T5 LIGHTING

[choupic]

Ok im thinking of getting the this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&N=2004+113175

the 216 watt one. Will this be good for some corals I have a standard 55 gallon tank.

 

[macman7010]

Choupic,

I have that same 216 watt unit and have been running it now for 1 month. I was using Current USA's 380 watt Orbit Power Compact fixture. I have been yielding better results with the Nova T5 with less heat output and much less wattage. I have a 75 gallon tank and supplmented with several Slimline Aqua Light T5's to get a little more light. For your 55 I think this fixture would work fine for most corals. The only thing I can see needing additional light are some of the light intensive SPS corals such as Super Color Acropora.

 

[bckey7]

This fixture is better than the pc's you were running but T5's really need individual reflectors to get the maximum output from them. A really good T5 hood like a sunlight supply, aquatinics, or icecap with individual reflectors will compete with metal halides.

http://www.aquactinics.com/Products/T5_HO_Systems.htm

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104193.html