30" T5 Fixture

[Rychek]

I have a 40 gallon tank that I need a light fixture for. I'd prefer to use T5 as opposed to MH. However, the tank is about 30"x12" and I haven't been able to find a fixture that size.

I know the Hagen GLO 24" has extend able mounting, but I'd like to avoid having to purchase two fixtures to get 4 bulbs. I'd rather go with a clip on MH fixture than two T5 fixtures.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[ErikH]

Use the conduit method and make yourself a fixture hangar. If you wanna make a larger one you could rent a pipe bender and get yourself some exhaust pipe. :p

[blindside]

I thought current USA made a 30 in t5ho, I think its current...

[Rychek]

Current does make a 30" fixture, but it's a 2 bulb like the Hagen Glo. I'm thinking I might be better off just getting a MH clip on or building a canopy and using my T5 retro.

[diego]

Sundial has a 30" 4 bulb but it's only 96 Watts which would not be sufficient.

[ballardjr2000]

I just threw out a 30" dual 96w pc fixture it just needed ballast you could try a 150w MH clamp on the spread of light on those are a lot. I have a 70w viper that works wonders on my 12g, I mean the spread is past the tank itself it could be mounted on a 24" tank with no problems (minus) being underpowered...but for the spread of light it should work

[Razorsharp]

I am using the Current USA Sundial on my 29 gallon tall which is 30" long. The bulbs are 24". I have been really pleased with this fixure. I have 3 birds nest, 2 blue digi's, some zoanthids, kryptonite candy cane, mushrooms, ricordia and other's growning wild under them. The birds nest (sps) is about halfway up my tank and has new branches popping out on it every day. Another feature I could not live without is the timers that are build in to the lights. It has two timers. I set the Actinics for 10a-9p and the white lights from 10:30a-8:30pm. The moon lights use a photocell so when the other lights are off and it's dark in the room they are on. This fixture was well worth every penny. It also runs very cool. I can touch the light fixture any time. It does not get hot at all.

[Razorsharp]

Also, my current USA SD is a 4 bulb set up.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_USA_SunDial_T5_HO_w__Timers_LED_24_Inch_T5 _Fluorescent_Light_Fixtures-Current_USA-CU01150-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

I paid $225 for mine at RCA in Austin.

[Rychek]

I like the idea of the Current Sun Dail. Current makes a fair product for the price bracket. It costs about the same as the JBJ 150 watt MH clip on as well.

[ErikH]

Ryan, the sundial is what I have on my 48. The downside is that the timers, as all timers like these are CRAPPY! :) The bad part of that is that your lights are either off or on. There is only one cord, so once a timer goes, you are up a crik. I am honestly not positive that will work because it does not look like the legs will spread far enough (LOL) to reach the desired 30".

[ErikH]

It definitely wont go 30"

[Razorsharp]

True about the timers. If one goes out then none of the lights will funtion but it sure is worth the risk not dealing with all of the clutter of 2-3 power cords and external timers. I cannot comment on the quality of the timers at this point because I've only had my tank for 3 months. I can say this though, I've not had any issues up to this point. Of all the research I personally did on lights, these fit my budget and I am very pleased with them.

The biggest suprise for me was being able to actually grow SPS's under them! I am not going to be getting any clams for it, but I will continue to keep these SPS's as long as they keep showing signs of growth.

[Rychek]

It definitely wont go 30"

Actually they sell a 30" fixture that uses 24" bulbs, so it would work. The timer issues does concern me a bit though. However, it wouldn't be too hard to replace the timers with switches when they die. Even with my pathetic soldering skillz that would be doable.

[Gseclipse02]

Actually they sell a 30" fixture that uses 24" bulbs, so it would work. The timer issues does concern me a bit though. However, it wouldn't be too hard to replace the timers with switches when they die. Even with my pathetic soldering skillz that would be doable.


thats what i was thinking

with the units i have taken apart they all have a decent amount of room to work with wire wise .... i would just drill the back to have another wire come out and by pass the time timers

[ErikH]

How far are you trying to go with your corals? Without a quality T5 kit, I would go str8 MH with a 20k bulb.

[corkyGramma]

The biggest suprise for me was being able to actually grow SPS's under them! I am not going to be getting any clams for it, but I will continue to keep these SPS's as long as they keep showing signs of growth.

I always wondered if absolutely anything can be kept with T5's. I guess you would need 6 bulbs to house a clam?

[Rychek]

How far are you trying to go with your corals? Without a quality T5 kit, I would go str8 MH with a 20k bulb.

This fixture will be more of a hold over until I get my big tank setup. I don't know how long that will be though (a few months most likely). I have an 8 bulb IceCap retrofit in my current tank that will be going into the new tank, once it's ready, but until then I need something to keep the corals alive until the final big tank is ready.

[Gseclipse02]

I always wondered if absolutely anything can be kept with T5's. I guess you would need 6 bulbs to house a clam?


joe 31 and g-ray both had clams when they had 4 bulb set ups so i would be assuming there ok with a 4- bulb t5 set up

[ballardjr2000]

Im running 4 12k bulbs and 4 acitinic blue (don't do much for added light just appeal) on my 90g, and i have a corceera clam doing great in the tank, lots of growth etc.

[Razorsharp]

I just wanted to post a few shots of this 30" t5 Sundial and show you the growth I was talking about. Don't mind the algae. My tank is about 10 weeks old now.

The birds nest was very small when I got it about 6 weeks ago. The candy cane was just about dead too. Now they're both thriving well.

The pics are not all that great here, but the first picture was taken on 9/14. You can see one of my peices of birds nest on a rock on the back wall. The candy cane is standing closer to the front of the tank.

The pics I took today of the same two shows how much the birds nest has grown in 15 days. It has several new branches starting and the candy cane is pushing out new heads.

Even though they are only 96 watts, putting me at about 3 watts a gallon, I'm getting progress.