T5 or MH

[Slim_jim989]

I was just wondering how many people have successfully kept SPS in there T5 lite tank. I just bought an oceanic tech 120 gal tank and don't want a canopy. So I'm looking for a unit that mounts on top. I have 2 400 watt MH but don't want to use them if I don't have to (to much heat pretty much). So if you have a T5 tank post some pics and how long you've had it running.


Thanks Jon


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[jaytizzle]

There are TONS of folks in my local club that have kept SPS long term under T5's. One guy actually has a bulb combo that we refer to as the "Kirk Combo" as he has been keeping SPS under T5's for a long time and has tried several bulb combos to get a very nice color.

I have used MH, T5, and now LED. I have T5's on my 120 though. May go LED in 6-12 months but the T5's will not be a problem if you choose to go that route.

 

[CHALICEKEEPER]

Love my t5ho they have given great results so far

 

[shapermike]

I have an 8 foot frag tanks and it is all sps and the light is powers by 8 x 54 w tek lights. i have really nice color on all my sps. I have found that there are some sps that do much better under MH but that can also be coral placement.

 

[Slim_jim989]

Thanks for your response and I'm gonna give the T5 route a shot looking at ATI power or sun module or tek series


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[luke33]

Yep, t5's will work just fine for sps. I ran a fairly dominant sps tank for 3yrs with 600w of t5. I did switch to 250w mh and have to say my harder to keep sps started growing alot faster and colored up quite a bit more.

 

[Slim_jim989]

So should I get the combo of MH and T5 for the 250 watt bulbs


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[Makbarracuda]

There are TONS of folks in my local club that have kept SPS long term under T5's. One guy actually has a bulb combo that we refer to as the "Kirk Combo" as he has been keeping SPS under T5's for a long time and has tried several bulb combos to get a very nice color.

I have used MH, T5, and now LED. I have T5's on my 120 though. May go LED in 6-12 months but the T5's will not be a problem if you choose to go that route.

what is the spectrum combo he uses? i have been running 2 stips over my biocube and just recently added some sps.

 

[Tank102a]

There are TONS of folks in my local club that have kept SPS long term under T5's. One guy actually has a bulb combo that we refer to as the "Kirk Combo" as he has been keeping SPS under T5's for a long time and has tried several bulb combos to get a very nice color.

I have used MH, T5, and now LED. I have T5's on my 120 though. May go LED in 6-12 months but the T5's will not be a problem if you choose to go that route.

I frequent the same site as Jaytizzle and I actually ran the "Kirk Combo" on my SPS and LPS dominated 150g tank. They work great, my tank was 24" deep Bare Bottom. All my chalices where on the bottom and I had amazing growth.
BTW I used the Tek Light 8 bulb 48" fixture.

 

[jaytizzle]

The Kirk Combo, from front to back, is:
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

I use this combo in a Tek 8-bulb 48" fixture.

 

[joelq]

T5s are definitely more than capable, as long as you can live without the shimmer. Here's a pic of my mostly SPS 90g (24" high) with only T5s.

Running 4 ATI Blue Plus (3 overdriven), 1 Fiji Purple, and 1 GE 6500K Daylight (overdriven).

 

[mattmike]

I use t5 under SPS but I'm going back to metal halides becasue I think overall thingss grow faster.