Are t5s an option for 30" deep tank ?

[Mattl22]

I'm rethinking my lighting I'm almost sold on mh but just wanna see if t5 would be an option for a lg 220 gal tank 30" deep 6 feet long 2 feet wide

 

[NYreefNoob]

yes, with a ati fixture and bulbs you should still hit around a 100 par on sand

 

[bertyboy69]

T5s will work but wouldnt suggest it , waste of energy and you will never get as much light as with mh or led

I would suggest leds but startup costs can be expensive , though with mh and t5s bulbs will need to me changed every 9 to 12 months costing you at least 150$ on a tank that size

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Reefs

 

[Mattl22]

This tank will be 99% sps
I've seen some really nice sps tanks using t5 ati fixtures

I was thinking 2 36" 6 bulb fixtures
Hung in my canopy ?

 

[Jaftica]

Be careful with ati fixtures inside a canopy, I would suggest taking bulb temp readings as the fixtures cooling system won't work as designed, I had the ati dimmable fixture and the lights were always dimming down because the bulbs and ballasts were getting too hot, the dimable unit does this to protect the ballasts and bulbs. I had fans and vents in the canopy, also on a 30" deep Sps tank 6 bulbs will not be enough, I had 8 on my 27" tank (8x54) and had very low par on the sand, like 80, I would suggest 10 bulb ati

 

[NYreefNoob]

as long as the top of the canopy is open it isnt a problem with the ati and you have a inch or so on each side of it

 

[rideit6578]

Be careful with ati fixtures inside a canopy, I would suggest taking bulb temp readings as the fixtures cooling system won't work as designed, I had the ati dimmable fixture and the lights were always dimming down because the bulbs and ballasts were getting too hot, the dimable unit does this to protect the ballasts and bulbs. I had fans and vents in the canopy, also on a 30" deep Sps tank 6 bulbs will not be enough, I had 8 on my 27" tank (8x54) and had very low par on the sand, like 80, I would suggest 10 bulb ati

WOW Rob really that low on the sand? Holy crap. I mean, Matt you could always experiment with having deep water sticks lower, or like saving room on the sand for acan garden or something and keeping the rest of the sps up top. I've seen nice tanks with halide/t5 but since you already have the LEDs why not try putting 4 bulbs, 2x in front and 2x in back of the led fixtures, with Blue+ or Blue+ and Coral+ to see if you can get the desired sps colors out of the tank.

I'm not sure I'd risk halides in there being that there isn't a lot of room but I haven't come over to check it out yet. Also I don't know much about halides. But keep in mind it can be more than just lights. If there was a magical light fixture we'd all be using it. The tank is still maturing.

 

[mbg75]

as long as the top of the canopy is open it isnt a problem with the ati and you have a inch or so on each side of it

ATI exhausts on the side. An inch isn't enough to get the hot air out. The air exits over 100deg. We have tested jaftica's and mine with an IR temp gun.

Also 2 36" units would mean the are installed mirrored to each other. So exhaust would exit both sides.

I'd suggest a 10 bulb 60". The 36" do not compare in par to the 48" and 60"

 

[Jaftica]

ati exhausts on the side. An inch isn't enough to get the hot air out. The air exits over 100deg. We have tested jaftica's and mine with an ir temp gun.

Also 2 36" units would mean the are installed mirrored to each other. So exhaust would exit both sides.

I'd suggest a 10 bulb 60". The 36" no not compare in par to the 48" and 60"

+1

 

[Mattl22]

A 10 bulb 60" would be amazing but I think it's well over $1500 for ATi
Fixture the reason I would have liked the 2 36" is I could easily take them in and out to work on the tank a 60" might be a big hassel to pull out of canopy every time I need to work in tank! Tank is still new so for my weekly wc I gotta get In there siphon out bunch of stuff!

I'm leaning a bit towards cutting holes In top of canopy and mounting 2 of these

 

[BaaMNYC]

I use t5 on my 30" tall tank. Everything does great

 

[Jaftica]

A 10 bulb 60" would be amazing but I think it's well over $1500 for ATi
Fixture the reason I would have liked the 2 36" is I could easily take them in and out to work on the tank a 60" might be a big hassel to pull out of canopy every time I need to work in tank! Tank is still new so for my weekly wc I gotta get In there siphon out bunch of stuff!

I'm leaning a bit towards cutting holes In top of canopy and mounting 2 of these

Isn't the tank 72" long? your probably going to need 3 of the lumenbright reflectors, I have 2 on a 48" tank.

 

[Mattl22]

Yes it is 72" but Im not concerned about the center of tank has a lg over flow gonna leave that space open for swim room and if I need to add light down the road ill proably add a kessil
I'm only gonna run 2 250 mh 1 over each rock island

 

[Mattl22]

Here is one side the other is similar