Moving from VHO to T5 - bulb suggestion

jcm1229 · 08/25/2006, 07:34 AM

I currently run a 37g (30x12) lit by 4x75W Vho (2x10k and 2x superactinic) off an ice cap ballast. I keep a mixed reef zoas/softies on bottom, some lps mid-tank and have some flat shelf type rock at the top where I keep sps. My sps do well up there decent growth and color.

I'm moving most of my softies/lps to another tank and would like to move (Add) some sps to mid-tank. I'm planning on replacing my vho with T5 and individual reflectors off the same Ice Cap ballast.

Questions:

Will switching to T5 give me more light than the VHO and allow me to move my sps lower?

What bulb configuration would you recommend?

Thanks!

MrPike · 08/25/2006, 08:40 AM

Seems many of the european tanks are using pure blue+ bulbs with excellent growth and color.

newnano · 08/25/2006, 08:59 AM

i think it would depend on the tank andhow many bulbs/type you are adding but in general t-5s can provide a lot of par and my guess is you would have no problem with softies on the bottom.

jcm1229 · 08/25/2006, 09:05 AM

I'm planning on replacing my 4 vho bulbs with 4 T5 bulbs. I'm not concerned with softies on the bottom as these will be moved to another tank. I just want to make sure that I have the same or higher lighting at the top and mid-tank for my sps.

perrl · 08/25/2006, 09:19 AM

You will definitely have more light. I upgraded to 4 54W T-5's on my 55 gal and my mushrooms had to be moved to the shade before they returned to normal. I also have put a few acro frags in the mid and upper parts of the tank and they are growing nicely. My bulb combination is

blue+
Aquablue
GE daylight
blue+

08/25/2006, 07:34 AM	#1
jcm1229 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Park Ridge, IL Posts: 1,780	Moving from VHO to T5 - bulb suggestion I currently run a 37g (30x12) lit by 4x75W Vho (2x10k and 2x superactinic) off an ice cap ballast. I keep a mixed reef zoas/softies on bottom, some lps mid-tank and have some flat shelf type rock at the top where I keep sps. My sps do well up there decent growth and color. I'm moving most of my softies/lps to another tank and would like to move (Add) some sps to mid-tank. I'm planning on replacing my vho with T5 and individual reflectors off the same Ice Cap ballast. Questions: Will switching to T5 give me more light than the VHO and allow me to move my sps lower? What bulb configuration would you recommend? Thanks!

08/25/2006, 08:40 AM	#2
MrPike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 718	Seems many of the european tanks are using pure blue+ bulbs with excellent growth and color.

08/25/2006, 08:59 AM	#3
newnano Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NWI Posts: 720	i think it would depend on the tank andhow many bulbs/type you are adding but in general t-5s can provide a lot of par and my guess is you would have no problem with softies on the bottom.

08/25/2006, 09:05 AM	#4
jcm1229 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Park Ridge, IL Posts: 1,780	I'm planning on replacing my 4 vho bulbs with 4 T5 bulbs. I'm not concerned with softies on the bottom as these will be moved to another tank. I just want to make sure that I have the same or higher lighting at the top and mid-tank for my sps.

08/25/2006, 09:19 AM	#5
perrl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesquite, NV Posts: 51	You will definitely have more light. I upgraded to 4 54W T-5's on my 55 gal and my mushrooms had to be moved to the shade before they returned to normal. I also have put a few acro frags in the mid and upper parts of the tank and they are growing nicely. My bulb combination is blue+ Aquablue GE daylight blue+