Looking for advice/opinions

[Ian]

Looks Like I am going to make the jump to a larger mixed reef.. Should be 90 gallons plus sump/refugium of 45 ish gallons.
What I am looking for is info on lights- I want to go with T5's and would like to be able to get into SPS what how many watts do I need and what combinations of bulb work well for this?

Also what skimmers do you suggest for a system of this size....It will be a few months before this is up and running but I want to start picking up pieces now and I want to get a good start on high quality components to save $ down the road.

I will start a build thread soon


Any other bits of advice are welcome...I am still new to this and welcome the help

[mark]

check out this month's Tank of the Month for a T5's layout on a 110g.

Skimmer comparison chart here for ideas

[Leah]

Ah huh, the bug has bitten another one. Good luck!

[digital-audiophile]

TEK T5's are great lights and a fair price, you can go more expensive but I still have nott seen any real PAR comparison tests to prove that they are worth the extra dough.

You really have the option of going with a 6 bulb or an 8 bulb light, allthough most people I know running 90's (including myself) use the 6 bulb. With the 8 the last two bulbs just end up spilling more light outside the tank rathen than in, especially if you are eurobraced.

As far as bulbs it comes down to personal preference in the colour spectrum you want. KZ bulbs are a very popular choice.

On My tank I am running:

ATI Blue
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ New Generation
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ New Generation
ATI Blue

With all bulbs on I have a clean white with a nice blue hue similar to what you would see in a quality 14K MH bulb.

Regardless of what some of the old metal hallide die hard users might say, T5's really are an equal to MH lighting. You will find a number of people here on canreef using T5's and having great success with SPS and other light demanding corals.

All you have to do is take a look at some of the killer european SPS tanks and you will see that especially the Germans have embraced T5's and are doing wonderful things with them.

[Ian]

Thanks for the info and please feel free to keep sending me more I have a 1000 questions already and I'm sure more will come.

And yeah the bug has bitten hard...good thing I have a very understanding wife..our bank account is going to take a hit

[Ian]

Ok I have been doing a load of reading and still am headed in the T5 DIRECTION I would like this build to be able to grow some SPS even if only in the top 12 or so inches of the aquarium... what kind of wattage do I need per gallon?