Is 156 Watts enough for SPS??

[mirkus]

Alright, here is the deal: 30 Gallon long ~ 36*12*16

I'm thinking of 39*4 T5's, (maybe overdriven) with individual reflectors

I want to keep SPS and clams in this tank but don't really want halides. I have seen "danano's" 30 with t5's and it looked great. Does anyone else have experience with T5's? 156 watts just doesn't sound like very much for SPS!

http://www.sgreefclub.com/srctotm/srctotmdanano.htm

 

[Anonymous]

Alright, here is the deal: 30 Gallon long ~ 36*12*16

I'm thinking of 39*4 T5's, (maybe overdriven) with individual reflectors

I want to keep SPS and clams in this tank but don't really want halides. I have seen "danano's" 30 with t5's and it looked great. Does anyone else have experience with T5's? 156 watts just doesn't sound like very much for SPS!

http://www.sgreefclub.com/srctotm/srctotmdanano.htm

What's with the asterisks?

Keep in mind that a coral that needs 400w of lighting under 10" of water in a 400 gallon tank still needs 400w of lighting under 10" of water in a 30 gallon tank.
Some species will do OK with the setup you propose, (brown Montipora digita for instance) but you're rather limited in general.

 

[Len]

Asteriks is often interchanged with "x" (multiplication)

You should be able to keep some SPS, but not the whole gamut. If you can fit in another two lamps, it will help greatly. T5s are bright and efficient, but not by all that much

 

[mirkus]

yeah I thought about going with 6 bulbs but I only have 12" of width to work with.

Each individual reflector is 2 " wide. Light would be wasted over the edge of tank and $$. 5 bulbs would work but none of the retrokits come with 5 bulbs. I guess I could get a ballast to run 3 bulbs and another for the other 2. Then I ask myself the question is it worth it?

 

[Anonymous]

Asteriks is often interchanged with "x" (multiplication)

Learn something every day.

 

[Len]

T5s are pretty thin, so I'd imagine two more is doable. But ya, the question of "is it worth it" plays a big factor. Perhaps start with what you have now, try some easier-to-keep SPS, and expand as the need arises.

 

[Anonymous]

Then I ask myself the question is it worth it?

When you arrive at the inevitable NO response, keep in mind that Giessemann and Aqualine both make a GREAT 150 or 250 watt HQI fixture.
You're going to end up with MH eventually anyway if you're serious about this, so might as well do it now.

 

[mirkus]

yeah, I am not against halides. I have a 70 watter on my minibow!

I would like to use my existing canopy and halides won't cut it in there. So you would say the results Danano got with 144 watts is not typical?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know what his long term results are or what species he's keeping.
I can tell you that many SPS just don't do well (or minimaly, lose color) under anything less than 250w DE MH, or 400w mogul MH or equivalent.

 

[mirkus]

110 gallon with 8*54 (8 x 54 Watt t5's)


http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/totm/

 

[Len]

That tank is amazing, but yes, I would say it is atypical. I have used T5s, and while bright, they aren't some miracle lighting tech (or else my new tank would be all T5s instead of halides). I really don't know how Danano keeps so many SPS in the condition they're in.

 

[middletonmark]

To add, if you can achieve GREAT water quality and clarity - you can run like Danano's tank is set up. In my experience, if water quality is great color tends to follow suit - and good water clarity also seems to get more light to the corals.

In my limited experience, water quality is a huge factor in growth/color ... and if you go with `medium to minimal sps light' like this - you're just making your happiness/growth tied tightly to water quality.

I used to run 175's ... where I was very happy/satisfied when the tank was doing great, water quality was perfect. Not so happy the other times ... tank didn't look terrible, but not `all that' and more of a struggle than with 250's now.

 

[ChrisRD]

Well said (ehrr... ...typed ) Mark!