What can I grow under 6 T5 lights in a 90g?

[spearperson]

The title pretty much sums it up, I am setting up (already have water, rock, and live sand going) a standard AGA 90g tank and want to know what people have had luck growing in similar conditions. This is my first go around with T5 lighting, in the past I used MH so am a bit nervous about what I can really expect to keep happy and healthy. So for any of you out there with experience with 6 or fewer T5 lights over a 24" deap tank could you give me a list of what you have successfully grown? and approximate height location in tank...

thanks a bunch,

-Graham

 

[mray]

If your T5s have individual reflectors you can keep SPS on your sand bed.

 

[E.intheC]

What brand do you have? Also, what bulbs? I've heard there's a lot of difference between the low and high end fixtures.

I just bought a Tek fixture so I'm curious about this thread as well.

 

[qy7400]

I have a 120 with a 4 bulb over driven on IC 660, no issues with plates, zoos and LPS. Another 4 bulb over a 4' 65 (18" deep) and no problems with the RBT mid tank.

If it's a SLR setup or a quality fixture 6 bulb should do fine for most corals, at 24" deep I'd keep the high light like clams and some branching SPS mid to top unless you started overdriving with an IC then only clams would be my concern.

 

[masterswimmer]

6 bulb TEK fixture on my 75g for eight years. I can keep anything I want, anywhere including the sandbed. However, in a 24" tall, 90g tank, I agree with Joe (qy7400) that any light demanding critters be kept midway and up.

The above is all dependent upon the quality of your 6 bulb T5 fixture. If you have individual, highly polished, parabolic reflectors (yeah, here we go again folks :lol2: ) then you're starting with a quality piece of equipment. If you've got a flat piece of reflective aluminum above your bulbs, I wouldn't keep any sps in your tank (unless it was in the top 6"-8").

With a bit more information, we can all offer more precise advice.

Best of luck with your new venture,
swimmer

 

[spearperson]

It's a Tek light running:
2 x AquaSun 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting
2 x Actinic White 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting
2 x Super Actinic R 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting

these are the stock lamps that came with the fixture... does upgrading to Geisman bulbs make a difference?

thanks

 

[MatthewScars]

It's a Tek light running:
2 x AquaSun 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting
2 x Actinic White 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting
2 x Super Actinic R 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting

these are the stock lamps that came with the fixture... does upgrading to Geisman bulbs make a difference?

thanks

yes, i have a nova extreme pro with geismann bulbs. you can grow anything.

 

[seascape]

i have a nova extreme pro also and i have sps and lps and they are thriving

 

[KathyC]

It's a Tek light running:
2 x AquaSun 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting
2 x Actinic White 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting
2 x Super Actinic R 54W T5 Fluorescent Aquarium Lamps by UV Lighting

these are the stock lamps that came with the fixture... does upgrading to Geisman bulbs make a difference?

thanks

Is it a new fixture? If so, no need to change them out yet, wait until the next time they need changing. Geisman bulbs are sweet but you also have time to get your tank established and figure out what corals you like the best before replacing them.

 

[CancerverO]

SPS RBTA clams, LPS.. zoas.. check my avatar..

 

[NYreefNoob]

fixture make isnt all that matter's certain bulbs have a higher par out put as well, tek is better then current but ati is better then both, from several conversations with grimreefer off RC it isnt needed to over drive the bulbs, ive ran retro's on a few sps dom tanks, also ran my 50g bredder with a icecap 660 on 4 bulbs and vho for antic with success. at 24" your maxing out on depth of tank to be used for t5's, not all sps are equal in light need's either. my new system is a tek 8 bulb 36" t5

 

[newbie_newbie_new]

Just a word of advice. If the Tek fixture doesn't have an acrylic shield, you might consider buying (or making) one if you're planning on putting it within 6 inches of the surface. Otherwise, when you get saltwater on the aluminum reflectors, they develop stains that you can't get rid of, which decrease reflectivity. Speaking from experience...

By the way, with good quality bulbs you can definitely grow SPS, especially if they are in the top 1/2 of the tank. I've got 4 T5 bulbs over a 12" deep tank and can grow SPS on the sand.

 

[mray]

That's good advice, newbie_newbie_new. I have an acrylic shield built in to my canopy and it has to be wiped down every other day because my wrasses love to splash water.

 

[mray]

Also, most T5HO non-overdriving ballasts actually DO overdrive bulbs a little bit. I am using advance ballasts and they overdrive my 54w bulbs to 66 watts.

 

[spearperson]

Thanks for the responses and info... anyone feel like posting some pics of their tanks that run on only T5 lighting?

 

[nemo]

check my photo gallery under nemo

The 72 gallon bowfront has t-5 lighting.

 

[masterswimmer]

T5's only. This tank has never had any other lighting other than a 48" TEK Fixture.

Russ

 

[spearperson]

WoW, now that makes me feel comfortable with my setup... clams, sps, the whole shebang, thanks for posting the pic, great tank!

 

[CancerverO]

6 bulbs T5s... I have good colors but my corals are growing sloooow.. I had few problems few weeks ago so my tank is just recovering..

 

[masterswimmer]

WoW, now that makes me feel comfortable with my setup... clams, sps, the whole shebang, thanks for posting the pic, great tank!

Thank you. And you're very welcome.

Russ