Hey guys, I have always been a T5 kind of guy when it came to my beginner lps and soft coral reefs, but here in the last 3 or so months I got a metal halide fixture (for free I might add) :dance:.
Not the best reflector or anything but it's a Marineland HQI 150watt with 4 24" T5 ho as supplements. I decided to hang this fixture over my year and a half old 40 breeder that is intended on SPS only. (has only had sps after the metal halide install) Fixture is 8 inches above the water and I feel that I lose 3-4 inches on each side of tank. (no problem)
I know I am not getting the best coverage with only one 150 watt bulb, but I use the 4 "supplement" bulbs to help in getting a little more color. T5 are Red Sea bulbs that I do intend on changing to Ati as soon as I find a LFS that carries them anymore if not I'll order them off the interweb.
Bulbs: Blue white, Wave Point Reef Wave :sad2: (kind of embarrassed about that bulb), Reef spec Pink, Actinic. MH Bulb: Phoenix 14000k
AAANY WAY, I just recently got a low grade name brand T5 retrofit kit 2 24", that I also got for free brand new in the box. Man I love free. I would like to ask you fellas (and gals) if I should add the kit? should I leave as is, as long as there is good growth? Also If I do add, should I change all bulbs to supplemental actinics and coral+ and have them as dusk and dawn? Or should I do the last question and leave them on even during metal halide hours?
Please leave opinions, info, experiences, links for me to read. Very open minded person here trying to make friends.
Thanks you for reading!
-Tilo
Not the best reflector or anything but it's a Marineland HQI 150watt with 4 24" T5 ho as supplements. I decided to hang this fixture over my year and a half old 40 breeder that is intended on SPS only. (has only had sps after the metal halide install) Fixture is 8 inches above the water and I feel that I lose 3-4 inches on each side of tank. (no problem)
I know I am not getting the best coverage with only one 150 watt bulb, but I use the 4 "supplement" bulbs to help in getting a little more color. T5 are Red Sea bulbs that I do intend on changing to Ati as soon as I find a LFS that carries them anymore if not I'll order them off the interweb.
Bulbs: Blue white, Wave Point Reef Wave :sad2: (kind of embarrassed about that bulb), Reef spec Pink, Actinic. MH Bulb: Phoenix 14000k
AAANY WAY, I just recently got a low grade name brand T5 retrofit kit 2 24", that I also got for free brand new in the box. Man I love free. I would like to ask you fellas (and gals) if I should add the kit? should I leave as is, as long as there is good growth? Also If I do add, should I change all bulbs to supplemental actinics and coral+ and have them as dusk and dawn? Or should I do the last question and leave them on even during metal halide hours?
Please leave opinions, info, experiences, links for me to read. Very open minded person here trying to make friends.
Thanks you for reading!
-Tilo
