Lighting 72g w/ T5

[MisterTang]

So I'm seriously considering getting txaggies07's tank when he moves to Texas, but I'm not sure where to go with the lighting (since apparently the only way you can determine if it'll work is if someone else has tried it). Would a 54X4 fixture provide enough light for some of the easier LPS? He's got a great setup right now with some awesome frogspawn and such, but has a larger light, and I don't want to run that much wattage or produce that much heat.

 

Thanks!

[Highland Reefer]

The depth of your aquarium is the most important factor when deciding on a light system, especially if you want corals to grow on the bottom. You say you want LPS corals now, but I'll wager that in a few months, the sps will look very appealing too. The clams can be addicting also, once you see how beautiful they are. Just my two cents.

 

[MisterTang]

You say you want LPS corals now, but I'll wager that in a few months, the sps will look very appealing too. The clams can be addicting also, once you see how beautiful they are. Just my two cents.

 

 

Probably... but those would probably be candidates for my 10g frag tank . It gets too warm in my house during the summer to keep a huge array of T5s or MH running. Would my proposed setup above at least keep LPS alive and maybe growing a bit?

[WallyBackm]

I have a 72 gallon with 6 x 54 T5 set up. I keep clams, SPS, LPS fine. You may be able to do 4 x 54 but I'm not sure. Go to Reefcentral, the lighting, filtration forum. There's a thread about T5s where a guy by the handle of GrimReefer can answer that.

[txaggies07]

I really think you would be fine. Just make sure to put any of the LPS up near the top of the rock and directly under the light. But yeah, check out reef central.

[MisterTang]

I really think you would be fine. Just make sure to put any of the LPS up near the top of the rock and directly under the light. But yeah, check out reef central.

Sorry, no offense intended by posting, just wanted to get a consensus here

[amos]

Absolutely. I have a 90 gallon with 4x54 T5s Teklight and one of my buddies has a 90 with a Nova. I have a favia and a hammer that are healthy and have great color. My buddy has candy cane and others. I just got an Acan that lost some of its orange, but I'm still monkeying around with placement. Of course, rics and other softies do just fine. Surprisingly (or maybe not), I have a monitpora cap that looks as good in my tank as under any MHs that I've seen, and I have a digitata that grows fine, but is just a bit brown.

 

I'd love to hear other's thoughts with similar setups on what worked and what hasn't.

 

Regards,

 

Jon

 

Edit (more data on placement):

- Favia - middle (bottom has worked just fine also)

- Acan - bottom (when he's settled I'm going to move him up)

- Hammer - bottom

- Montipora cap - middle

- Florida rics - uppder 2/3rds

- yuma rics - bottom 2/3rds

- xenias - (they crawled up to the top)

Edited June 26, 2008 by amos

[txaggies07]

Sorry, no offense intended by posting, just wanted to get a consensus here

 

Absolutely none taken at all. I want you to find the answers to your questions. You buying my tank and getting a light that works for you is a win win win.

[MisterTang]

Absolutely none taken at all. I want you to find the answers to your questions. You buying my tank and getting a light that works for you is a win win win.

 

 

And don't forget the rock

[YBeNormal]

4x54w would work for LPS/SPS if all of the bulbs are midday/aquablue (or the equivalent name for the brand of bulbs you select) but I'd go 6x54w if you also plan on using actinics.

[txaggies07]

No idea on the rock though. You need to find it from someone selling. Hopefully someone will sell for $1-$3 per lbs.

[Coral Hind]

You will be fine keeping LPS with that combo. A good family of candidates would the Euphyllia. They do not require high lighting or flow which is how most hobbiest kill them.

[txaggies07]

Sounds like you are good to buy the setup then eh