Lighting for my 120 gallon

KellerMike · 09/24/2011, 02:36 PM

hey all
i have decided to go with a T5 setup for my reef tank that im going to be setting up, the only question is how many i should be using for it? i want to
keep mostly soft corals, but maybe some hard corals, my tank it 4ftx2ftx2ft

Thank you

Blayz77 · 09/24/2011, 04:02 PM

i am also about to start setting up a 120g, im interested in why you are choosing to go with t5 instead of mh or led?

KellerMike · 09/24/2011, 04:46 PM

price is mainly the concern,

maddmaxx · 09/24/2011, 07:06 PM

6 to 8 t5s on that tank would be plenty for anything you wanted...i too am setting up a 120. im goin with 8 t5s myself. why am i personally choosing this light set up over led or mh is because it has less heat than a mh and very good par readings, so with a 2 foot deep tank. theres no need for mh to penetrate down to the bottom of the tank, the 8 t5s will get down there just as easy. and leds just seem complicated and prices as $h*t...

Blayz77 · 09/24/2011, 07:40 PM

fair enough i agree on the price of led they are way up there unless you get an older unit but who wants to do that when getting a new tank. ive only used mh and i dont like how they heat the water up so much

GrampaDon · 09/24/2011, 07:41 PM

6-8 would be about right.
10 if you have real dark sunglasses for viewing.

milkman55 · 09/24/2011, 07:48 PM

6 bulbs for soft and lower light corals. 8 bulbs if you want some SPS.
I have an 8 bulb TEK fixture on my 120 gal tank mounted on legs and it will grow anything.

James77 · 09/24/2011, 07:51 PM

8 is the max you would ever need, 6 would keep most anything as well.

KellerMike · 09/25/2011, 01:23 AM

Thanks guys, 8 it is. I just wanna try findin a used set up to save some dollars. The first thing I'm focusing on is lighting, then filtration, then water flow,

KellerMike · 10/01/2011, 08:05 PM

I actually picked up a aqualight pro for a decent price. It has 2 150w metal Halides and two 90x PC acintics, im hoping this is going to cover me. Im taking the old bulbs out and gettin phoenix 14k bulbs

09/24/2011, 02:36 PM	#1
KellerMike Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 18	Lighting for my 120 gallon hey all i have decided to go with a T5 setup for my reef tank that im going to be setting up, the only question is how many i should be using for it? i want to keep mostly soft corals, but maybe some hard corals, my tank it 4ftx2ftx2ft Thank you

09/24/2011, 07:06 PM	#4
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	6 to 8 t5s on that tank would be plenty for anything you wanted...i too am setting up a 120. im goin with 8 t5s myself. why am i personally choosing this light set up over led or mh is because it has less heat than a mh and very good par readings, so with a 2 foot deep tank. theres no need for mh to penetrate down to the bottom of the tank, the 8 t5s will get down there just as easy. and leds just seem complicated and prices as $h*t... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

09/24/2011, 07:51 PM	#8
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	8 is the max you would ever need, 6 would keep most anything as well. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

09/24/2011, 04:02 PM	#2
Blayz77 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ca Posts: 436	i am also about to start setting up a 120g, im interested in why you are choosing to go with t5 instead of mh or led?

09/24/2011, 04:46 PM	#3
KellerMike Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 18	price is mainly the concern,

09/24/2011, 07:40 PM	#5
Blayz77 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ca Posts: 436	fair enough i agree on the price of led they are way up there unless you get an older unit but who wants to do that when getting a new tank. ive only used mh and i dont like how they heat the water up so much

09/24/2011, 07:41 PM	#6
GrampaDon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Wayne ,IN Posts: 636	6-8 would be about right. 10 if you have real dark sunglasses for viewing.

09/24/2011, 07:48 PM	#7
milkman55 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Parkville, MO Posts: 832	6 bulbs for soft and lower light corals. 8 bulbs if you want some SPS. I have an 8 bulb TEK fixture on my 120 gal tank mounted on legs and it will grow anything.

09/25/2011, 01:23 AM	#9
KellerMike Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 18	Thanks guys, 8 it is. I just wanna try findin a used set up to save some dollars. The first thing I'm focusing on is lighting, then filtration, then water flow,

10/01/2011, 08:05 PM	#10
KellerMike Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 18	I actually picked up a aqualight pro for a decent price. It has 2 150w metal Halides and two 90x PC acintics, im hoping this is going to cover me. Im taking the old bulbs out and gettin phoenix 14k bulbs