Lighting Upgrade Suggestions

[sroot17]

Hi everyone. I?m looking for some suggestions or guidance for upgrading my lighting. I currently have some lps and zoas but would like to eventually add some sps to the tank as well as an anemone. I currently run a wavepoint 36in 4x39w T5 with the stock 2 white, 2 actinic bulbs. This is run on a 50g 36in wide, 18in deep tank.

My question is should I keep what I have running and add an additional light or should I replace my current setup with something different?
I am not looking to spend a fortune and am not looking for my electric bill to skyrocket. Also, I am not able to hang anything from the ceiling so any lights will have to be hung on some sort of pendant or be attached to the rim of the tank.

For additional lights I was looking at adding an additional T5 fixture 2x39w running only actinic bulbs (run as dawn/dusk) or possibly a 36in reefbright blue led.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Brando457]

Upgrade to the tek fixture you'll be a lot happier. Reefgeeks has them at a good price.


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[cowfish]

6 bulbs would be better than 4 for SPS. Adding actinic bulbs will not help as they have minimal PAR. If you like the blue look use ATI blue + bulbs. A good configuration for SPS would be 3 ATI blue +, KZ fiji purple or actinic white, GE 6500K and either another ATI blue plus or an Aquablue special.

 

[sroot17]

So 2 additional T5s or a 6 bulb fixture would be better than adding the LEDs?

I'm looking to get some more growth in my tank! Whats best?

 

[chinatown]

i'm going to shamelessly plug this in here in case you're interested in the Tek fixture. Its a 6 bulb 36" T5 with individual reflectors.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/85615-tek-36-6x39w-t5-light.html

 

[sroot17]

bump!

 

[dacaptain78]

I have the same tank dimensions as you and run a 6 bulb Tek fixture,. I house lps, sps, and an anemone. Everything is growing well. I would recommend a six bulb fixture, something with individual reflectors for each bulb, such as the Tek or ATI fixtures.

 

[sroot17]

What about a mh/t5 combo? Would I get more growth with a mh over 6 t5s?


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[masterswimmer]

Scott, if you were to use the WP fixture with all good crisp white bulbs and add either a 2 bulb fixture (to save cash from having to buy another fixture), you can run the new 2 bulb fixture with actinics....or like you said, go with the ReefBrite 36" blue LED's and the 4 x 39w WavePoint with the whites, you'd have a nice setup.

No need to buy a whole new fixture with 6 bulbs.

Russ

 

[waynotcars]

+1 there. Why buy NEW 6 bulb fixture? Buy 2 bulb and do what master swimmer says

 

[sroot17]

There's the voice of reason I was looking for... Thanks Russ!!

I'm guessing I know the answer to this one but if I want to house more SPS am I better off going with the additional T5s or the LEDs? I really do love the look the Leds give a tank.

Thanks!

 

[masterswimmer]

There's the voice of reason I was looking for... Thanks Russ!!

I'm guessing I know the answer to this one but if I want to house more SPS am I better off going with the additional T5s or the LEDs? I really do love the look the Leds give a tank.

Thanks!

My pleasure Scott. IMO the 4 10k-12k T5 bulbs (daylight) are enough to keep sps, anemone's and/or clams. The additional light you add can easily be the LED strip for color and appearance.

Russ