T5 questions

I run a 6X24 watt ATI dimmable on my 24X24X24 cube, wish it was an 8 bulb.  If you want good coverage front to back, I'd do 8 if I could do it again.  I'll probably add a couple reefbrites for led pop and better coverage as corals mature. 

I couldn't hang it from the ceiling either, so I bought this:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E9LU9MA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Works great.  If most of your corals are in the middle of your tank, with LPS in the very bottom, you'll probably be happy with a 6 bulb.  I am sps dominant and wish I had those two extra bulbs for more coverage from front to back...

In terms of acclimation - for first few weeks hang it as high as possible - 10-12 inches, or dim the bulbs, although don't dim new bulbs until they are broken in.  Each week, drop fixture down or increase peak intensity by 10%...for the fixtures final resting place, don't put the fixture any lower than 6-8 inches unless you run a heavy nutrient tank...start off no longer than 5 hours total with all bulbs on....working your way up to 8 or so max. 


Edited by bur01014 - August 23 2016 at 12:01am

I run a 8 bulb ati, non-dim and it's awesome.  There are 2 plugs, so you can set them up on separate timers.  I also run a reef brite LED strip.  My lights turn on at 8am with the LED, then at noon with 2 bulbs, then at 2pm with all 8.  Then the lights ramp down at night in opposite.  I don't get that smooth ramp up/down like a dimmable or LED, but it's fine.

Something else to consider-you can acclimate your tank to an 8 bulb fixture by not using all 8 to begin with.  I just slightly turned the bulb out of socket for a couple of weeks until I thought my coral was ready to get blasted.  I am really happy I went with 8 bulbs.