Decent T5 setup?

[taftonomos]

Say I was considering setting up another 4' tank, and needed lighting for it.

On my current 75, I'm using 2 lumenbrite reflectors with 250w xm 15k's. Doesn't have enough actinic for me at all, seems harsh and not "soft". Thinking of a T5 setup, found this below.

 

[johnr2604]

I would spend the extra $50 and get the Tek. I know the Tek dosn't come with bulbs but your probably going to want to trash the ones that come in that fixture anyway.

 

[grouper]

TAftonomos;441477 wrote: Say I was considering setting up another 4' tank, and needed lighting for it.

On my current 75, I'm using 2 lumenbrite reflectors with 250w xm 15k's. Doesn't have enough actinic for me at all, seems harsh and not "soft". Thinking of a T5 setup, found this below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Aquarium-Light-T5-HO-8-54-bulbs-Reef-10k-actinic_W0QQitemZ280446391138QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414be85362">http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Aquarium-Light-T5-HO-8-54-bulbs-Reef-10k-actinic_W0QQitemZ280446391138QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414be85362</a>[/QUOTE]


Spend the extra money and go with the TEK. I did.

 

[weaglereefer]

How high do you have the Lumenbrites mounted? Any problems with "columns of light"?

6xT5 with individual reflectors would work great on a 75. I had 4 and felt it wasn't enough at times. Don't scrimp on lighting.

 

[lilrobb]

This thing is 24" wide - you won't fit that on a 75...

 

[weaglereefer]

LilRobb;441620 wrote: This thing is 24" wide - you won't fit that on a 75...

Haha, didn't even see that. Maybe he wants to light the floor too?

 

[taftonomos]

Maybe I thought I'd gut it out and take the parts from it, instead of spending $500-600 for lighting

 

[weaglereefer]

TAftonomos;441667 wrote: Maybe I thought I'd gut it out and take the parts from it, instead of spending $500-600 for lighting

What parts are you considering using?

 

[taftonomos]

Dunno, I know nothing about T5.

The lumenbrite's are mounted 12" above the tank currently, no light columns, tank is LIT nicely. Since I'm considering re-doing a 4' tank in the bedroom, what I don't want is this huge monolith sitting on a wall. A lo-profile canopy would be much nicer, and the T5's would do this for me.

I've got a 4x8 sheet of super reflective aluminum that I could figure out how to bend some reflectors from for the T5's, that alone would save me 6 or 8 x 20. I'd still need the end caps, and ballasts (and bulbs).

Do the LED power modules really provide shimmer like a MH?