Question about t5's and SPS

[GhostKnife]

I have a light fixture that houses 4 54w 10,000 k daylight lights and 4 54w actinic blues...
Do I have enough light for SPS... reason I am asking is I like the looks of some of the toadstool leathers and acros. My LPS are doing great and thriving as are my Zoas minus one colony... That is yet to be determined. My nitrates are low as well as my phosphates. What do you guys think?

 

[SparKy697]

how tall is the tank?

 

[GhostKnife]

I believe 24 in tall. Its a 75 gallon tank.

 

[HN1]

Toadstools are LPS and would just about certainly be fine in your setup as is. As far as SPS go, I'd start with the easy ones and go from there. (disclaimer- exactly what I'm doing so I'm biased ). Birdsnest, some montis, etc.

 

[SparKy697]

I'm kind of new to the T5 thing myself. However, I think you are on the fringe with that setup. Seems like good advice to start with the "easier" ones and see how it goes.

 

[GhostKnife]

Okay well I think I got the wattage part down and accomplished with what I have or am I wrong. I had a feeling it would be borderline I was hoping for the opposite but I dont want to waste my time failing. I might try one of the easier ones as HN1 had mentioned. I dont know.

 

[melosu58]

With T5`s it not really about wattage as much as it is about intensity. You`ll be OK for most SPS but starting with the easier ones was a good idea. May I suggest a pavona coral. It`s one of the easier SPS and grows well under my VHO lighting.

 

[pokmijn]

with that much light you should be able to keep almost anything at one of my lfs it has the same amount of light and it keep everything in there even clams you just have to make sure your water parameters are in check. plus his tank is deeper than yours.

 

[GhostKnife]

okay well this is better news. I might just give the Pavona a shot some time in the near future. Ill have to see if my dealer has any.

 

[GhostKnife]

So I found just online here a really cool Pavona its a Orange Pavona Maldivensis
(pavona sp.) and it looks freakin sweet. So this may be a future purchase. Nice work Mike. Thanks

 

[melosu58]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+322+476&pcatid=476

 

[HN1]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+322+476&pcatid=476

Argh! Now I have to find room and budget... that is cool!

 

[GhostKnife]

That is cool the orange one I think I would prefer I found it at Vivid Aquariums - Buy Online - Fish Store in Los Angeles - Buy Saltwater Fish, Live Corals, Live Rock, Drygoods and Aquarium Supplies however I have never ordered anything from there.

 

[melosu58]

It`s not the greatest pic but mine is the green coral all the way in the back.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Those orange pavonas don't need a lot of light, so you have more than enough light.

 

[GhostKnife]

Awesome pics guys. Just noticing...Mike when did you decide go not scrape the algae of the sides of your tank?

 

[melosu58]

A while back, there`s a wall on the other side of that glass so no ones going to see through anyway.

 

[GhostKnife]

I might end up doing that with mine I am not sure yet. There is a wall close to the left side of my tank. I dunno.