T5 Fixture Recommendations

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Acro_holic

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Looking to swtich (maybe) from Hydra's to T5's. 48X24 tank, thinking 8 bulbs. Does anybody have a recommendation on a fixture, maybe dimmable. Currently have a Wavepoint 24” on a separate tank which I was more impressed with than I thought I would be. Seemed to be heavy duty. However I do not seem to be able to find an 8 bulb. I want to grow acans and SPS mainly but will be getting into wellso’s and scoly’s too.
 
ATI is going to make the nicest, longest lasting T5HO fixture. They are pricey, but I'm a huge fan of them. You could even get a 36" light over your 48" tank and have some shadowed areas at each end for chalices/acans/LPS. You could even mount it all the way left, or all the way right to leave a foot of "shade" at one end...just a thought to save money with a 36'"vs 48" fixture. I'm actually in the market for a 24" T5HO fixture again. Iv'e had my Reefbreeders LED for months and it just seems to turn my SPS a greenish hue, I miss my T5's. Regardless of which make you go with, I recommend ATI brand bulbs.
 
I have to agree on the ATI fixtures ... I miss their powermodule t5 fixtures but the sunpowers are still very nice ... you can go even higher and get the t5/led hybrid they offer
 
I've got a couple fixtures I'm about to part with that have done great growing SPS and lps. One is an 8 bulb combo unit that has 4 t5s and 4 blue led strips made by ice cap.

The other is a 6 bulb t5 unit that was made by coralife I belive, but don't quote me on that.

I've been real happy with my t-5 setups and to be honest I think 4 or 6 bulbs is plenty to run most tanks. 8 is just extra power and more expensive to replace the bulbs.
 
I've had a 36" TEK 6 bulb fixture and I currently have a 36" ATI PM 6 bulb fixture. My tank is is 34" deep and my fixture hangs 6-10" above my water line and I grow SPS just fine.

You shouldn't have any problem with most T5 fixtures.
 
ATI will do you well, I own both that and the TEK. Tek is nice too, but not on the same level as ATI with the built in fans.
 
I bought kthomas' Tek light 6X39W a few years ago and loved my SPS under it with ATI bulbs over my 58 gallon. I wish Tek would have a 6X24W fixture, I think they used to, but no longer...
 
Thanks everyone! ATI to me seems like the way I want to go. $700 for a T-5 Fixture! Any one want 2 Hyrda's? lol. Wrong forum for that.

Could possibly get the 8 bulb and run 6 with two blue LED strips? Only thing I'd hate to give up is that deep blue LED which makes everything glow.
 
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