T-5 and depth

[Jakerupe]

I feel like I made the old rookie mistake and got ahead of myself, but after reading through the forums on these bulbs they seem to be at least close to the real deal.

I am planning on converting my 110-gallon over to a reef tank as I finish the basement. Included in the basement is an 8x8 room where I can build the tank into the wall and keep the entire filtration etc. out of site.

Since we moved four years ago I thought it would be better to sell of the corals and just keep the fish only tank for after the move. All has gone well but got some friends into the hobby and of course now my interest is peaked again.

Halides have been put away since the move and the hood will need to be rebuilt and the fluorescent hood went out. Found the 2x54 Nova and bought it for 100 dollars and was amazed by the lighting. Led me to by another fixture for about 200 that was 4x54 (10k/actinic) with moonlights.

Tank looked great! More light then I got with my halides (as far as I remember) so I bought some new fish and an anemone. Now the question for you all, and I do have the cleanest tank around, how much penetration should I expect with these. The tank is 28 inches deep and the Long Tentacle will only set his foot in the substrate, so will the light be adequate? If not has anyone ever tried anything like planter boxes in their tank to raise things up from the bottom? Specifically anemones. Easily could hide something in the rocks.

[lunatik_69]

I've never had T5's but I can tell you at 28" deep, your best bet would be the MH's. If you stay with the T5's, you will probably have to move all the corals high. Luna

[luvreefs23]

Everyone ive talked to said i could keep sps at the bottom of my 24" deep 90 using my 8x54watt tek fixture. I bought the tek last saturday and it throws a TON of light. Some others on here told me about keeping sps in a 90 using only 4 54watt t5's. I wouldnt think youd be to limited with t5's in your tank.

[R34dawn]

Great info bro! I have been planning to get t5 4-65 2 10,000ºk and 2 460 blue also because my budget..lol. I read enough bout em to be almost convinced, I never seen them in real life
but I saw the fresh water t-5 ones just 2 6500ºk and they were pretty good im also positive
that they are much cooler, all thou if I come across MH between 175w or 250w probably get em"

[nemo1991]

i am building a 135, and am using 2 250 watt mh, just cause i was told with this kind of depth i would need mh, especially since i am keeping a clam at the bottom in the sand, but with the mh, it will give me more of a range where i can put my corals

[R34dawn]

mine is just a 55gal and the depth is only 18" Ill guess be ok......
for now lol

[luvreefs23]

432 watts of my t5s only raise my temp about a degree with no fans. I like mh, but wanted to stay away from big bulky ballasts and heat. When i get my clam on the bottom of my tank with the t5's maybe i can make some believers out of em?