About to have hissyfit due to light frustrations - coralife vs T5

[jumccaff]

I inherited a 40 gallon reef tank a year ago and went to my local fish store this past weekend to replace my coralife 4 square pin compact fluorescent bulbs and at $100 each, the owner sold me a Coralife HO T5 set up instead ($200) - noting that bulbs will be cheaper ($40) to replace in a year.
I've read and read and read about lighting, and while much of it is over my head, from what I can see the high output T5's are not comparable to the CFs and just as good - if not better at penetrating the bottom (as well as energy efficient).
**What I can't tell is if I'm getting sufficient light for my size of tank and coral (soft).
The 40 gallon (36x24x12) has 60 lbs of live rock, cannister filtration and skimmer.
It has two clowns and two damsels, plus a handfull of snails/crabs.
I have brown hairy mushrooms, frogspawn, a couple zoos, a geen hairy carpet thing, a couple of bubble corals and a couple anemone type softies as well. I want to stay with soft coral only.
THE OLD BULBS:
Coralife CF 10,000 K 96 watt and arctinic 96 watt
THE NEW BULBS:
Coralife T5 10,000 k 39 watt and arctinic 39 watt
I called the people back today after seeing the new set up on the tank and fearing it's dimmer. Essentially, the store owner inferred that I'm the dimmer. Can someone either put my fear to rest that I'm not getting my corals enough light or tell me "yeah, either replace the higher wattage CF's or sink another $200 into a second T5 unit for 4 bulbs total"
PLEASE help. I'm unravelling.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Well, you probably could get by with a two bulb T5 fixture over your tank for now with just softies. Soft coral doesn't need as much light, but more frequent feedings. If you don't think you got a really good deal then pack everything up and get your money back after you get a new unit in.
Funny thing is that I just found your light fixture on the internet for $76.18 new with free shipping. You should be mad about that.
You spent 200$ on a two bulb unit for a 36" aquarium and I just spent $210 on a four bulb t5 unit with two lunar lights for a 24" aquarium. lol. No logic in that, eh?
I just found a four bulb T5 unit,... 36" - 156 Watts - (2x39 Watt 10K Daylight + 2x39 Watt 460 nm Actinic) light fixture for $199.23 +$7.99 S&H
You could have gotten double the lights for the amount of money you paid.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Heck, if you are willing to spend another 200 dollars, buy the four bulb and keep your two bulb unit and then you'll be rockin' and able to keep a variety of LPS and SPS corals. lol!!

 

[jumccaff]

Hmmm, thanks for the help. I'm located in Canada, so, unfortunately, the cost isn't that out of line with others sold locally. What is worrisome for me is whether there is sufficient light.

 

[snakeblitz33]

If it worries you, then set your mind at ease and buy another set. Is your aquarium 12" high or 24" high? Since you live in Canada and our measurements are different, I want to make sure.
Even if your tank was only 12" high, you would still not have a lot of area covered. I would go for buying another pair, or even try ordering a four bulb fixture online. That way you will have enough coverage for your entire tank, and it will set your mind at ease.
Even though T5s don't put out the same wattage as CFL or MH bulbs do, they still have great PAR and lumen values. Though, with your tank being that wide (I think) you should get another unit for full coverage.
I hope that explained something more...

 

[1guydude]

+1 man pack that up and take it back...simply tell them u want to return it and if they question you say its not wat u want! Get a 4 or 6 bulb system so u can keep an assortment of coral..
if u want some more light demanding coral make sure the reflector is an individual buld reflector VVVVV <---shaped like that!
I do believe the one u bought is sufficient for softies though!
Also id upgrade the bulbs to ATI or grussinmen bulbs!

 

[jumccaff]

Truly appreciated! P.S. it's 36" long x 24" tall x 12" deep