t-5 lighting problems

hi all i am new to this hobby and trying to find good lighting for my reef aquarium,

my tank is 60"x24"x24" im going with the t-5's but stuck on how many bulbs and what wattage and colours to go for could anyone give me some good advice on were to start thanks

oh i also have a custom hood at 12" tall if that helps any

 

Id look at a TEK 8 x 80 watt fixture for that sized tank

Steve

 

ok so how many blue and how many white would you go for if you had this type of setup

 

Are you going to keep SPS or LPS/Softies?

 

well a lot is down to personal taste, in how do you want the tanlk to look colour wise

for the corals a 1-1 mix of daylight and actinic is often recomended

I have 6 x 80 watt over my 5 ft and I have 2 x 10k, 2 x14k and 2 x actinics

it gives me a nice bluish tint overal look and its a good scheme for the softies and LPS I keep

Steve

 

im noy to sure on corals as yet but will be getting into them soon i think im just trying to prepare for a future date, i know for sure i will be getting an anemone for a pair of clowns.

the type of effect im after is a slight tint of blue and for my fish and inverts to give off a nice bright colour

 

+1 on PhramrJohn for me on this one, stay away from a Nem until yout tank is at least 6 months old and even longer would be better, they like really mature water and many die because they get added to quickly - and if they die , well the released toxins can take out all your stock

Steve

 

thanks for the info on that one wasn't gona get one straight away but want to prepare the lighting so dont have to change at a later date, as for the 2x 10k and 4x 14k and 2 blue would you also go for moonlight

 

dont have moonlight myself , many do though using LEDS its a nice effect and can trigger spawing in some corals I believe

your T5 set up looks OK to me, I like the light given off by the 14k lamps ist crisper and less yellow than the 10k. or you could go 4 x 10k and 4 x actinic and that would give you a bit more blue look

check out the T5 questions and answers thread on the lighting section, lots of combinations discussed on there


Steve

 

ok thanks for the info steve much appreciated will keep looking for them will let you know how i get on cheers