Final Suggestions needed! T5 users

[Kingumar]

My tank is 90 gal, mostly sps with few lps and softies at the bottom. I want to switch over to T5's completely..

Tank: 48x18x24

Im stuck between ATI 6x54 sunpower, 7 bulb aquatic Constellation or the ATI 8x54w sunpower.

Do i need 8 bulbs or 6 is fine? I dont just want it to work, i want the corals to thrive.
Or any other suggestions?

Im thinking about finalizing it this week and ordering. Suggestions will be great!

 

[returnofsid]

ATI will definitely be your best bet, as apposed to the Constellation. The next option would be Sunlight Supply's Tek5 Elite.

As for number of bulbs, an 8 bulb ATI is going to be 17 1/2" wide, over your 18" tank. This will make it difficult to get into your tank, unless you hang the fixture higher. Hanging it higher, defeats the purpose. A 6 bulb ATI will allow you to grow anything you want, including high light demanding SPS corals.

For several years, I lit a 75 with a 6 bulb Tek5 fixture. I had Acropora corals growing on the bottom of the tank, though they did better at mid tank or higher. I also had Crocea, Squamosa, Maxima and Derasa clams, all thriving, with some near or on the bottom of the tank. An ATI is going to produce even higher PAR ratings, than my Tek5 did. You'll be just fine, with 6 bulbs.

I'm currently lighting a 200 DD, with 10X54 T5, in the form of the above mentioned 6 bulb Tek5 and a 4 bulb Tek5. I have Acropora growing, on the bottom, holding their color and thriving. I also have 4 clams, thriving, with 3 of them on the bottom. This tank is 27" deep, with the lights sitting about 5" above the water.

 

[jaygalindo]

Go with 8 if budget isn't an issue. You will be able to keep anything in your 90 at any placement. I used to run the 8 bulb tek fixture on my 90 and had no issues growing anything I wanted.

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[jaygalindo]

If u are worried about getting in an out of the tank due to with use the sun lift light hanging kit. This allows you to raise your fixture with ease when maintenance time rolls around.

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[Kingumar]

ya i guess im stuck between the 6 or the 8 bulb fixture.

If 6 will do the job then i have no need for the 8 bulb, but if 8 will give me better growth then i will have to consider that.

Hanging is also the problem, the sun lift light hanging kit is only good for 22lbs it says, and the 8 bulb fixture is from 30-40lbs i believe?
I dont want the light to be in the way when i do maintenance and or add/remove corals.

 

[returnofsid]

8 bulbs will obviously give you better growth, as it's putting more light into the tank. Well, maybe. It's putting more light near the back and front glass, only. If you plan on having corals, that near to the glass, you may wanna go with 8 bulbs. However, this could also result in more algae issues, on the glass.

ATI reflectors will allow for a 6 bulb fixture to still completely light your entire tank. But, as always, the more bulbs, the more PAR being pumped into your water.

 

[07FocusST]

I have a 4 bulb Current Sundial on my 55G 48"x13"x18". I run 460nm actinic, 10k, 420nm Actinic, 460nm Actinic in that order. I have LPS's mostly. No problems.

 

[DTECH07]

I running a Current Nove Extrem 6bulb and all is happy. Change the bulbs out annually.