I'm thinking of getting a 8 x 54 watt T5 fixture. I was told this fixture on a 75 gal would allow me to keep all types of coral. Is this accurate? Even SPS?
If you get T5's go with a good fixture that includes SLR's of a high quality. Thats the trick to getting good light from your T5's, and yes I do think you can keep any coral with the right T5 fixture.
I think some people are keeping 'anything' in 75's under 4 T5's, albeit with good single lamp reflectors as Ben mentioned. That being said, I'd still go with at least 6, or as you're planning, 8 would be awesome.
I can't cite PAR numbers, but I have heard that a single 54w T5 bulb has roughly the same output as one 110w VHO... the benefit obviously being the energy savings. T5's also generally will last 12-18 months before needing changing.
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm leaning toward buying a Sunlight Tek 8 x 54 watt fixture.
I loved the TOTM! Thanks for the link. I'm not going for a SPS dominated tank like that though, I just want to be able to keep 3 or 4 healthy colonies.
I have the nova extreme 8 bulb T5 set up on a 72G and I am able to keep sps even without individual reflectors. Some lower light loving sps is at the bottom of the tank.
That said, I think the individual reflector is a better set-up.
