24 wide 25 deep 72 long

[CrayolaViolence]

How many T5 bulbs should you use on a tank this size? It's a mixed reef tank

[scooter31707]

At least a 8x80w bulb fixture would probably get the job done.

[CrayolaViolence]

Why is it you would need so many more T5 wattage than LED wattage?

[CrayolaViolence]

What is the per watt lumen output on a t5 vs the per watt lumen output on an LED?

[toothybugs]

T5s are less efficient, but you can also get crappy LEDs that don't output much for the wattage used.

[CrayolaViolence]

But do you know the exact lumen per watt between a t5 and a good LED light?

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

But do you know the exact lumen per watt between a t5 and a good LED light?

Is google broken?
t5 ho 80W = roughly 80-90 lm/w
LEDs roughly 200-300 lm/w or more for a decent fixture..

[CrayolaViolence]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Is google broken?
t5 ho 80W = roughly 80-90 lm/w
LEDs roughly 200-300 lm/w or more for a decent fixture..

I looked on google and got a lot of conflicting information. Some say as low as 110 lm on an 80 watt LED. Others had it MUCH higher. I was hoping someone had actual data and not just google. But if you have a good site to look at for that data and know where it is off the top of your head, it's easier to find than digging through a bunch of crap.

[CrayolaViolence]

For example Cree (which sounds familiar as if maybe I heard that one of the aquarium light people use their optics) they produce up to 300 lumens per watt.

[Reef Frog]

Even a 6 bulb might do the job for low light species. It's easy to over light a tank with T5 if one is mounting things like chalices, some favias, acan/micromusa lords etc in a high position. Having some shady spots is often a very desirable thing depending on the type of aquarium you want to keep. But having an 8 bulb with some bulbs on a separate plug for independent operation is probably ideal.

While watts used per lumen might be nice to know, it's not critical knowledge IMO/E in choosing the technology that will best suit any particular hobbyist's needs. It will tell you about the cost of operation however.

[Reef Frog]

Double post.

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

I looked on google and got a lot of conflicting information. Some say as low as 110 lm on an 80 watt LED. Others had it MUCH higher. I was hoping someone had actual data and not just google. But if you have a good site to look at for that data and know where it is off the top of your head, it's easier to find than digging through a bunch of crap.

Its published information on any bulb/led manufacturers datasheets I've come across..

[CrayolaViolence]

I will remember that Mcgyvr. But if you think about it, if everyone "just went to google." Rather than communicating each other and asking questions on forums (even seemingly simple ones) then there would be even LESS communication between hobbyists, and no reason for places like this to exist.

[CrayolaViolence]

wrong spot.

[toothybugs]

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

I will remember that Mcgyvr. But if you think about it, if everyone "just went to google." Rather than communicating each other and asking questions on forums (even seemingly simple ones) then there would be even LESS communication between hobbyists, and no reason for places like this to exist.

It's a double edged sword. It's hard to find a nice dividing line between "doing your research" and "asking for a handout" - I'm just happy you bothered to look before asking. Though clarifying first that you'd had looked but come up empty would have been nice, no harm no foul. That, IMHO, is another facet to building good communication in a forum like this.

BTW I would personally go with twin 8-bulb 36" fixtures or 6-bulbs and LED supplement on the flanks. I've become addicted to the dimming capabilities of good fixtures.

[mcgyvr]

You asked for "exact" and then stated "t5" and "good LED"
Exact is only going to come from detailed specifics and going directly to the source..
I gave you "rough" numbers but anymore is up to you..

Now if you said an 80W T5 HO from brand X and the Radion blah blah then .. well you could have just found that information yourself too..

Personally I do wonder the point of forums... After a while is just the same questions/answers posted over and over again..
If people actually searched we wouldn't need to have any posts..

I'm a huge fan of searching first.. I have my Masters from Google..

And come on.. If someone needs to ask if its an aiptasia in their tank then they are just plain lazy.. As a simple google images search would show them thousands of pics of aiptasia..

[CrayolaViolence]

Originally Posted by toothybugs

It's a double edged sword. It's hard to find a nice dividing line between "doing your research" and "asking for a handout" - I'm just happy you bothered to look before asking. Though clarifying first that you'd had looked but come up empty would have been nice, no harm no foul. That, IMHO, is another facet to building good communication in a forum like this.

BTW I would personally go with twin 8-bulb 36" fixtures or 6-bulbs and LED supplement on the flanks. I've become addicted to the dimming capabilities of good fixtures.

The 36 bulb would be nice but there is no where to mount it on the center bar of the tank. I will be using my two kessil 360we in conjunction with the t5.

Interesting enough. I moved the 48" T5 over the smaller tank where the kessils had been. Not only has the light completely changed. A few corals I was loosing look like they are turning around and fast. It has 4 bulbs, but is only 10-11 inches deep. I really do like how the T5 lights up the tank. I mean the "shimmer" is nice, but seeing everything is even better.

[CrayolaViolence]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

You asked for "exact" and then stated "t5" and "good LED"
Exact is only going to come from detailed specifics and going directly to the source..
I gave you "rough" numbers but anymore is up to you..

Now if you said an 80W T5 HO from brand X and the Radion blah blah then .. well you could have just found that information yourself too..

Personally I do wonder the point of forums... After a while is just the same questions/answers posted over and over again..
If people actually searched we wouldn't need to have any posts..

I'm a huge fan of searching first.. I have my Masters from Google..

And come on.. If someone needs to ask if its an aiptasia in their tank then they are just plain lazy.. As a simple google images search would show them thousands of pics of aiptasia..

If you truly feel that way then why are you here?

I'm not trying to be snide by asking that question, having been in animal husbandry for over 20 years, where I even ran forums on certain things, people ask other people because they prefer some sort of human interaction. They want to hear personal experiences. The want a better chance at getting a correct answer because their hope is, the people on the forum who are long timers, will be there for them.

In the dog world we call it mentoring. And no question, no matter how seemingly simple, is ever thrown back at a person as dumb or lazy. The fact they asked means they want to learn. The computer age has changed interactions between people, yet human nature is to still want contact with other people even if it's behind a computer screen.

Usually when people have reached a point in their hobby where they condemn questions posted by others they have reached the peak---so to speak. Like a twenty year old---they think they know it all--then they hit forty and think--what the ****? Good teachers, mentors, and those who are willing to learn and adapt, are the people who become spokes persons for any hobby---they become the mentors and masters at their craft. And the first lesson of becoming a master at anything is patience with those who know less.