Baby tank question - T5

[lastlight]

I know bulbs have an overlapping effect with their spread but if you placed more bulbs to either side of those 4 do you think the corals directly under your fixture would get that much more light? T5 shine mostly down without too much spread away from the length of the bulb I think.

Worst case I think maybe towards front and back of the tank they might not get enough but I'd think you should be fine right underneath the fixtures?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by lastlight

but I'd think you should be fine right underneath the fixtures?

Not with the current bulbs. Water is 10" deep, light 3 inches of surface. Not nearly enough. Just curious what other people have SPS success with, I don't mind getting new bulbs but not if they still aren't going to work.

As a reference to what my frags are used to is AI sol at 100/100/95, 6" OWL

[don.ald]

I am a big fan of T5 lighting. In my experience corals do NOT grow fast...less pruning, but good colour!
R.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by don.ald

I am a big fan of T5 lighting. In my experience corals do NOT grow fast...less pruning, but good colour!
R.

That's not a big plus in a frag tank

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Not with the current bulbs.

Yeah I was talking more about the setup itself. If they're old or crappy bulbs to begin with it won't work out for you. Not all T5 bulbs are created equal of course when it comes to PAR.

I'm assuming you've got decent reflectors too but maybe that's not the case in a 2-bulb fixture.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by lastlight

I'm assuming you've got decent reflectors too but maybe that's not the case in a 2-bulb fixture.

They're not ideal, just a couple of HagenGlo fixtures. Nice shiny reflectors, but not sure how they rate to other types.
Unless I get some great feedback from people with similar lighting, I'll liekely go with another SOL. Just need to find someone that can make me a bracket for mounting

[canadianbudz604]

You defiantly need better bulbs. Go with kz nex gen and kz super blues. From what I've read on RC and other sites u will get decent growth and nice color

[Proteus]

In reality change the bulbs twice over a year and you have paid for a used sol

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Titus99

In reality change the bulbs twice over a year and you have paid for a used sol

Ya, pretty much thinking the same thing