Would T-5's work ?

[shilo_1]

I have a new 65g tank (36"wx18"dx24"t) and want to know if a lighting setup with 6 or 8 T-5's would work instead of MH ?
I want to keep mainly softies and LPS, along with a few easier sps (which I figure I can keep up higher.)

Would this work ?

[RichConley]

you'll probably burn stuff like mushrooms if you go with 8 bulbs.

[Travis L. Stevens]

Both options would work. Because of the depth of the tank, you could run PCs and VHOs for what you want to keep. PCs might have slow SPS growth though.

[shilo_1]

You don't think 24" is on the taller side for PC's ?

I guess I still can't quite "get" the concept of T-5's. lol
Seems like a 39w bulb could never possibly be as strong as a 96w PC, although technically they are more intense....numbers just don't look right, if you know what I mean.

Ok, so PC's.....most setups come with either one or two 96w bulbs (for a 36" tank)....I had more than that on my shallower 46g and got ok growth....how would the same light on a bigger tank be ok still ?

What about 6 39w T-5's ? Would that be a better option ? Or even 4 39w ?

Put it this way...if you had a tank the size of the one I have, and you wanted to keep stuff like zoas, rics, xenia, gsp, frogspawn, hammer, torch, and some sps like montis, etc. What would YOU want ??

[NaH2Ofreak]

I would definitely go with the higher level of lighting. Maybe 4-8 of the T-5's. This way, you would be able to keep just about anything. Look at all the tanks running 400W halides with various SPS, LPS and softies. The more light the better in my opinion.

Dennis

[RichConley]

Originally posted by NaH2Ofreak
I would definitely go with the higher level of lighting. Maybe 4-8 of the T-5's. This way, you would be able to keep just about anything. Look at all the tanks running 400W halides with various SPS, LPS and softies. The more light the better in my opinion.

Dennis

6 x 39w will be more than plenty here.

Go take a gander into the SPS forum NaH20freak, more light is not necessarily bettter. As we get better and better at keeping our water clean, the amount of light corals can take goes way down. IMO, a 250w MH is borderline overkill for a 65. The 6x39w, if he keeps his tank clean, he'll be able to keep absolutely anything.

(assuming they have individual reflectors)

[oct2274]

4 bulbs would be good enough for the majority of things you want depending on your bulb choices. If you want a really high output bulb get the GE daylight. It will have some yellow to it because its only 6500k i believe, but that bad boy is bright and definitely had the ability to melt some corals if they are placed high, even without a reflector, which you will want for sure! If you just want softies and LPS then 4 bulbs will be fine. Maybe a 6500k, 10-11000k, and your choice of actinics.

Really, you probably wouldn't even need the 6500k bulb because depending on what you are keeping two 10-11000k bulbs are probably going to be enough for softies and LPS if placed right in the tank.

again, make sure to get good reflectors, like the icecap slr.

Reefgeek has the bulbs and reflectors. Here is a Link to the reflector for you aquarium length. Bulbs will be around 34" i believe for 39 watt bulbs.

http://reefgeek.com/products/categor...ng/104598.html

[Travis L. Stevens]

Doh! I thought it was 18" Tall. Nah, I would call PCs out of it. I would go with T5s though.