Lighting: T5 or T6

[civitan.erichanson]

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.

[Brian Ward]

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.

[civitan.erichanson]

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.

[Larry Grenier]

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

[Brian Ward]

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.