BTA T5 lighting

[sfarid123]

Hey guys,

I'm considering upgrading from 260watt PC to a better lighting so hopefully my BTA can live.
Has any one had any luck using T5 growing anemones? if so what setup would you suggest for a 55 gallon?
Also what temp bulbs should I use?

thanks

[xxpipedreamxx]

I use T-5 lighting for all of my tanks. On my breeding setup, I have a cheap $20 Coralife SW T-5 lamp. I use the standard bulbs in it and my anemone is doing great. I would say to go with a TEK fixture. I use the 6 bulb on a 46 bowfront acropora reef. Depending on what else you have in the tank, IME a double bulb T-5 is fine for that tank. I use Geisemann Powerchrome bulbs.

[shred5]

I use t-5 on all my tanks now... Bta's will do fine under t-5... With my tek t-5 fixture I had to cut back on the photo period for two of the lamps because my bta's were heading for the bottom of the tank.


Dave

[sfarid123]

Great thanks for the reply ,

Does the bulb temp matters for BTA? I heard anemones need 12000K-14000K spectrum?

[xxpipedreamxx]

The cheapo fixture I use on my breeding tanks have the standard 10K and actinic lamps I do believe.

[sfarid123]

One last question..is there a major difference between T5 and T6 bulbs?

[davocean]

Actually your PC's are even enough light for a BTA, but the T5's would be better for most other stuff, even sps.
At least your BTA won't be looking around for more light for sure, and maybe even will look for a shady spot depending light intensity.
I went from 10K bulbs to 14K and my nems do seem to like that better, better color on both.
I'm a fan of the Current USA Outer Orbit myself (MH T5 combo)
Not sure about T6

[kaledrina]

This site has cheap T5 lights, I got the standard 48" version ($150 w/ shipping). No fan on it, and the mounts were a hair too small for my bracing, however it gets the job done. I had PC lights for months and my anemones were practically running laps. Within two days of the T5 lights all 3 have finally settled down.

http://www.cadlights.com/

[kirkland]

We have a tek t-5 light fixture with 6 x 39w geisemann bulbs. Our gbta is huge and our sebae is turning more tan and less white every week.

[phender]

I just switched from PC's to a Tek light system for my 48" 55 gal tank.

4- bulbs has been plenty bright to bring back a rainbow monti from complete brownout and keep blue acros the proper color.

Reefgeek.com had a great deal on Tek lights. It was basically the fixture at everyone else's "sale" price and then all 4 bulbs of my choice for free.

I asked them to choose the bulbs for me after I told them what I liked. They gave me an ATI Blue Plus, UVL 10K Aquasun, Giesemann 11K Aquablue Plus and a Sfiligoi Super Actinic Blue 03.

I like the idea of different manufactuers for the same bulb type, to get a wider variety of spectrum.

[sfarid123]

For BTA I think I would need total wattage 6X54W or 4X85W for 55gallon, does that sound enough wattage?

Also would i need Icecap's in order to get the 85W out of URI 54/85w bulbs?

[xxpipedreamxx]

If you do not have SPS, why the need for so much light? That's overkill IMO and may have the anemones running for cover and possibly bleaching out. Especially after switching from just PC's.

[sfarid123]

yes I do also have SPS , how much total wattage is enough?

[xxpipedreamxx]

I am no T-5 expert, so hopefully one will chime in for you. Or under the lighting forum I believe is a thread all about T-5's that you should check out. But I did not use an Icecap ballast and had a standard TEK fixture and kept all acropora's perfectly fine. The 6 bulb 36" fixture on a 46 gallon tank was overkill and I had to shade my acro's. 46 gallon bowfronts are also pretty deep too.

[xxpipedreamxx]

Here is a link to the beginning of the thread. It is very long but can answer a lot of questions for you.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=1

[sfarid123]

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out

[phender]

Originally posted by sfarid123
yes I do also have SPS , how much total wattage is enough?

First, you had enough wattage to keep a BTA when you had the CFs. If you couldn't keep them before, it wasn't a lighting problem.

4 - 54 watt bulbs is plenty of light for your BTAs and enough light to keep your SPS as well. My montis, pocillapora and acros are all growing very well and showing great color in my 55 gal. under 4 - 54 watt bulbs in a Tek Light fixture.

[sfarid123]

Thanks Phil,
Well my PC lights are new, my water quality and parameters are excellent, I do use RO/DI, but the BTA keeps shrinking. This is the 2nd time in the past year I'm saving it by moving it closer to the lights. My LFS told me I should switch to T5 's since BTA do much better with wider spectrum lights rather than just 10K.