Looking for some input...

[markie mark]

So I have 150 gallon sps reef..I previously had a 90 and used to run 8x54 watt t5s over the 90 and I'm fixing to go back t5 on the 150..I am running 2x250 watt-2x175 watt and 1x150 watt halides over the tank now,and 2 110 watt actinic vho's....thats 1220 watts..its bright and the acro's love it...great colors...I wanna get rid of all the halides for many reasons..heat,power consumption,ect...So i just ordered a 8x80 watt t5 fixture and just wondering if thats gonna be enough light or should I retro a few more 80 watt bulbs over the tank...If anybody has any input or a tank with my demensions let me know what wattage t5 you are running...5'x2'x2'.....oh and I was overdriving the 54s on my 90...Thanks,Mark.........

 

[Troylee]

what kind of t5 fixture??? shouldn't really matter regardless that's a lot of light man it should be fine.....

 

[markie mark]

I'm just worried cause it's gonna cut my light in half Troylee...I like alot of light and my tank is so dense with acros it's crazy...just wanted some input,to either make me feel better or either have to up the wattage some...i would like to build a led light bar of some kind to add some extra and kinda run as supplement...like before and after the t5 are on and off..Thanks for chiming in...I hope it's enough...and it's a fixture off eBay...if this is enough light than I will probably break down and go with an ATI fixture...I'm just bar about buying expensive stuff and then not being happy with it...lol...my attic is like a aquarium graveyard of stuff...

 

[Troylee]

Well eBay to ati is a huge difference man prolly double or triple the light output.... I have cooked things with t5 fixtures I made from eBay fixtures etc... Put some good quality bulbs in there and I don't think your gonna have any issues personally.... Sounds like flow would be my only concern with a over grown acro infested tank...:xd:

 

[markie mark]

I'm gonna run ATI bulbs in the fxture and the fixture had individual reflectors...like i said..just wanna make sure this is gonna be enough light..flow is ok in the tank...I have 2 magnum 8s on a wave maker that really keeps the tank blasted....have you never seen my tank? Actually I don't think I've ever put full tank shots in this forum...

 

[Troylee]

nah but i would love to!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stick head here...:xd:

 

[VegasRick]

I used an ebay 8 bulb fixture over a 4x2x16" tank. Acros loved it, good color growth etc, too much for chalices and lower light corals even in the bottom corners.

 

[markie mark]

I'll try to take some recent shots of the tank and put them up tonight...sounds good on the eBay fixture Vegasrick...I probably want keep it for to long before I go ATI...just wanna make sure i like it on the 150 before I go spending change on a big boy like the ATI...

 

[-Logzor]

I agree, assuming the fixture is of decent quality, you will have no issues with light. T5's are vastly underestimated, regarding their light output. I run a 7 bulb on my 150g and everything is happy and growing well. I ran this same fixture on my 90g and had better results running only 5 bulbs.