T5 question.

[Straight_OG]

Is it possible to get some coral growth with a T5 2 bulb on a 90 gallon standard tank?
It's probably a dumb question but just want to see if it would work

 

[zigginit]

im going to say no. maybe some mushrooms and zoas maybe.

maybe ok for some soft corals but no way for sps or most lps.

 

[Straight_OG]

Yeah thats what I thought. LPS are things like frogspawn right?

 

[xmas_one]

That depends a lot on the t5 setup, the corals, and the distance between the two.

 

[Straight_OG]

That depends a lot on the t5 setup, the corals, and the distance between the two.

So your saying that it might be possible? I'm not looking to grow sps just yet. I'm more into softies.
What would be the ideal set up?

 

[Six2seven]

So your saying that it might be possible? I'm not looking to grow sps just yet. I'm more into softies.
What would be the ideal set up?

Dan is correct. You would be able to keep some corals and it all depends of the distance to the light. What kind of set up do you have. Any pics of your lighting?


www.LAreefsociety.org

 

[Straight_OG]

Dan is correct. You would be able to keep some corals and it all depends of the distance to the light. What kind of set up do you have. Any pics of your lighting?


www.LAreefsociety.org

Ok i see and my set is about as ghetto as it can get I have the 48 inch beams work light witch I'm pretty much just using for the moon lights but still turn on the daylights. During the day and a 150 Watt metal halide wich most of my little amount of coral is under . I just don't like the coloring of the lights and was wondering with adding a light fixture with only 2 t5 bulbs will that help me more than having the beams work leds. And to give me a better color. I'll post pics tomorrow. As I am not home right now.

 

[Six2seven]

Ok i see and my set is about as ghetto as it can get I have the 48 inch beams work light witch I'm pretty much just using for the moon lights but still turn on the daylights. During the day and a 150 Watt metal halide wich most of my little amount of coral is under . I just don't like the coloring of the lights and was wondering with adding a light fixture with only 2 t5 bulbs will that help me more than having the beams work leds. And to give me a better color. I'll post pics tomorrow. As I am not home right now.

Oh i see. If you could use them I have a 2 bulb 36" retrofit with ballast that you could add to your set up. Not sure if it would work with your setup which is why I asked for a pic. They are yours for free if you could use them. They are only 36" but would add something if all you had was 2 bulbs


www.LAreefsociety.org

 

[Straight_OG]

Oh i see. If you could use them I have a 2 bulb 36" retrofit with ballast that you could add to your set up. Not sure if it would work with your setup which is why I asked for a pic. They are yours for free if you could use them. They are only 36" but would add something if all you had was 2 bulbs


www.LAreefsociety.org

Thanks alot man I appreciate that. I just wanted to see if removing the 48 inch led light and adding a 2 bulb t5 will it give me more of an advantage towards my corals looking better in color and the overall color of my tank. Because right now with those lights it has a yellowish color to it which I hate.

And another question is are t5 bulbs the only recommended bulb for coral or is it possible to use a t8 or t12 if those even exist for reef use.

Thanks a lot and sorry for these questions I'm just trying to learn a bit more about this

 

[Straight_OG]

And I'll post pics tomorrow as by the time I get home everything off. So you guys can get a better idea.

 

[bustayanky]

When I used to have a 90 gallon reef tank. I ran 6 bulb retrofit t5. And I could keep anything. So for a minimum I feel like 4 bulbs would be sufficient for softies and lps.

 

[Six2seven]

Thanks alot man I appreciate that. I just wanted to see if removing the 48 inch led light and adding a 2 bulb t5 will it give me more of an advantage towards my corals looking better in color and the overall color of my tank. Because right now with those lights it has a yellowish color to it which I hate.

And another question is are t5 bulbs the only recommended bulb for coral or is it possible to use a t8 or t12 if those even exist for reef use.

Thanks a lot and sorry for these questions I'm just trying to learn a bit more about this

No problem. You can pick up in San Pedro or at the next LARS meeting if you're interested in attending. I'll even give you some different color bulbs so you can mix and match and get an idea of what colors you like.

T8 and t12 are not really recommended. They would work to a certain point but reef manufacturers make reef specific bulbs that grow coral. They make those in t5 and not t8 or t12.

As far as color its mostly a preference on what colors you like. I would invest in a quality light. Pays off in the end


www.LAreefsociety.org

 

[Straight_OG]

No problem. You can pick up in San Pedro or at the next LARS meeting if you're interested in attending. I'll even give you some different color bulbs so you can mix and match and get an idea of what colors you like.

T8 and t12 are not really recommended. They would work to a certain point but reef manufacturers make reef specific bulbs that grow coral. They make those in t5 and not t8 or t12.

As far as color its mostly a preference on what colors you like. I would invest in a quality light. Pays off in the end


www.LAreefsociety.org

Ok thanks for clearing the different bulb thing for me. And I'll pm you to arrange pick up. Once again thanks a lot man.

 

[Straight_OG]

When I used to have a 90 gallon reef tank. I ran 6 bulb retrofit t5. And I could keep anything. So for a minimum I feel like 4 bulbs would be sufficient for softies and lps.

Yeah i think I'll put up at least enough for LPS and softies. Once I reach your guys pro level I'll start to add sps. Haha. I just want to get rid of that yellow color the led shows.

 

[cowboycove]

2 bulbs you may get slow growth. will it be enough to keep coral alive? yes. id go 4 bulbs though. mainly for color. you can do much with 2 bulb. go 2 blue plus, 1 coral plus, and 1 purple plus. cant beat that combo. and it'll be plenty of light for a standard 90. anymore would be overkill. and a waste of electricity. 4 bulb with 2 bulb on 8 hours. the other 2 on after the first 2 hours. you can buy a high output 4 bulb grow light for 80 or so on craigslist.

 

[Straight_OG]

2 bulbs you may get slow growth. will it be enough to keep coral alive? yes. id go 4 bulbs though. mainly for color. you can do much with 2 bulb. go 2 blue plus, 1 coral plus, and 1 purple plus. cant beat that combo. and it'll be plenty of light for a standard 90. anymore would be overkill. and a waste of electricity. 4 bulb with 2 bulb on 8 hours. the other 2 on after the first 2 hours. you can buy a high output 4 bulb grow light for 80 or so on craigslist.

Perfect that's what I was going. To ask next what would be a good light combo. Those sound pretty good options to me. Thanks man

 

[bustayanky]

I'm running 8 bulb on my 150 gallon tank now. And I run 6 Blue+, 1 Coral+, and 1 Purple+

 

[Straight_OG]

And those colors help with the coloration of the coral also.?

 

[jessesoto33]

you need double the T5's

 

[cowboycove]

And those colors help with the coloration of the coral also.?

Blue helps most with the pop. Its kinda like a black light. But you don't want it being straight blue. Coral doesn't get all the color spectrum it needs. I also think it looks whack all blue. Coral plus is a little whiter. And purple I think is a little reddish. I've tried a lot if combos. And I love the coral and purple with blues. You don't need any other color like red or white. White washes everything out. And will grow algae.