T5 for mixed reef-how many watts?
 

How much wattage could I put over a 50 G , I will be lighting various SPS near the top and a crocea or maxima clam. Also some softies in darker areas. I am using 3' 39 watt T5 fixtures ,they come with 6400K daylight bulbs but I want to alternate with HO T5 true actinics.

if you want to do sps and clams, you need as many as you can fit into your canopy

Agreed haha... as much as possible!

I remember a tank of the month quite some time ago on reef central where the guy had a 4x2x2 tank (120gal?) lit by 8 t5 54w and had nothing but enormous acros...so take it from that and go from there.

If you follow the euro method, generally you're going to install 1 T5HO per 2.5" of linear distance - oddly thats also the size of most reflectors. So basically you're going to pack em in there.

Andy

The reflectors I'm looking at are either 4,6, or 8 bulbs in the 36" length. Judging by the results on that 120G tank then I would think that 4 39 watters would be enough. The tank I want the lighting for has no canopy and I don't want to hang a pendant so I think the T5's are the way to go.

The biggest thing to note when looking at T5 is the reflector makes it or breaks it. If you buy cheap reflectors you might as well have bought NO lights for your tank.
Also make sure you buy the HO bulbs. It looks like you are going to from your posts but had to post this just in case. :wink:

I am leaning toward the Tek reflector-looks good and reasonably priced.I've read comparisons with icecaps and it looks a close second.

From what I have read on T-5 to get the best performance out of them you should consider individual reflectors. I use t-5 in a combo fixture and they don't have individual reflectors and I would rate them much the same as my PC on my other fixture.

I've got the 4x39W Teklight above my 46 gallon bow (very similar dimensions as a 50 gallon).

I've got mainly LPS and some softies including orange ricordia. Nothing super light demanding, but everything's growing very well with excellent colour.

To get the most bang without too much yellow, stick with the German-made Giesemann bulbs. I've got a Blue+ and three Aquablues.