T5 lighting strong enough?

[churc1ej]

Im planning on getting into corals and have been researching for a while now. I just purchased a 30" HO deep blue solarmax lighting fixture 24W x 2 (1- 10k and 1- actinic). Is this light strong enough for some soft, zoanthids, and lps corals? Specifically blue mushrooms, ricordiea, frogspawn, and brian? Thanks for any help!

 

[churc1ej]

Sorry i forgot to mention that my tank is a 36 gallon bowfront. 30"L x 15"W x 21"H.

 

[1guydude]

uhhh i woulda got a 4 bulb system or better yet a 6 bulber....does it have reflectors for each bulb? I guess this helps significantly
edit: i have a 36bowfront and i have 24wx4 although im upgrading eventually to a tek light system...gotta get the hanger goin here soon...anywho just my opinion

 

[churc1ej]

:/ thats what i was thinking... sigh... buyers remorse! Thanks

 

[nikesb]

its strong enough for softies and some zoas and lps. but alot of zoas respond better to stronger light. some lower demand lps are chalices, though some of them can handle pretty strong light

 

[dandsbernardo]

hey im not meaning to inturupt here but quick silly question, i have a 120 that is getting a face lift, new lights sump etc, and i cant decide between an ATI 6x80 t5 ho fixture or something with metal halides at aroun 1072wats! is that a little much?

 

[nikesb]

you will not regret an ATI fixture. itll run cooler and you'll get to fine tune your color

 

[2quills]

I think ATI is about to release their new dimmable T5 fixture here in the next few weeks some time.

 

[nikesb]

ATI's dimmable fixtures should already be here state side

 

[dandsbernardo]

i think that they are, almost all electronic ballasts are dimable to some degree

 

[gio28]

I have the same size tank as you, a 36 gallon bowfront. If you are considering T5's then I would recommend 4 bulbs with good reflectors. I have mushrooms, LPS, zoas, and softies and they are doing great...and I have all the specific corals you mentioned as well. My T5 setup is a retrofit from reef geek (PM me if you want more details...don't wanna break the rules) and it has 4 24w bulbs with great reflectors. What you really need to pay attention to is what reflectors and bulbs you plan on having...as they make a big difference.