4bulb T5 tek light strong enough for acro's?

beachroadbum · 10/29/2007, 05:51 PM

Hi all,

Do you think the T5 tek light which is 4 HO 39watt bulbs is strong enough for acropora? The acropora will be between 18 and 10 inches underneath the fixture. I will be using two URI aquasun for the two middle bulbs and actinc plus geismanns on the outsides.

Thanks!!

best,
Jared

oct2274 · 10/29/2007, 06:30 PM

Yes, 4 will be fine at that depth, but I'd ditch the actinic plus geismanns. They have very little par. I own them and am not impressed. Both the ATI blue plus and the UV SuperActinics are much brighter. I would run one ATI blue plus and one Superactinic. If you want a touch more blue then swap out one Aquasun for another blue plus.

beachroadbum · 10/29/2007, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the feedback!

Potsy · 10/29/2007, 08:02 PM

I have an Aquactinic TX5 fixture with 5 T5 bulbs. I like having the fifth bulb for added par and color flexibility. Right now I have three aquablues, one aquasun, and one actinic plus. Oct2274 is right with regard to the actinic plus's lack of par - awfully dim. I'm thinking of switching it out for a blue+. The fixture is over a 38 gallon with several monitpora, a bta, and crocea clam.

beachroadbum · 10/29/2007, 08:19 PM

Hey Now Potsy,

And your clam and bta are thriving under that light? If so that is a good sign that mine will be strong enough for acropora. Thanks potsy!

Potsy · 10/29/2007, 08:40 PM

The tank has been set up since early July so it's pretty new. It was a downsize from a 75 gallon with 2 x 250 watt hqi so the corals/clam were used to intense lighting. I know for a fact that the t5s are more than enough for the bta but it seems to be doing some wandering - I think it's still looking for that extra special hole in which to anchor its foot. The crocea was temporarily under 220 watts of pc and had lost some of its color, but after a few weeks of the t5, it has colored up again. I had it perched up high on the rockwork but it kept moving around so I placed it midway up the tank and now it appears to be happy with its position. Hasn't moved at all in a few days. The real test will be my clam's health in six months. My hydophora and montipora capricornus are growing rapidly. My lps and zoanthids are on the sand and doing very well.

Personally, if I were going with four bulbs and sps, I'd skip the actinics and maximize the par with blue plusses for your blue bulbs. With sps you need all the light you can get.

The only reason I have a clam and bta is that they were moved from my larger tank. I'm not sure I'd get them if I were starting from scratch - hate the threat of a wandering bta and the jury is still out on the clam under t5s (although it did color up).

Potsy · 10/29/2007, 08:41 PM

Oh hey, I see you like chess too! Have a good night.

Meisen · 10/31/2007, 08:50 AM

I ran my Acro prop tank under a Tek light (4 X 54W, 48") for several months while I was waiting for Sunlight to warranty my M59 ballast. I didnt have any ill effects except that things looked a little more pastel or washed out afterwards. Everything quickly returned to normal within a few weeks back under the radiums. I cant say that growth changed much either way, pretty much the same.

10/29/2007, 05:51 PM	#1
beachroadbum Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: gulf of lune Posts: 468	4bulb T5 tek light strong enough for acro's? Hi all, Do you think the T5 tek light which is 4 HO 39watt bulbs is strong enough for acropora? The acropora will be between 18 and 10 inches underneath the fixture. I will be using two URI aquasun for the two middle bulbs and actinc plus geismanns on the outsides. Thanks!! best, Jared __________________ "you know it's gonna get stranger...so let's get on with the show." weir/barlow Current Tank Info: 58 oceanic dsb/t5 4bulb teklight/vortech mp20/aquac ev180/aquac custom sump

10/29/2007, 07:30 PM	#3
beachroadbum Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: gulf of lune Posts: 468	Thanks for the feedback! __________________ "you know it's gonna get stranger...so let's get on with the show." weir/barlow Current Tank Info: 58 oceanic dsb/t5 4bulb teklight/vortech mp20/aquac ev180/aquac custom sump

10/29/2007, 08:19 PM	#5
beachroadbum Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: gulf of lune Posts: 468	Hey Now Potsy, And your clam and bta are thriving under that light? If so that is a good sign that mine will be strong enough for acropora. Thanks potsy! __________________ "you know it's gonna get stranger...so let's get on with the show." weir/barlow Current Tank Info: 58 oceanic dsb/t5 4bulb teklight/vortech mp20/aquac ev180/aquac custom sump

10/31/2007, 08:50 AM	#8
Meisen Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,108	I ran my Acro prop tank under a Tek light (4 X 54W, 48") for several months while I was waiting for Sunlight to warranty my M59 ballast. I didnt have any ill effects except that things looked a little more pastel or washed out afterwards. Everything quickly returned to normal within a few weeks back under the radiums. I cant say that growth changed much either way, pretty much the same. __________________ "You dont know where they've been.....There are all kinds of animals pooping in them" -my lovely wife, only she didn't say poop. Current Tank Info: Tankless. Like your water heater.

10/29/2007, 06:30 PM	#2
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	Yes, 4 will be fine at that depth, but I'd ditch the actinic plus geismanns. They have very little par. I own them and am not impressed. Both the ATI blue plus and the UV SuperActinics are much brighter. I would run one ATI blue plus and one Superactinic. If you want a touch more blue then swap out one Aquasun for another blue plus.

10/29/2007, 08:02 PM	#4
Potsy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kinnelon, NJ Posts: 1,827	I have an Aquactinic TX5 fixture with 5 T5 bulbs. I like having the fifth bulb for added par and color flexibility. Right now I have three aquablues, one aquasun, and one actinic plus. Oct2274 is right with regard to the actinic plus's lack of par - awfully dim. I'm thinking of switching it out for a blue+. The fixture is over a 38 gallon with several monitpora, a bta, and crocea clam.

10/29/2007, 08:40 PM	#6
Potsy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kinnelon, NJ Posts: 1,827	The tank has been set up since early July so it's pretty new. It was a downsize from a 75 gallon with 2 x 250 watt hqi so the corals/clam were used to intense lighting. I know for a fact that the t5s are more than enough for the bta but it seems to be doing some wandering - I think it's still looking for that extra special hole in which to anchor its foot. The crocea was temporarily under 220 watts of pc and had lost some of its color, but after a few weeks of the t5, it has colored up again. I had it perched up high on the rockwork but it kept moving around so I placed it midway up the tank and now it appears to be happy with its position. Hasn't moved at all in a few days. The real test will be my clam's health in six months. My hydophora and montipora capricornus are growing rapidly. My lps and zoanthids are on the sand and doing very well. Personally, if I were going with four bulbs and sps, I'd skip the actinics and maximize the par with blue plusses for your blue bulbs. With sps you need all the light you can get. The only reason I have a clam and bta is that they were moved from my larger tank. I'm not sure I'd get them if I were starting from scratch - hate the threat of a wandering bta and the jury is still out on the clam under t5s (although it did color up).

10/29/2007, 08:41 PM	#7
Potsy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kinnelon, NJ Posts: 1,827	Oh hey, I see you like chess too! Have a good night.