T5 lighting

[trilinearmipmap]

Yes I have had a T5 setup for over 2 years. 8 x 54 Watts T5 over a 120 gallon mixed reef: softies, LPS, BTA's (split into 3 from 1 BTA) and for SPS a nice big monti cap and montipora digitata.

Besides the montiporas I have not tried harder SPS, I plan to add a few more SPS sometime soon. The monti cap grew from maybe an inch or two to about 9" across over about a year and a half. The montipora digitata grew similarly. For most of this time I have had horrible low alk and Ca levels due to neglect so the limiting factor for SPS growth in my tank is Ca and Alk not lighting.

The LPS do great under my T5's. I have torch, hammer, frogspawn, octobubble, and candy cane coral. They do fine from midway down the tank to the bottom of the tank.

Softies: colt does great, xenia does great. I am unable to propagate mushrooms, they shrivel away and hide, I think the light is too bright for them. I had zoos doing great until they were wiped out by an Anthelia plague.

Overall I do not recommend T5's, the main reason is bulb replacement cost. I have to have bulbs shipped up here, T5 bulbs are harder to find than MH bulbs and costlier to ship. I am happy with my system but if I were going to do it again I would get a 250 DE MH system.