SPS under t5's

[adamt]

as the title states I'm curious about keeping some acros, montis, millis under my t5's. I've heard different opinions on the matter and I'm wondering what yall think? I have 6 ho t5's on my 45 gallon and the few sps I have now all seem to be doing great. I understand that not all sps are created equal so if you guys have any suggestions on which corals to go for and which to stay away from I'd love to hear that as well.


And Plse feel free to post pics of sps under t5's!!!


Thanks,


AT

 

[batt600]

I have my sps under T5 8 bulb tek light . But it has to have individual reflectors for you to keep sps . What type of light do you have?

 

[adamt]

I have a wavepoint 4x39 (it says it has individual reflectors, but eh) and a coralife t5 2 bulb that does not. Its six bulbs on a 12 in wide tank. It looks EXTREMELY bright. Its been set up for a few months with a piece of monti towards the bottom of the tank and it has more than tripled in size. I have a pectina that has also grown extremely well. Any of the higher demanding light corals would be no more than 12 inches from the bulbs, so if I go with high quality bulbs with the proper spectrum will I have trouble? This might sound kinda rookie but I was wondering if I could add another hour of light to the tank to make up for the slighlty lesser intensity of halides?

 

[batt600]

Wavepoint not really that great of a t5 for sps you can go with a nove extreme or a tek or a Ati power modula.

 

[NYreefNoob]

the current isnt any better then the wavepoint, adam yes you can keep most sps in there, some of the more light demanding you might have to put up high but still may never get full color, alot more matters then just individual reflectors, the type and reflectiveness of them matter also, as well as do the ballast, most companies dont use the proper ballast or a good ballast i should say, and not all bulbs are equal, ati having the higher par, ive had a retro with workhorse ballast, had ice cap retro with 660 and 430, current, tek and now an ati, which is by far the best so far. water quality and flow will play as much a part in keep a sps tank as lights will.

 

[anthony27]

Rick is 100% right as so it Bat600,


I have a catelina 6 x 39watts fixture but I am looking to up grade very soon I know the ati fixture is amazing by far and I have seen the results of it. I cant say I dont have amazing growth but I am always lookign for better lighting out there.

 

[Master Shake]

i have 4x 54w t5 tek light on a 90 and have monti's half way and acros growing like crazy between top and 10 inches down

 

[batt600]

I have a tek as well 8 bulb over my 75g and can keep them at any level with no problems.

 

[tangmaniac]

i have ati 6x54w sunpower and all my sps are growing noticeably, as NYreefnoob said water quality is very inportant for sps.

 

[djxtc21]

same question but i am using a 12x39w T5 Current Nova Extreme

it has 1 big reflector that is contoured to simulate individual reflectors, but I am not sure how effective it its

Its currently running UV bulbs, but switching to ATI in about a month's time

 

[adamt]

anyone mind giving me a good bulb set up reccomendation? i have a 4 bulb fixture for main lighting and a two bulb for dawn/dusk. Im assuming it will be some combo of ati and geissman but could u guys say what number of each and in what fixture?

 

[batt600]

You can use and bulb combo . But for the fixture its up to you on how much you are willing to spend if money not a problem go with the ATI power module.

 

[adamt]

You can use and bulb combo . But for the fixture its up to you on how much you are willing to spend if money not a problem go with the ATI power module.

I already have the tank set up its just mostly lps. If i am going to buy a new light im gonna get a new tank to go with it lol.

I've already stared the project. I picked up a gorgeous birds nest today its about 4x8", for $60 I couldnt pass. the cool thing about it is that is was grown out under t5's since it was a frag, Ill actually have more light on it than the guy that grew it. My plan is to scower lfs to find sps that have been grown under t5's in order to minimize any shock to the corals.

side note: has anyone ever heard that xenia produce a toxin that inhibits sps growth? I had a guy from a lfs tell me that and just wanted to fact check it.

 

[batt600]

It doesnt matter if it was under t5 or Mh it still have to accumate the coral to your tank and your light . It doesnt matter it it came from a T5 lighting already . Because the par could be differnt from the lfs to your T5 so it still has to accumate. And whats your water parameters sps need a ULN tank what you Po4 and No3 read at. Do you use a rodi for your water changes. This all playes a roll in keeping sps and not loosing color. you should just start with one for a few mounths and if it keeps it color then move on to more.