T5 or Metal Halide???

Master Kyle 297 · 08/15/2011, 10:41 AM

I currently have four T5 bulbs but I want to add a deresa clam and to give the corals and fish a more vibrant color. How much do these lights usually cost? The best brand or type? Do I need a Metal Halide or is a T5 fine?

Tank:
90 Gallon Predatory Tank

Fish:
Male SPotfin Anthias
Banggai Cardinal
Maroon CLownfish (pair)
Percula Clownfish (pair)
Marine Betta Grouper (aka Sea Comet)
Longnose Hawkfish
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish
BLue Tang
Sailfin Tang
Niger Trigger

Inverts:
Bulb Anemone (2)
Emerald Crab
Strawberry Crab (2)
Black Sea Cucumber
Feather Dusters
Red Leg Hermits
Coral Banded Shrimp
Nassarius Snail
Turbo Snails
Sand Sifting Starfish

Corals:
Pineapple Brain
Branching Frogspawn
Branching Torch
Toadstool Leather
Red Mushrooms
Red/Green Ricordea Mushrooms
Zoanthid Polyps
Green Star Polyps
Yellow Polyps
Button Polyps

rtparty · 08/15/2011, 10:47 AM

T5 is fine but you need a good fixture if you want the high light stuff.

For a 90 gallon tank and clams, I recommend an ATI Sunpower in the 6 bulb version.

Master Kyle 297 · 08/15/2011, 10:57 AM

How much does that cost?

Saadatski · 08/15/2011, 12:13 PM

about $550 for the fixture and the bulbs.

I would go with 3 ATI blue plus, 1 aquablue, 1 purple plus and 1 KZ new generation.

Master Kyle 297 · 08/15/2011, 12:24 PM

What about the night light one?

TomNeely · 08/15/2011, 09:49 PM

I use a ATI Sunpower 6 bulb on my 75 gallon and love it. Three 6500k and three ATI Blue Plus.

daveydoodle · 08/16/2011, 11:28 AM

TomNeely,

I'll be running the same size tank and I'm looking at the same fixture now. What do you have in your tank?

JG1 · 08/16/2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomNeely

I use a ATI Sunpower 6 bulb on my 75 gallon and love it. Three 6500k and three ATI Blue Plus.

Jeez, what's that look like?

Saltwatercoral2 · 08/16/2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG1

Jeez, what's that look like?

im curious as well... would like to see a picture of it.

Master Kyle 297 · 08/16/2011, 01:46 PM

Here it is, kinda strong light if you ask me

08/15/2011, 10:41 AM	#1
Master Kyle 297 Reef Freak Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 204	T5 or Metal Halide??? I currently have four T5 bulbs but I want to add a deresa clam and to give the corals and fish a more vibrant color. How much do these lights usually cost? The best brand or type? Do I need a Metal Halide or is a T5 fine? Tank: 90 Gallon Predatory Tank Fish: Male SPotfin Anthias Banggai Cardinal Maroon CLownfish (pair) Percula Clownfish (pair) Marine Betta Grouper (aka Sea Comet) Longnose Hawkfish Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish BLue Tang Sailfin Tang Niger Trigger Inverts: Bulb Anemone (2) Emerald Crab Strawberry Crab (2) Black Sea Cucumber Feather Dusters Red Leg Hermits Coral Banded Shrimp Nassarius Snail Turbo Snails Sand Sifting Starfish Corals: Pineapple Brain Branching Frogspawn Branching Torch Toadstool Leather Red Mushrooms Red/Green Ricordea Mushrooms Zoanthid Polyps Green Star Polyps Yellow Polyps Button Polyps

08/15/2011, 10:47 AM	#2
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	T5 is fine but you need a good fixture if you want the high light stuff. For a 90 gallon tank and clams, I recommend an ATI Sunpower in the 6 bulb version. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

08/15/2011, 12:13 PM	#4
Saadatski Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 875	about $550 for the fixture and the bulbs. I would go with 3 ATI blue plus, 1 aquablue, 1 purple plus and 1 KZ new generation. __________________ 75 gallon FOWLR for now- 2x250w MH Current USA Outer Orbit with T5 actinic, Vortech MP40

08/15/2011, 09:49 PM	#6
TomNeely Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 924	I use a ATI Sunpower 6 bulb on my 75 gallon and love it. Three 6500k and three ATI Blue Plus. __________________ Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society Member

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08/15/2011, 10:57 AM	#3
Master Kyle 297 Reef Freak Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 204	How much does that cost?

08/15/2011, 12:24 PM	#5
Master Kyle 297 Reef Freak Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 204	What about the night light one?

08/16/2011, 11:28 AM	#7
daveydoodle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 120	TomNeely, I'll be running the same size tank and I'm looking at the same fixture now. What do you have in your tank?