Lighting query

[leecorrigan]

Hey guys, just upgraded my lighting to two 6700 k t5 daylight bulbs 30" plus 1 24" t8 color max tank is 55 gallons was wondering what lighting category this would be? moderate?

 

[reefdiver]

I think they may need the wattage ?

 

[leecorrigan]

Thanks but from what I've been reading apparently wattage is unreliable but the wattage on mine would be 36 plus the t8 which I'm not sure of.!

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Are your T5's "NO" or "HO"??? Also, there is even variation within HO fixtures in terms of their intensity based on the quality of the reflectors.

I find these charts to be useful in trying to determine the amount of light you have.

PAR vs Distance, T5, T12, PC - New Chart

 

[leecorrigan]

cool thanx a lot i'll check that out and get back to you. my reflectors are going to be strips of mirror that I haven't got around to cutting yet.

 

[leecorrigan]

yah so I can't figure out if it's ho or no there's nothing on the bulb that says. The fixture says h.o.

 

[Rivercats]

If it's HO and the light has good reflectors you'd have medium light on a 55. If you don't have reflectors at all right now then your still probably in the lower light. I run dual bulb T5HO's with good reflectors on my 55's and am in the medium light range. I also use Geisemann bulbs.

 

[leecorrigan]

cool thanks a lot