PC (110-130watt) vs. T5 (72+watt)

[satx-94integraLS]

ok. the most i want to do MAYBE would be some LPS. im really fond of softies, and there are some brains ive seen that i thnk would look awesome in the setup i have in mind.

im about to purchase a 36" T5 light (72 watts total i believe) and use it on my 29 gallon setup. the tank measures 30x12x18. the light will have legs, giving it about a 2-3" boost i believe. i have a 1.5" sandbed and approx 40lbs of LR in my tank.

the rock is stacked up almost to the top on the left side, and about halfway up on the right side (kind of a slope).

the questions i have are:

1) would keeping an anemone be possible with either light?

2) aside from softies, what other corals could i do(along the lps line)?

3) is keeping a clam possible?

note that i am far from doing any of these. im posting this because it will help determine what light i want to get. i really dont want to mess with mH right now, so if mH is a must for anything i asked, then forget it.

i dont forsee going into SPS, even though louis says i will eventually. im more fascinated with LPS and softy corals.

anywho, help me decide. im willing to upgrade both lighting systems if it means me being able to keep a clam (like using 4 x 36watt t5's or a big PC light). ive always wanted too and i figure nows a good time since i have the spare money...

anywho, help! :D :D 8)

[Ed]

I would go with the T5HOs (36" = 39W) if you have good reflectors. The reflectors make all the difference with T5s. I keep an anemone, clam, LPS, softies, and even some SPS under T5HOs.

HTH.

[subber]

The T5's are 2 X 39w so it comes out to 78w total........

[gjuarez]

I think you can get away with clams and an anemone with 4 x 39w t5 tubes. You could even keep sps IMO. Go for it.

[satx-94integraLS]

yeah i had mostly made up my mind, you guys finalized that thought :)

goin to pick up the t5's prolly tuesday or sooner, depending on how fast the shop gets my car back to me :D

[dwdenny]

you could do a 3X39w retro with good individual reflectors and that would be more then plenty. I have been looking into T5 for my tank sense the beginning with a 4X39w T5 retro and I will be limited to higher light critters from what I have been told and that is not overdriving them with the IC ballast. HTH.

Doug

[satx-94integraLS]

so if i use the t5's, would i need to suppliment them w/ an o3 anctinic bulb? i already have a 36" floro strip i can use if so...

[gjuarez]

The bulbs are as important as the reflectors. Make sure you get the good ones. With T5, some actinic bulbs are simply blue bulbs. D&D makes some good ones from what i have heard.