75 gal & t-5 lighting question

cepaw · 10/03/2006, 04:41 AM

Hi all, I have a 75 gal reef tank with 260 watts of power compacts.
I want to buy a tek light t-5
should I go with 4 x 54 or 6x54 ?????
I keep softies, ric, but I would like to try some sps
also, what bulb combo ?
thanks for ant input
Mike

geckofrog · 10/03/2006, 05:45 AM

I would get a 6x54 unit

hot4teacher · 10/03/2006, 05:46 AM

+1

I have 6x54W on my 65G (48"x17x17).

Dana

bobt2 · 10/03/2006, 06:48 AM

i run a 6x54 on my 75. just keep the low light corals low. i have had problems keeping mushrooms in this tank because of the light, but my leathers and lps grow like crazy.

my2girls · 10/03/2006, 06:49 AM

6 x 54. You can always leave the 2 outside bulbs off until you get some SPS.

hot4teacher · 10/03/2006, 06:56 AM

I have 11,000K on the outsides that come on at 11am and go off at 1pm. 2 hours of mid-day sun!

I can hear a few zoos screaming out at around 12:45, but they settle down after 1pm. I will admit, I had 384W of PC on the tank before, but these 324W T5's are MUCH brighter and have made a tremendous difference in zoa growth.

Dana

MACDad · 10/03/2006, 01:04 PM

I currently have a 4x54 Tek retro on my 75. I am getting excellent growth in my corals, even SPS on the sandbed. I think 6 is a very tight fit. Since I have been having good luck with 4, I would say just go with 4 and save some money. Unless you are talking about a fixture, then I can't comment.

10/03/2006, 04:41 AM	#1
cepaw Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Medina Ohio Posts: 168	75 gal & t-5 lighting question Hi all, I have a 75 gal reef tank with 260 watts of power compacts. I want to buy a tek light t-5 should I go with 4 x 54 or 6x54 ????? I keep softies, ric, but I would like to try some sps also, what bulb combo ? thanks for ant input Mike

10/03/2006, 05:45 AM	#2
geckofrog Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 505	I would get a 6x54 unit __________________ Ryan Current Tank Info: 75G,

10/03/2006, 06:49 AM	#5
my2girls Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Hartford, CT Posts: 2,293	6 x 54. You can always leave the 2 outside bulbs off until you get some SPS. __________________ Always downsizing...

10/03/2006, 05:46 AM	#3
hot4teacher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 537	+1 I have 6x54W on my 65G (48"x17x17). Dana

10/03/2006, 06:48 AM	#4
bobt2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: long island NY Posts: 1,835	i run a 6x54 on my 75. just keep the low light corals low. i have had problems keeping mushrooms in this tank because of the light, but my leathers and lps grow like crazy.

10/03/2006, 06:56 AM	#6
hot4teacher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 537	I have 11,000K on the outsides that come on at 11am and go off at 1pm. 2 hours of mid-day sun! I can hear a few zoos screaming out at around 12:45, but they settle down after 1pm. I will admit, I had 384W of PC on the tank before, but these 324W T5's are MUCH brighter and have made a tremendous difference in zoa growth. Dana

10/03/2006, 01:04 PM	#7
MACDad Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Baltimore, OH Posts: 341	I currently have a 4x54 Tek retro on my 75. I am getting excellent growth in my corals, even SPS on the sandbed. I think 6 is a very tight fit. Since I have been having good luck with 4, I would say just go with 4 and save some money. Unless you are talking about a fixture, then I can't comment.