New tank! I have just gotten a 75gal. and I am planning on setting it up right. I am thinking about getting a Sunlight Supply Tek 48" t5 fixture. And its either the 6x54 or the 4x54. the 4x54 with giesemann bulbs is about 353, and the 6x54 is 463. What do you guys think? I would like to get the best possible fixture and if I buy one theres no going back to the other.
When considering lighting for a reef tank - more is always better.
I would definitely go the 6 bar route - but take a look around and see what else is available. Seems like an awful lot of money to spend on a fixture.
Well these prices include the bulbs, and good Giesemann bulbs at that.
I’d say go with as much light as you can… an extra hundred now isn’t as bad as upgrading down the road when you fall in love with clams and SPS…
I had a tek w/6 bulbs in a hanging unit over my 75. nice fixture. no fans, no cover over bulbs, so you really need to keep water/spray away from the electric parts. that’s why hanging is better than the legs. ithe short time i had it on legs, the reflectors got really salty really quick.
did i mention i have their hanging kit still in my home, if you were interested, real cheap, say 10$. new kit runs 25-35$ i sold the fixture. the wires are for a dual screw in type tek, not the single.
Well bugger I was hoping to buy a canopy and use that. is there any way to cover this light besides a hanging kit?
well, that i do not know. with no fans, a canopy might be too hot. someone with canopy experience needs to chime in.
I’d go 6 bulb, although my 55 is doing OK right now with 2 T5s and a VHO…(just ok) The more the merrier.
You can always add a fan into a canopy…cut, insert fan, plug it in 
And you can use a simple computerbox fan? Or something eqivalent in size?
Also if I get the 6 bulb fixture… what bulbs should i get? I was thinking Giesemann bulbs… 3 actinic+ and 3 aquablues? What do you guys think?
id say go 6bulbs. ive got a 4 bulb fixture over a 20L and it seems perfect, so i thing, tho higher in wattage for the bigger bulbs, a 6 might be your best bet. as for bulbs i use 3 ATI blue+ and one fiji purple and i love the color rendering of the tank and the colors pop nicely. best of luck!
I think with that configuration you may end up with a very blue tank.
I’d add a 10K in the middle myself. will still allow colors to pop but will give a slightly more white light look to the tank without it being too blinding to look at.
Keep in mind when selecting T5 bulbs that the order in which you place them in the fixture will alter how your eye perceives the color as it looks through the different spectrums.
go with the 6 bulb.
bulb choice really comes down to what you prefer. you cant go wrong with ATI or Giesemeen.
i would also reccomend you look at reef central. i believe there was a guy with the screen name grim who gave out alot of advice about the bulb selection. search- bulb combo/ or something along those lines.
go 6 bulb…
the color options all depend on what you’d like to keep and personal preference. i have two blues, 1 pink, 1 10k, an aquablue plus (pretty much a 12k with a bluish tint) and a purple actinic and i’d actually like to go further into the blue/purple spectrum. but thats just my taste. as long as you have some variety, a six bulb on a 75 gallon can cover most needs.
Sweet. I am going to do a 6 bulb… 2 aquablue+, 2 actinics and possibly 2 10,000k? does that seem okay? or should I do 3 Aquablue+ and 2 Actinics and 1 10,000k?
That really depends on what type of overall look you want your tank to have. The more 10K you have the whiter the lights will look - the more actinics or aqua blues you have the bluer the light will look.
I liken it to: “Do you want your reef to look like it’s 15’ below the surface or 50’ below the surface?”
Depends on what you want to keep and what’s pleasing to the eye for you. I think the aquablue plus bulbs are pretty much a 10k with a blue tint and it would have most of the same benefits as a 10k such as growth as opposed to color improvement (both perceived and in the corals themselves). I’m sure there is more to it than that. Someone smart chime in Saint:)
My 6 bar aquatic life is setup like this, front to back:
Actinic
Fiji Purple
10K
Actinic
Fiji Purple
Actinic
I played with the mix of bulbs and position in the fixture, and that is what looks good to me. :GEEK:
I do like the blue and the way it makes the flourescents in my corals stand out. Do the Aquablue+ have any blue in them? I’ve heard they are quite white. And the difference between whether I get more aquablues or 10k, this won’t affect coral growth will it now?
C,
ygpm