Light for fish only tank

cital · 06/27/2010, 10:59 PM

Hello. I am setting up a 75gal 48x18x20 fish only tank, and I was wondering if a 2x54w t5 ho fixture would be enough light, or if I should go with the 4x54w fixture??? Again, it is a fish only tank, no corals, etc. but I do want the lighting to be adequate. Thanks for any input!

colotl · 06/27/2010, 11:22 PM

Fish don't need light to grow so save yourself some money and get regular flourescent fixtures from home depot. The specialized lamps used in reef systems will give you a better color but your going to pay hundreds more.

cital · 06/27/2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colotl

Fish don't need light to grow so save yourself some money and get regular flourescent fixtures from home depot. The specialized lamps used in reef systems will give you a better color but your going to pay hundreds more.

Ok, but I do want lights that are strong enough so that my tank doesn't look dimly lit. Also, won't the color of the light help bring out the color of the fish?

colotl · 06/27/2010, 11:54 PM

The lights will bring out the color as I already mentioned in my last response. You can buy a regular fixture from home depot and just replace the 3200K lamps with 10k's

If your not worried about money then go for the specialized fixtures and at least do a min of 4 lamps

Reef fixtures have special reflectors that reflect all the light towards the tank making them just as bright if not brighter than MH fixtures. You will pay hundreds more but you will have the option of doing corals if you ever change your mind.

cital · 06/28/2010, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colotl

The lights will bring out the color as I already mentioned in my last response. You can buy a regular fixture from home depot and just replace the 3200K lamps with 10k's

If your not worried about money then go for the specialized fixtures and at least do a min of 4 lamps

Reef fixtures have special reflectors that reflect all the light towards the tank making them just as bright if not brighter than MH fixtures. You will pay hundreds more but you will have the option of doing corals if you ever change your mind.

Ok, thanks for the input. So all in all you don't think a 2x54w T5 HO light fixture would be enough light for the 75gal tank?

cital · 06/28/2010, 01:20 AM

Anyone else have any input, anyone ever have a 2x T5 HO light fixture? Was it enough light for fish only?

lisafoster · 06/28/2010, 05:16 AM

If you add a canopy you could retrofit a 4 bulb system 2 bulbs will not be bright enough I have 2 over my 15. If you do a retrofit you can always add to it just in case you wanted to add any coral. The whole encased lighting systems are very expensive.

Hoyden · 06/28/2010, 06:15 AM

I think that you will be fine with a 48" 2 bulb t-5 fixture over a 75 gallon fish only. I am running a 2 bulb t-5 above my 55g reef tank and have no problem growing softies and lps on the bottom (same depth) - I can't imagine that you would want more light than that for a fish only. If you get a fixture with individual reflectors it will let you adjust the light spread. I have a cf fixture over my 210 fowlr since it came with the tank when I bought it used, but plan to replace it with t-5s before the next bulb change.

Schreff · 06/28/2010, 07:36 AM

You will be fine with a 2 bulb T5ho set up.

Toddrtrex · 06/28/2010, 08:49 AM

You will be fine with a 2 bulb unit. Though a 4 bulb one would give you some more choices in what bulbs to use. Depending on the fish you have, I would make sure to use one KZ Fiji purple bulb, it really brings out the red in my Flame angel. Then you could go with an actinic type bulb and a daylight. Again, not needed, but could bring out the colors more.

Chris27 · 06/28/2010, 08:54 AM

The two bulb fixture will do a fine job for fish. I used one over my 75 prior to having coral in there. I found a nice mix of color to be a 18000K daylight bulb along with an actinic bulb.

perfect_prefect · 06/28/2010, 10:44 PM

i run t8's on my fish only, its all what you want it to look like, imo 2 t5 HOs is plenty of light, i ran 4 t8 48" in cheap shop light fixtures using 50/50 daylight/actinic bulbs, more than plenty, half the time i only turned on 2 bulbs and left the other 2 off.

Ethan_W · 06/28/2010, 10:56 PM

i would really go with a regular T8 two bulb florescent light strip. you will save money, florescents do a fine job of bringing out the full color spectrum, and you will avoid growing algae a lot quicker than you would if you had T5 HO lights. fish dont need light to grow like algae and corals

TripleT · 06/28/2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cital

Hello. I am setting up a 75gal 48x18x20 fish only tank, and I was wondering if a 2x54w t5 ho fixture would be enough light, or if I should go with the 4x54w fixture??? Again, it is a fish only tank, no corals, etc. but I do want the lighting to be adequate. Thanks for any input!

What fixtures are you looking at? What's the difference in price?

4 bulbs means more choices, and more vibrant colors.

If money is tight, 2 will do. But if you can afford it, I'd go for 4.

And then one day when you see that clown and anemone, you might be able to consider it. Always nice to have options.

Do your LFS's have fixtures you can see in action? That would be your best bet.

I have a 75 FOWLR, with 2 T12's, and the results are underwhelming. I'm considering upgrading this week, maybe to these:

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/48Inc...ingSystem.aspx

It has built in timers and moonlights as well. I've seen them for $250 at my LFS... not sure what your budget is.

michin · 06/28/2010, 11:21 PM

Hi

I have a 150g fowlr . I had regular flourescent lamps and my fish had not seen good like with t-5ho fixture .I will upgrade my 2x54watt t5ho for a new 4x54watt lamp

cital · 06/29/2010, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleT

What fixtures are you looking at? What's the difference in price?

4 bulbs means more choices, and more vibrant colors.

If money is tight, 2 will do. But if you can afford it, I'd go for 4.

And then one day when you see that clown and anemone, you might be able to consider it. Always nice to have options.

Do your LFS's have fixtures you can see in action? That would be your best bet.

I have a 75 FOWLR, with 2 T12's, and the results are underwhelming. I'm considering upgrading this week, maybe to these:

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/48Inc...ingSystem.aspx

It has built in timers and moonlights as well. I've seen them for $250 at my LFS... not sure what your budget is.

I am looking at the Aquaticlife 48" T5 HO 2 lamp fixture. What is nice about these fixtures it that they are well built, and the are linkable to other fixtures, so if I wanted to add another 2 lamps I could buy another fixture and link them and it would look like one fixture. They are $130 each.

rayn · 06/29/2010, 05:29 AM

I have the aquaticlife 4 bulb over my mixed reef and I love it. Daylight/actinic/leds all on same cord all on own timers.

06/27/2010, 10:59 PM	#1
cital Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 176	Light for fish only tank Hello. I am setting up a 75gal 48x18x20 fish only tank, and I was wondering if a 2x54w t5 ho fixture would be enough light, or if I should go with the 4x54w fixture??? Again, it is a fish only tank, no corals, etc. but I do want the lighting to be adequate. Thanks for any input!

06/28/2010, 05:16 AM	#7
lisafoster so much to learn Join Date: May 2010 Location: massachusetts Posts: 621	If you add a canopy you could retrofit a 4 bulb system 2 bulbs will not be bright enough I have 2 over my 15. If you do a retrofit you can always add to it just in case you wanted to add any coral. The whole encased lighting systems are very expensive. __________________ 125 mixed reef/ semi aggressive 15 gallon angler nano reef tank 40 breeder reef Current Tank Info: 125 gallon evolving reef/ 15gallon angler nano reef, 40 gallon breeder reef

06/28/2010, 06:15 AM	#8
Hoyden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 68	I think that you will be fine with a 48" 2 bulb t-5 fixture over a 75 gallon fish only. I am running a 2 bulb t-5 above my 55g reef tank and have no problem growing softies and lps on the bottom (same depth) - I can't imagine that you would want more light than that for a fish only. If you get a fixture with individual reflectors it will let you adjust the light spread. I have a cf fixture over my 210 fowlr since it came with the tank when I bought it used, but plan to replace it with t-5s before the next bulb change. __________________ “You feel a kind of oneness and lack of desire to be anywhere else, and a yearning that the state you're in can be perpetual." David Milch Current Tank Info: Home:210 g FOWLR, 40 gallon FOWLR, 75 gallon reef tank system, 45 g frag tank/mantis tank system, 29g freshwater tank Work: 335,000 gallon TWA Fish Only, 270,000 gallons Indo-Pacific Mixed Taxa system, 10,000 gallon Q-pool

06/28/2010, 07:36 AM	#9
Schreff Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lemoyne, PA Posts: 75	You will be fine with a 2 bulb T5ho set up. __________________ 55g mixed reef 40g frag tank 24g mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon

06/28/2010, 08:49 AM	#10
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	You will be fine with a 2 bulb unit. Though a 4 bulb one would give you some more choices in what bulbs to use. Depending on the fish you have, I would make sure to use one KZ Fiji purple bulb, it really brings out the red in my Flame angel. Then you could go with an actinic type bulb and a daylight. Again, not needed, but could bring out the colors more. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

06/27/2010, 11:22 PM	#2
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	Fish don't need light to grow so save yourself some money and get regular flourescent fixtures from home depot. The specialized lamps used in reef systems will give you a better color but your going to pay hundreds more.

06/27/2010, 11:54 PM	#4
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	The lights will bring out the color as I already mentioned in my last response. You can buy a regular fixture from home depot and just replace the 3200K lamps with 10k's If your not worried about money then go for the specialized fixtures and at least do a min of 4 lamps Reef fixtures have special reflectors that reflect all the light towards the tank making them just as bright if not brighter than MH fixtures. You will pay hundreds more but you will have the option of doing corals if you ever change your mind.

06/28/2010, 01:20 AM	#6
cital Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 176	Anyone else have any input, anyone ever have a 2x T5 HO light fixture? Was it enough light for fish only?

06/28/2010, 08:54 AM	#11
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	The two bulb fixture will do a fine job for fish. I used one over my 75 prior to having coral in there. I found a nice mix of color to be a 18000K daylight bulb along with an actinic bulb.

06/28/2010, 10:44 PM	#12
perfect_prefect Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 61	i run t8's on my fish only, its all what you want it to look like, imo 2 t5 HOs is plenty of light, i ran 4 t8 48" in cheap shop light fixtures using 50/50 daylight/actinic bulbs, more than plenty, half the time i only turned on 2 bulbs and left the other 2 off.

06/28/2010, 10:56 PM	#13
Ethan_W Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 373	i would really go with a regular T8 two bulb florescent light strip. you will save money, florescents do a fine job of bringing out the full color spectrum, and you will avoid growing algae a lot quicker than you would if you had T5 HO lights. fish dont need light to grow like algae and corals __________________ 29g mixed reef - Filtration: modded AC70 refugium/AquaticLife Mini Skimmer 115 Lighting:4x24" T5HO ATI bulbs Flow: Koralia Evolution 750 Ammonia:0 Nitrite:0 Nitrate:>5 pH:8.1 SG:1.026 Livestock: 2 true perc clowns, firefish, scooter blenny, yellow coris wrasse, harlequin shrimp, acan, brain, frogspawn, Z's and P's, few SPS, etc

06/28/2010, 11:21 PM	#15
michin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: mission,tx Posts: 8	Hi I have a 150g fowlr . I had regular flourescent lamps and my fish had not seen good like with t-5ho fixture .I will upgrade my 2x54watt t5ho for a new 4x54watt lamp

06/29/2010, 05:29 AM	#17
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	I have the aquaticlife 4 bulb over my mixed reef and I love it. Daylight/actinic/leds all on same cord all on own timers. __________________ Currently changing, stay tuned for new details...

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