T5 lighting for mixed macro/coral tank

Vampyroteuthis · 05/25/2011, 09:32 PM

Hi guys,

I'm building a 55gal tank that will be mixed macro/coral. I hope to have a decent range of macros (green/red/brown) and also some soft corals/LPS (not planning any SPS in the beginning).

One of the things I still am uncertain about is the lighting. I'm looking at a TEK 48" 4x54W fixture, but I'm not sure about the bulb mix.

Any recommendations?

And also do you think a 6-bulb fixture would be better or would it be overkill?

Any advice is appreciated

israel.kendall · 05/26/2011, 07:44 PM

For a standard 55 a 4 bulb is all you need. I'd go with 2x ati blue +, 1 aquablue special, and a Fiji purple for bulbs.

The only thing you may have trouble keeping is the really really high light demanding sps. I'm keeping some macros, rics, zoas, montis, birdsnests, red planet, tricolor, etc under 4 bulbs in my 55.

Vampyroteuthis · 05/27/2011, 05:12 PM

I asked for advice on the T5 Q&A thread as well, they agree that 4-bulbs is sufficient for a 55gal.

For bulbs so far people seem to be agreeing with the mix of 3 blues, but w/ a 6500K midday bulb as the 4th. Sounds like you're using the Fiji Purple instead of the 6500K, has that been working well for you?

I'm not planning on any heavy SPS, will maybe try 1 or 2 at some point in the future but none to start with...

israel.kendall · 05/28/2011, 11:02 AM

The bulb combo I mentioned is just the most commonly recommended for 4 bulb setups. The aquablue special is a daylight bulb, not a blue one like the blue+. Maybe the grim reefer recommended a different combo for you because you wanted a focus on macros, I'm not sure. He has loads more experience than me, so you may be better off going with his suggestion. You can always try different bulbs later on if you don't like them.

Vampyroteuthis · 05/31/2011, 07:53 PM

Been doing additional research, I wasn't aware that the Aquablue Special was considered a "daylight" bulb (with just an added bit of blue spectrum apparently). I think I am going to go with something very similar to your suggestion, but with a GE 6500K in place of the Aquablue Special. It seems that might be a better daylight bulb for the macros, while still being very similar overall to the setup you recommended.

Thanks for the help

Plantbrain · 05/31/2011, 10:45 PM

Plain old daylight bulbs, I like giesemann powerchrome, work dandy, there's no species of grass or macro you could not grow with this amount of light using a Tek fixture.

I grew plenty of different species with this amount of lighting for a couple of years.

Vampyroteuthis · 06/03/2011, 11:07 PM

Hi Plantbrain

I had decided on the GE Starcoat 6500K for my daylight bulb, but had been looking at the Giesemann Powerchrome Midday bulb as well. Is that the one you were referring to?

I guess the primary difference is that one is 6000K one is 6500K, do you think that makes much of a difference? Or are they functionally similar?

I plan on having a single daylight bulb for my fuge as well, probably on an alternate time cycle...

Plantbrain · 06/04/2011, 12:01 AM

Which color do you like better?

The macros will not care much, they will adapt fairly easily to either lamp.

More aesthetics at this point.

Vampyroteuthis · 06/04/2011, 07:24 PM

Ok, I figured they'd probably be fairly similar as far as the light output does. Thanks for your input

05/25/2011, 09:32 PM	#1
Vampyroteuthis Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 29	T5 lighting for mixed macro/coral tank Hi guys, I'm building a 55gal tank that will be mixed macro/coral. I hope to have a decent range of macros (green/red/brown) and also some soft corals/LPS (not planning any SPS in the beginning). One of the things I still am uncertain about is the lighting. I'm looking at a TEK 48" 4x54W fixture, but I'm not sure about the bulb mix. Any recommendations? And also do you think a 6-bulb fixture would be better or would it be overkill? Any advice is appreciated

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05/26/2011, 07:44 PM	#2
israel.kendall Padawan Reefer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Land O Lakes Posts: 922	For a standard 55 a 4 bulb is all you need. I'd go with 2x ati blue +, 1 aquablue special, and a Fiji purple for bulbs. The only thing you may have trouble keeping is the really really high light demanding sps. I'm keeping some macros, rics, zoas, montis, birdsnests, red planet, tricolor, etc under 4 bulbs in my 55.

05/27/2011, 05:12 PM	#3
Vampyroteuthis Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 29	I asked for advice on the T5 Q&A thread as well, they agree that 4-bulbs is sufficient for a 55gal. For bulbs so far people seem to be agreeing with the mix of 3 blues, but w/ a 6500K midday bulb as the 4th. Sounds like you're using the Fiji Purple instead of the 6500K, has that been working well for you? I'm not planning on any heavy SPS, will maybe try 1 or 2 at some point in the future but none to start with...

05/28/2011, 11:02 AM	#4
israel.kendall Padawan Reefer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Land O Lakes Posts: 922	The bulb combo I mentioned is just the most commonly recommended for 4 bulb setups. The aquablue special is a daylight bulb, not a blue one like the blue+. Maybe the grim reefer recommended a different combo for you because you wanted a focus on macros, I'm not sure. He has loads more experience than me, so you may be better off going with his suggestion. You can always try different bulbs later on if you don't like them.

05/31/2011, 07:53 PM	#5
Vampyroteuthis Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 29	Been doing additional research, I wasn't aware that the Aquablue Special was considered a "daylight" bulb (with just an added bit of blue spectrum apparently). I think I am going to go with something very similar to your suggestion, but with a GE 6500K in place of the Aquablue Special. It seems that might be a better daylight bulb for the macros, while still being very similar overall to the setup you recommended. Thanks for the help

05/31/2011, 10:45 PM	#6
Plantbrain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: The swamp Posts: 997	Plain old daylight bulbs, I like giesemann powerchrome, work dandy, there's no species of grass or macro you could not grow with this amount of light using a Tek fixture. I grew plenty of different species with this amount of lighting for a couple of years.

06/03/2011, 11:07 PM	#7
Vampyroteuthis Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 29	Hi Plantbrain I had decided on the GE Starcoat 6500K for my daylight bulb, but had been looking at the Giesemann Powerchrome Midday bulb as well. Is that the one you were referring to? I guess the primary difference is that one is 6000K one is 6500K, do you think that makes much of a difference? Or are they functionally similar? I plan on having a single daylight bulb for my fuge as well, probably on an alternate time cycle...

06/04/2011, 12:01 AM	#8
Plantbrain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: The swamp Posts: 997	Which color do you like better? The macros will not care much, they will adapt fairly easily to either lamp. More aesthetics at this point.

06/04/2011, 07:24 PM	#9
Vampyroteuthis Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 29	Ok, I figured they'd probably be fairly similar as far as the light output does. Thanks for your input