Good T5 lighting?

[Reefhaven]

i switching from leds to T5 and wondering which ones are good and not to spendy out in the market. Have a 210 gallon tank. I believe the dimensions are 72x24x29. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[James Miller]

OK, to start you need to ask your self do you want to stage your lighting, reference as in 2 sets of lights that will come on at different times to represent dawn and dusk across the tank? Right side comes on first then left. Or are you looking for just 1 light across top? As for the lights them selves you can get a 4 bulb fixture and the ballast can be wired so that only 2 will come on 1st Atinics then the whites. ATI has a bulb reference page that will let you pick what type of lighting you are looking for that is best for your tank. I ran a 4 bulb 4 foot fixture before on my 55 gallon and loved it. I went will led's due to the more control of the lighting. For me and that tank size i would go with 2 24" 4 bulb setup and time them for dawn and dust ( right side come on 1st then left ) you don't have to do that but its just me. If you need any help on the ballast wiring message me.

 

[Reefhaven]

OK, to start you need to ask your self do you want to stage your lighting, reference as in 2 sets of lights that will come on at different times to represent dawn and dusk across the tank? Right side comes on first then left. Or are you looking for just 1 light across top? As for the lights them selves you can get a 4 bulb fixture and the ballast can be wired so that only 2 will come on 1st Atinics then the whites. ATI has a bulb reference page that will let you pick what type of lighting you are looking for that is best for your tank. I ran a 4 bulb 4 foot fixture before on my 55 gallon and loved it. I went will led's due to the more control of the lighting. For me and that tank size i would go with 2 24" 4 bulb setup and time them for dawn and dust ( right side come on 1st then left ) you don't have to do that but its just me. If you need any help on the ballast wiring message me.

That would be great to have it be like the sun where it starts off with a little light and full and back down. My current leds has a controller to replicate the sun. Too bad ATI doesn't make a dimmable version of the 60 inch fixture. Was looking at the ATI 60 inch 8x80 fixture. They currently have some factory second hand ones on sale.

 

[James Miller]

What I did on mine was split the ballast one side has to be on 1st ( dawn lights atinics) then you can power the second set which could be you 10k's. I started off first just using programmable timers, then went and got a reef keeper elite and set it up with that. If you decide to go with 2 separate 4 bulb fixtures you would need 4 timers to run