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I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 2:19 pm
by ShelbyG
Every light on ebay it 48 watts and i need one with at least 200 watts can anyone help me

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:04 pm
by Innerarity Reefs
ATI makes some but they are $$$$$$$$$$$

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:23 pm
by Amphiprion
A watt is a watt, but the efficiency can be vastly different. Why do you need 200 watts and for what tanks size (dimensions, too)? In that size range, the only thing you're going to find that will satisfy that requirement is a metal halide lamp or LED fixture, unless your tank is very wide.

Edit: intensity-wise, that is.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:53 pm
by Innerarity Reefs

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:58 am
by Amphiprion
I knew about the ATI fixtures, but that becomes plain impractical after that much. Too many other options that would do the same or better job.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:28 pm
by Innerarity Reefs
I agree completely, I could be a millionaire and I could never justify $900 for a 24" t5 light LOL. Im a halide guy anyway, and always will be.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 5:30 pm
by AuroraDrvr
For the size restraints of the tank, I'd probably just go with a Halide.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:58 pm
by ShelbyG
i have a 29 gallon tank how may watts to you think i should have either t5 or my friend is selling me a power compact light for 35 dollars but i will have to do some renovates to my hood cause it is about 3 inches to long :shock:

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:28 pm
by Amphiprion
On a 29g, 4-24w T5s are plenty. Or, alternatively, you could try a 150w halide with a few T5 lamps. Either way, it will be enough to support most things you'd likely want. Going by the old "watts per gallon" rule is fairly inaccurate, especially with more efficient lighting, like T5s and especially LEDs. Even halides with decent reflectors can blow this rule out of the water. So, really, it is going to boil down to what kind of animals you'd like to keep. In any case, I'd pass on the compact fluorescents. Too many other brighter/more efficient options out there nowadays.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:24 pm
by Innerarity Reefs
Wheres the "like" button. I would hit like on your statement !

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:33 pm
by Kresnahw22
is a power compact light w/ 130 wats 12k daylight and actinic sufficient for soft corals and lps. im selling it to her.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:54 pm
by AuroraDrvr
Amphiprion wrote:Going by the old "watts per gallon" rule is fairly inaccurate, especially with more efficient lighting, like T5s and especially LEDs.
This.....




What do you want to keep?

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:19 pm
by Amphiprion
Kresnahw22 wrote:is a power compact light w/ 130 wats 12k daylight and actinic sufficient for soft corals and lps. im selling it to her.
For many "lps" and soft corals, it would be mostly sufficient. That's not necessarily ideal, but they do tolerate lower amounts of light compared to some other corals. Soft corals, oddly enough, prefer among the highest amounts of light (even among most "sps" corals) one is able to provide, despite the fact that they also tolerate and do well in lower light conditions.

Whether it will be enough is all relative to what she wants to keep. The compacts will allow some options, but will be limited in terms of overall possibilities. However, the price is fair and it will at least open up options as far as corals go.

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:02 pm
by ShelbyG
i want zoa and mushrooms possibly ricordia those are the main ones i want

Re: I need a 24 inch t5 light

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:27 pm
by Amphiprion
ShelbyG wrote:i want zoa and mushrooms possibly ricordia those are the main ones i want
Compact fluorescents would work fine for those types of corals. It would limit your options later if you wanted to diversify, but that would work just fine for what you want now.