T5 ho fixture question

[joshainga]

I'm debating on buying the coralife 30" double linear t-5 ho lighting system rated at 2x31watts for my 37 gallon tank. Just wondering if it will work for soft corals and any anemones? Sand bed is around 3-4" so technically would only be 18" from bottom to top of the tank. I already have a purple kenya tree a friend of mine has for me which i think will do fine, but curious what other type of corals i could add. Any help or advice is greatly appriciated

 

[wolfie]

Anemones are not something that are easy to keep. They need good lighting and good water quality.


I take it that you are new at reefing. Any soft corals and LPS will do great under that like.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

37g tank....I'd do no less than 4x lighting. You'll be able to keep soft corals (like the Kenya weed...I mean tree) but not much of anything else will survive. There are a few acans (LPS) that like low light levels too.

 

[joshainga]

Thanks for the help i just dont want to shell out big money on lighting for this tank. Just want to be able to add some color to it. My goal is in the next few months to get a 90 gallon reef tank running which is where my money will be spent. So basically and softies or lps will be fine? I do have a few rocks that would put some stuff withing 10 inches from the top.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

If you're looking at this short term, you should be ok with that. When you get your 90 up and running, keep this tank as a QT/holding tank. Is it 36" wide? If so, there's a 4x fixture for sale here at $100. Might be worth investigating.

 

[joshainga]

See i've seen a lot of mixed answers on this subject is why i ask some say softies and lps will be fine others say still not enough light. I was debating on doing pc's but from what i've read t5 ho's are the better choice

 

[joshainga]

No tank is actually 30" wide which really limits my options

 

[weaglereefer]

If you're looking at upgrading to a 90 in a few months, why not just save the money you would spend on this tank and put it toward that? There are probably 1/2 dozen 90s for sale on here right now, any one of which would be a great value.

 

[joshainga]

One way i look at it is the 2x31watt t5-ho's will put off way more light than my current eclipse 3 2x18watt t8 system is

 

[joshainga]

I actually already have a 90 in mind my aunt is upgrading to a 300 a friend of mine has and i will be buying her 90

 

[weaglereefer]

Then patience is your friend. Spend time researching equipment you want and saving for that. It'll be worth it in the end.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

weaglereefer;565903 wrote: Then patience is your friend. Spend time researching equipment you want and saving for that. It'll be worth it in the end.

+1 to that. There are cheap ways to do things and all those will do for you is cause you to spend more money later. Do it right the first time. Not to mention if you intend to resell the 37 later, the better the equipment it has on it, the easier/faster it will sell.

BTW...T5 over PC any day!

 

[joshainga]

I just sit and look at how much color my fish have and that the rest of my tank just looks so dull and i figure it will be a cost efficient way to add some color and corals to the tank im mainly building this one for my little one to enjoy while the 90 gallon money pit lol will be my guilty pleasure

 

[joshainga]

PLUS MY coraline algae is really losing color and dying off

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Several things could be causing the coraline to die off...one of which is lighting but more probably the lack of calcium.

 

[weaglereefer]

porpoiseaquatics;565927 wrote: Several things could be causing the coraline to die off...one of which is lighting but more probably the lack of calcium.

+1, coraline thrives in low light just fine given the other levels are correct. Also check magnesium as I noticed slower coraline growth when Mg was low.