2 x 24 watt let retro

rustyjames · 12/30/2014, 09:33 AM

I'd like to go t 5 over my 20 long. Do you think the two bulb let retro would be enough for mainly zoanthids and lps? Kit seems to have nice reflectors and a good ballast. I'd be building the enclosure so I could easily add some led supplementation if needed.

jayball · 12/30/2014, 09:47 AM

At only 12 inches tall and deep you should be good. You could certainly use more light than just the two bulbs if you wanted to add LED but the LET retro's are regarded on the same level as an ATI fixture.

rustyjames · 12/30/2014, 05:13 PM

Thanks Jay. That was my thinking as well that the two bulbs should be fine, for the most part, on such a shallow tank. I think the let kit and some leds would make for a nice little light. Now I've got to figure out bulb/led combinations.

PaleHorse · 12/30/2014, 05:50 PM

That's not shallow and I would go with more.

rustyjames · 12/30/2014, 08:22 PM

I thought a 12" tall tank was pretty shallow. You think 4 x 24 watt or 2 x 24 watt with leds?

kc350twin · 12/31/2014, 11:44 AM

How high will the light be off the tank? Two bulbs doesn't seem like much but there are a few big names in the coral farming business lighting with only a few t5's over there tanks. Less light then most would recommend. IMHO those two T5's and and a blue ReefBrite would be my route.

jayball · 12/31/2014, 12:10 PM

LOL, 12 inches is short for anything but a frag tank. How is that not shallow?

With adding LED's you have the option of dimming them down and depending on how complicated you want to make them control the spectrum. with 4 t-5 over a 12 high and deep system you may run into issues with too much light depending on what LPS you plan on keeping. I do not know where you are putting the retro or if you will have the ability to raise or lower it to mitigate light spill.

12/30/2014, 09:33 AM	#1
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	2 x 24 watt let retro I'd like to go t 5 over my 20 long. Do you think the two bulb let retro would be enough for mainly zoanthids and lps? Kit seems to have nice reflectors and a good ballast. I'd be building the enclosure so I could easily add some led supplementation if needed. __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

12/30/2014, 05:13 PM	#3
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	Thanks Jay. That was my thinking as well that the two bulbs should be fine, for the most part, on such a shallow tank. I think the let kit and some leds would make for a nice little light. Now I've got to figure out bulb/led combinations. __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

12/30/2014, 08:22 PM	#5
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	I thought a 12" tall tank was pretty shallow. You think 4 x 24 watt or 2 x 24 watt with leds? __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

12/31/2014, 11:44 AM	#6
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	How high will the light be off the tank? Two bulbs doesn't seem like much but there are a few big names in the coral farming business lighting with only a few t5's over there tanks. Less light then most would recommend. IMHO those two T5's and and a blue ReefBrite would be my route. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

12/30/2014, 09:47 AM	#2
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	At only 12 inches tall and deep you should be good. You could certainly use more light than just the two bulbs if you wanted to add LED but the LET retro's are regarded on the same level as an ATI fixture.

12/30/2014, 05:50 PM	#4
PaleHorse Moved On Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 421	That's not shallow and I would go with more.

12/31/2014, 12:10 PM	#7
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	LOL, 12 inches is short for anything but a frag tank. How is that not shallow? With adding LED's you have the option of dimming them down and depending on how complicated you want to make them control the spectrum. with 4 t-5 over a 12 high and deep system you may run into issues with too much light depending on what LPS you plan on keeping. I do not know where you are putting the retro or if you will have the ability to raise or lower it to mitigate light spill.