Is a T5 a good light to get for corals?

mcintyre92

mcintyre92

Member
hey i was wondering if t5 lights are any good for corals like xenias or mushrooms
and if i was to get them, what size,etc. would i have 2 get for a 75 gallon tank?
 
fisherson

fisherson

Member
t5's are good for some corals. I think you can fit more lamps in a lighting setup than say pc's. not sure on the watts to lumens compared to pc's though.
 
usinkit

usinkit

Member
For a 75 a 4x54 T-5 would allow you to keep most any coral. They are basically a small step behind MH.
 
houndhome1

houndhome1

Member
hello.
I bought the 6 bulb t-5 unit for my 75gal. I use 3 10k sunlights and 3 artinic. my tank coral exploded after using the new light. I love the light system .
 
usinkit

usinkit

Member
Yea a friend of mine had then and thats what happen to him. I will definately be upgrading my PC's to T-5. Another plus is they do not run hot like MH and PC's.
 
houndhome1

houndhome1

Member
If u buy a unit, make sure to look for ones that have idividual reflector for each bulb. you get more lighting this way. You are also right very little temp diffence whey they are on.
I noticed that u are from East Hampton, Ct. I used to live right beind the hathway inn next to the lake.
 
houndhome1

houndhome1

Member
I havn't tried a clam yet, I do have 2 Frogspawns
, Hammer, chile, hairmushrroms. pink tip enemone, carpet anomone,leather,zoes,and elephant ear, with all doing very well.
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
i have almost 5 watts a gallon t-5's on my 110 gal and i have a maxima clam and some of the harder sps acro's and they are growin like crazy but it all depends on what brand,how many watts/gallon and so on
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Wow, old thread back from oblivion.
To answer my old question, just fine.
To answer Wilioli's, 4-6 lamps with individual reflectors would be fine.
 
wilioli

wilioli

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by WangoTango http:///forum/thread/208286/is-a-t5-a-good-light-to-get-for-corals#post_3318732
Wow, old thread back from oblivion.
To answer my old question, just fine.
To answer Wilioli's, 4-6 lamps with individual reflectors would be fine.
yeaa i can't start new threads, so i had to choose one that resembles my question/query.. lol
4-6 lamps.. but what kind of wats? does that matter? I ask because a lot of the lights im looking at are the same brand but have different watts i believe. like 25-65 ... obviously the price increase is incredible.. lol, so i dont want to just get the cheapest one cause its cheap, and find out i cant do !@# with it.. lool
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
You want to be using T5ho (high output) lamps. 24" lamps are 24w, 36" are 39w, 48" are 54w, and 60" are 80w. A 20w 48" T5 lamp is not HO, and not going to allow you to keep coral.
Not sure of the dimensions of the tank. If it's 36" long, then use 36" long (39w) lamps, etc.
 
wilioli

wilioli

Member
good call -- i didnt realize the watts were by size.. i thought u could get 39w for 24" or 48, not just 36"
yea i got a 36" comin in, so im gonna get the corresponding lights for it.. thanks a lot -- really appreciate the response
Quote:
Originally Posted by WangoTango http:///forum/thread/208286/is-a-t5-a-good-light-to-get-for-corals#post_3318774
You want to be using T5ho (high output) lamps. 24" lamps are 24w, 36" are 39w, 48" are 54w, and 60" are 80w. A 20w 48" T5 lamp is not HO, and not going to allow you to keep coral.
Not sure of the dimensions of the tank. If it's 36" long, then use 36" long (39w) lamps, etc.
 
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