discretekarma October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 I just set up my frag tank and I already have a PC light. My light is a 20" Aqualight with 96w brand new bulbs. It's in a 15 gallon tank so it's about 11"-12" from the sand bed. I really wanted to be able to keep SPS frags in there as well as others. Would this be ok to keep SPS frags in here as long as the flow is good and the water quality is good too. I'm sure I'll upgrade to a T5 fixture in the future but will my SPS' do ok until then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 I just set up my frag tank and I already have a PC light. My light is a 20" Aqualight with 96w brand new bulbs. It's in a 15 gallon tank so it's about 11"-12" from the sand bed. I really wanted to be able to keep SPS frags in there as well as others. Would this be ok to keep SPS frags in here as long as the flow is good and the water quality is good too. I'm sure I'll upgrade to a T5 fixture in the future but will my SPS' do ok until then? I ran mine with a PC light until I got my 58-gallon tank, and a newer, bigger light for it. Then I put the 4-bulb T5 fixture over the frag tank. While I had the PC light over it - everything stayed alive, and most of it grew just fine; but the color faded out of a lot of pieces. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcerna October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 Great for softies. I switched to a metal halide for LPS and SPS. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 27, 2007 Author Share October 27, 2007 Should I assume that my SPS' will not do well? I don't want them to just not die. I want them to grow. Will water quality and flow out way the lower light and allow my SPS' to grow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcerna October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 The PAR of CF are pretty weak compared to that of T5s or MHs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason the filter freak October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 go with the t5's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 27, 2007 Author Share October 27, 2007 (edited) I'm not sure I can get T5's right now but what should I look for when I can get them? Not what is the best T5 ever made, since I'm sure it'll also be the most expensive. What is a pretty good one for a good price. It has to be between 20" and 24". Thanks go with the t5's Edited October 27, 2007 by discretekarma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 I'm not sure I can get T5's right now but what should I look for when I can get them? Not what is the best T5 ever made, since I'm sure it'll also be the most expensive. What is a pretty good one for a good price. It has to be between 20" and 24". Thanks If you're looking to save money - get a retro kit and put your own together. I have TEK lights, with 99% german reflectors - I like them, but they aren't the cheapest. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YBeNormal October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 II have TEK lights, with 99% german reflectors Who made the remaining 1%? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 27, 2007 Author Share October 27, 2007 I don't have a canopy on my frag tank and my wife likes everything to look neat so what is a good T5 light fixture that will allow me to kleep SPS in my frag tank given that the water quality and flow is correct. If you're looking to save money - get a retro kit and put your own together. I have TEK lights, with 99% german reflectors - I like them, but they aren't the cheapest. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 27, 2007 Author Share October 27, 2007 (edited) Would a 96w T5 really work that much better than a 96w PC? Will my 96w PC not work at all for SPS corals or just not work as well as a T5? Edited October 27, 2007 by discretekarma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 you can't go by watts when comparing types of bulbs. T5s are better than pcs, and are more economical in terms of bulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 Would a 96w T5 really work that much better than a 96w PC? Will my 96w PC not work at all for SPS corals or just not work as well as a T5? T5's are called HO - High-Output; they put out more light per watt. Then add in the reflector quality of most PC fixtures being lower - and you just don't have as much light. If you are trying to grow monti caps in there, you will probably be fine. If you are trying to grow the more sensitive types of SPS, they will probably not die - but I doubt they will grow or color up to your expectations. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoutlaw October 27, 2007 Share October 27, 2007 T5s or MH is the way to go. PCs won't get you the color or growth out of LPS and SPS. I've heard of the odd case where people get growth using PCs (bob) but the majority of what I've read speaks of color loss, no growth and some not surviving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 27, 2007 Author Share October 27, 2007 Perfect answers. Very straight forward. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 This has interested me as well seeing as I am also setting up a 15g frag tank. As for the T-5's, would it be better to go with a 6x24w fixture or a 4x24w fixture? Would the 6x24w be overkill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gastone October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 This has interested me as well seeing as I am also setting up a 15g frag tank. As for the T-5's, would it be better to go with a 6x24w fixture or a 4x24w fixture? Would the 6x24w be overkill? Jimmy, IMO 6 x 24 would be serious overkill. To be honest, I would go with 2x24w with individual reflectors. Would be more than enough on that size tank. Garrett. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 Jimmy, IMO 6 x 24 would be serious overkill. To be honest, I would go with 2x24w with individual reflectors. Would be more than enough on that size tank. Garrett. Even for SPS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gastone October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 Even for SPS? With individual reflectors... no problem. Have you seen the par numbers on RC that Grim posted? Scary.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 28, 2007 Author Share October 28, 2007 I did see a Tek light that was 24" and had 4 x 24w with individual reflectors but I wasn't aware of a 2 x 24w that has individual reflectors. Do you know a brand that would be strong enough to keep SPS in or a link? That would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gastone October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 Unfortunately my meager teaching salary doesn't allow me to even consider those fancy fixtures. Instead I gotta go the retro route. Try Greg at ReefGeek. Great guy to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 28, 2007 Author Share October 28, 2007 Maybe something like this? http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluore...lbs_by_ReefGeek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YBeNormal October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 Maybe something like this? http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluore...lbs_by_ReefGeek Also available from BRK and maybe some of our other supporting vendors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discretekarma October 28, 2007 Author Share October 28, 2007 I think BRK is great and I would definitely support our local stores before purchasing online. I just want to know if that 2 bulb x 24 watt HO T5 w/ seperate reflectors would be good for a 15 gallon reef tank that will have SPS and others? Also available from BRK and maybe some of our other supporting vendors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YBeNormal October 28, 2007 Share October 28, 2007 I'd say yes. A 15g tank is not very large or deep and T5s put out a lot of light, especially when paired with good reflectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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