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I have a 55g tank that I intend to convert to a reef tank. Because of the configuration of my room I can not hang lights over the tank so I am looking at fixtures that have the little "arms". Mostly I see these on T5 and T6 units although I have seen some metal halides with that set up.

 

Questions:

 

1. Should I use M5 or M6?

2. What is the recommended combination of lights in terms of watts and types?

3. How many tubes?

 

I was told that I can not keep hard corals. Is that correct and what is a good site for coral classification - i.e., what is a hard coral ;-)

 

Thanks,

 

Eric.

I have a 55g tank that I intend to convert to a reef tank. Because of the configuration of my room I can not hang lights over the tank so I am looking at fixtures that have the little "arms". Mostly I see these on T5 and T6 units although I have seen some metal halides with that set up.

 

Questions:

 

1. Should I use M5 or M6?

2. What is the recommended combination of lights in terms of watts and types?

3. How many tubes?

 

I was told that I can not keep hard corals. Is that correct and what is a good site for coral classification - i.e., what is a hard coral ;-)

 

Thanks,

 

Eric.

 

 

 

By hard coral, they mean SPS. With T5 lighting you can keep most SPS, so don't worry about that. Not sure what you mean by M5 or M6, but I would go with T5 lights. Don't worry about wattage, just get enough bulbs to cover the tank. I'm guessing a 4-bulb system is about what will fit. 2 Actinic bulbs, 2 daylight bulbs - no lower than 10k spectrum.

By hard coral, they mean SPS. With T5 lighting you can keep most SPS, so don't worry about that. Not sure what you mean by M5 or M6, but I would go with T5 lights. Don't worry about wattage, just get enough bulbs to cover the tank. I'm guessing a 4-bulb system is about what will fit. 2 Actinic bulbs, 2 daylight bulbs - no lower than 10k spectrum.

 

 

Oops I meant T5 or T6.

 

Thanks.

I agree, 4 4' T5s over a 55 should be great. 2 Actinics & 2 10Ks. Not familiar with T6.

 

 

 

I believe T6 is a normal flourescent bulb. Don't use these. Wrong spectrum, not enough intensity (read low PAR). Use T5.

 

btw, PAR is photosynthetically availably radiation - this is what matters to corals and why watts isn't really relevant.

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