Reef lighting choice - Please help

iiinadav

iiinadav

Member
I'm looking to make a decision by the weekend. Well I currently have 384watts of pc lighting over my 72 gallon bow front tank. The lights sit about 1 inch off of the tank. This set up has been fine for the few soft corals and LPS coral that I have so far, but I'm not sure it will support the needs of anemones, sps corals and clams. I've been looking into T5 lights for several weeks now and I'm seeing some positive things about them. I've also researched metal halides and from what I’ve seen, you can't go wrong with them.
Now for the question of the day.
Can a T5 only fixture support the lighting needs of all corals, anemones and clams? If so, how much T5 light would it take to support them in a 72 gallon tank? I would love to go with T5 only because I won't have to worry about a chiller. I'm looking at the T5 Tek - T5 only fixtures, the Aqua Medic 500w HQI-2x54w T5 combo fixtures or the Maristar 500w HQI-2x54w T5 combo fixture. Thanks in advance for you help.
 
ssweet1

ssweet1

Member
Go with the T-5's you'll love them. I have an 8X54 watt on my 72 bowfront and I have SPS, clams, zoos etc. all doing great. I really think a 4X54 watt or a 6X 54 watt is plenty but I got a good deal on this light and I love it. I have halides and VHO's on my big tank and they are great too but I have to run a chiller daily. There are plenty of color choices for the T-5's also. Blues, actinics, 10 k 6500 k 50/50 so you have many options available. I really like them. Carrie
 
db

db

Member
I have a 72gl and I have the same Aqua Medic fixture you are looking at currently. I know there are people out there that have SPS under T5's, but I really think MH is the way to go. I don't need a chiller on my 72. I am able to keep the temp stable with two small fans. I only have to run one in the winter across the water surface, and have another in the sump during the summer.
 
rcbruce

rcbruce

Member
with my tank, T-5's work fine. No chiller or fans to worry about and all my corals do great.
My annemones don't really seem to like this much light as they crawl under gaps in the rocks and settle in the shade.
 
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