T5's for croceas and maximas?

[jipps]

My tank is 18" deep and I have 136W of individually reflected T5 light in my 50 gal. I've read that crocea's and maximas really need a fair amount of MH to survive, and with T5's seemingly breaking a lot of MH trends more and more, I was wondering if it applied to clams as well. I know my lighting is definitley sufficient for a squamosa, but I'd like a crocea or maxima at somepoint as well. Thanks.

[Weatherman]

It’s really difficult to know whether T5s are sufficient without taking light measurements with a quantum meter. Intensity of T5 light varies considerably based on the type of bulb, color of bulb, type of ballast and reflector (same of which can be said for metal halide light).

I have a four-54watt Nova Extreme fixture over one of my tanks. I’ve taken light measurements, and the results are not particularly surprising. 216 watts of light produces around 330 umol/m2/s PPF at the water surface and this value drops to around 85-90 umol/m2/s at 9” below the surface. This is way too dim for Croceas, but I wouldn’t expect 216 watts spread over around a 45” length to support Croceas anyway.

I have a Crocea clam on the bottom of the same tank. It receives 200 umol/m2/s PPF for about five hours a day with 100 umol/m2/s PPF for an additional three hours a day. This is from a pair of 250-watt PFO Mini Pendants with 10,000K DE Ushio bulbs. It’s doing very well with that amount of light and has added a large section of new shell in the past few weeks.

I have another Crocea in another tank, which receives about 250 umol/m2/s PPF for six hours a day from a single 250-watt PFO Mini Pendant with a 10,000K DE Ushio bulb. I’ve had that clam for 2 ½ years. It appears to be happy enough so that it spawned over the Thanksgiving weekend last year.

Bottom line… you should be able to keep Crocea clams with T5 lights, but you need to try to give them at least 200-250 umol/m2/s PPF for at least 5 hours a day. The only way to know for sure they are getting that amount of light is with a quantum meter.

[ReelFreak]

Doesn't the Nova fixture only have one single reflector for all 4 bulbs though....All the "independent tests" I've read on RC about this basically comes down to T5s without individual reflectors, is like having PCs.

You add in individual reflectors and T5 HO can rally MH up to 20-22" easily. There's a ton of info on RC w/ test results.

Don't know what bulb, wattage or reflectors/ballasts you are using, but that probably makes a difference. I'm running 216w T5 HO w/ individual reflectors on a 55g and I think I can keep anything I want under this light. 136w might be on the lower side though....IDK for sure.

If you do some searching on RC, there's some pretty good threads about the output of different T5 setups....HTH

I'd be interested in seeing how much light I'm getting on the bottom of my 18" tank, maybe I'll find a local reefer w/ a meter.

[Weatherman]

Yep. I've read all the threads over on RC, and I agree with you... reflector, ballast, bulb color and bulb manufacturer all make a big difference in the results you'll get.

The Nova Extreme has a parabolic reflector, but it's one reflector, which contains all four bulbs. It's not as bad as a flat reflector, but not as good as individual parabolic reflectors.

[jipps]

I have a Sunlight Supply TEK light - so it has the individual reflectors. I'm realizing more and more now I should have bought the 6-bulb or the 8-bulb. Everything i have under there now seems to be enjoying itself quite well, although I don't really have anything that is in high requirement of light.

[ReelFreak]

I'm seeing SOME growth out of my first Acro I put in about a month ago under my Teks....even though I have low Calcium (another thread- I'm working on getting it up)....

As for my other SPS....Monti Cap, Monti Digi, Pink birdsnest, Porites, Hydno, and stylos I am experiencing unbelievable growth even with my Calcium at about 350.

I have not tried clams yet, I really don't have any room for them right now, but honestly feel I could easily keep them under this light. I'm running a 55g so 4 lights is all that fits over my tank anyways....

[jipps]

Really now? That's very exciting to me because as I learn more about reefs, I'm realizing I'd rather have a SPS dominant system with a LPS or two and some zoo's and shrooms and that's it. I also want clams. How deep is your tank?

[ReelFreak]

I've got a 55g so it's 18" deep I think, plus I have about a 5-6" sandbed. From lights to sand I'd say is 18", and I grow porites on the bottom of the tank. My fungia has to live in a cave away from direct light because it bleached out with the light switch.

Don't worry, SPS is fine under PROPER T5 lighting. I would stay away from acros for now though. They require some of the most pristine water you can provide while some others aren't as picky.

IMO T5 HO is a great alternative to those of us who don't want to deal w/ heat, space and $$ issues that come w/ MH....JMO again these are my experiences with it.

[Nyles]

I have clams with my t-5 system, they sit on the sand bed with no issues. Tank depth 24" running 8 t-5's (5-11k gueissmen and 3 blue+) These are mounted to "W" shaped parobolic reflectors and fan cooled for extra life mounted about 5" off the surface (you don't want to get much closer or youwill be getting splash back with higher water flow systems).
These provide a good color and everything seems happy. Also getting good acro growth off my SPS frags. (4.15 watts per gallon.)

Give it a try just make sure you get a cooling fan of some sort, I use a clip on desk fan on each side, its enough to keep bulb temps down.

[sleeri]

Nyles (or anyone else that owns a Tek T5 system), do you use the plexi glass cover for the Tek system? Just curious.

[Nyles]

Originally Posted by sleeri

Nyles (or anyone else that owns a Tek T5 system), do you use the plexi glass cover for the Tek system? Just curious.

I don't own Tek because my tank is 72" long so I run a custom built 60" 80 watt bulb. Bulbs are mounted 5-6" off surface with no plexi. They are open to the water. I tried covering tank but wasn't happy with the results of salt creep on glass. Reflectors and bulbs are whipped down about every month or so with my regular cleaning, they develop a little salt but not to much. If you are using a Tek I would probably use a cover if they are lower than 5" just make sure they have good cooling to help extend the life of the bulb.

here is a shot with canopy lifted slightly up to take the pic.

I have crocea, giga, and derasa under that light on the sand

[Wiskey]

I have the 4 bulb Tek retrofit and right now I am getting over 10,000 LUX, 140 PAR at the bottom of my tank (18 inches of water). Right now I am acclimating the coral to the new light, so they are still a long way off the water (6 inches), and I expect when I get them down to 2 inches off the surface that reading will increase to well over 200. With the lights 6 inches off the water I am waisting allot of light over the sides of the tank.

Thanks,
Whiskey

[sleeri]

Is the 4 bulb tek retro 216 watts?

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by sleeri

Is the 4 bulb tek retro 216 watts?

That is correct, 4*54W bulbs, at least the one for a 4 foot tank is.

Whiskey