume a lot of power compared to 10000k fluorescents or very little difference in costs?...thx

04/07/2010, 10:31 PM	#5
miserkris Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Downingtown,PA Posts: 1,062	So T5's are basically best bang for buck compared to Fluoresents....