T5 lighting

[krazykarel]

New to the forums and thanks in advance for your help.

I have a 55g corner tank (22" deep). I am limited to 24" bulbs as it is the longest standard bulb the canopy can hold. I would like to upgrade my PC lighting to T5. I'm not very handy so the least amount of assembly would work best (if a monkey can do it...I may be able to!) probably a ready fit would work best. I am thinking of 4x24w configuration.

Any suggestions?

[Brocnizer]

could you do 6x24w?

There are a bunch of retrofit kits out there. I have never done one but they look easy.

I have a tank similar to yours, the 36 gallon corner that is 18 inch deep, and have a 4X24w aquaticlife fixture and love it. I just keep an anemone and some polyps.

[krazykarel]

I don't think my canopy is wide enough. Can the fixture you have be adjusted to my canopy or will it only work without it?

[Brocnizer]

here is what I did. I got rid of the stock canopy as it is junk and BAD for a marine tank. The glass does not allow for proper gas exchange.

I made a net over the top and never had a fish jump through it. It is made from bird netting and the edges are just the frame of a screen window I cut up. The netting is about 1/4 inch squares so it does not affect light into the tank

With my light, if you notice the legs sit perfectly on the tank. That is because they are adjustable to move in and out. Only thing I modified I cut off a small 1/4 plastic on the two front legs but left it on the back two

[Loverotties]

would get 4 T5HO with individual reflectors

[krazykarel]

My canopy is custom (nothing special) but I would like to keep it. I was inclining towards T5 bc of the heat issues faced with MH lights, but should I reconsider it? Getting a 150 or 250 MH bulb better? Also, those of you that have MH, how do you work on getting the good lighting colors?

[Jnicho]

On a corner tank a single 250W halide with something like a lumenbright reflector might be a good option...that said I love my T5's.

[Loverotties]

What type of corals are you thinking on keeping.

[krazykarel]

Nothing special really. I currently have 2 55w PC's in there than needed change. They are becoming obsolete so I thought I would upgrade. I can fit a 150w or 250w MH in my hood no problem, but I am concerned w/heat and the bulbs being too close to the water. Any ideas on this?

Also, I just measured and without any mod to the inside of my canopy I cannot fit the 4x24w T5 as it would not be wide enough (Max I can do is 9.25" wide).

Please help with ideas!

[luther1200]

I would get a single 250w with a good reflector then. Many people have tanks with just MH and have great colors.

[Brocnizer]

I guess just do a MH light

It will cost you a little more in electric and you may have more heat. I wouldn't imagine it costing more than an extra few dollars a month to run Mh over T5

[Fat Tony]

Yep.. a 250w MH with a GOOD reflector would be the best solution for this tank...

Good reflectors= Lumenmax Elite, Lumen Bright, Lumenarc
Pretty good reflector= Lumenmax 3

Anything less that the above listed reflectors and you are just cheating yourself out of useable light... with the Lumenmax 3 you can actually go with a 150w version if you are only keeping softies and some LPS corals

[fox2589]

one metal halide on your tank shouldnt heat it up to a dangerous temperature..-drew