ATI T5 Recommendations following Hydra 26HD

[Chicagoreef2016]

Moving away from my Hydra 26HD for a bit to the ATI dimmable 8x24 fixture (great deal on used one). Have been running the SPS+ profile from Orcus that mimics the Radion SPS+ profile.

Questions: how high should I set this light over my tank to start, with new bulbs? I have read about 9-10 inches is good to start.

I will not use the dimming feature, and will probably do a sunrise/sunset with 1 channel (2 bulbs).

So, I am thinking 2 ATI blue + for the sunrise/sunset at 100%, and for the daytime run 4 blue +, 1 Coral +, and one purple.

Anyone see anything wrong with that setup to start? Mainly LPS, RBTA, Zoas, Palua green nepthea, GSP, mushrooms...

Cheers.

 

[mcgyvr]

IMO... Use the actinic bulbs (at least 1) for sunrise/sunset...
So maybe 1 actinic + 1 blue+

 

[jayball]

I would go for 2 actinic for your dawn-dusk, I think the blue+ is ugly by itself without the red from a full spectrum bulb to balance it. Personally I would drop one of the blue in the day channel for another coral plus as well but I like it whiter than many.

 

[crazycolt42]

I am in the build stages of my first reef tank. I have purchased tank, sump, return pump, ATO, and built the stand. For about a year now, I have done nothing but read and research. One of the things I have looked @ extensively is lighting. If you have not already, get on U-tube and do a search on "ATI bulb combo comparisons". There is a 2 part series that is really good at showing you what the different combos look like on corals. This was very helpful for me to get an idea of what combo I would want if I go with T5 or T5 LED hybrid. Most of the ATI bulbs put out excellent PAR and PUR. So the end combo will be more a matter of taste than what is needed for your SPS to continue to grow and grow faster. My personal favorite was number 5 in part 2 which was a combo of aquablue special and Actinic. I was surprised because so many reefers prefer blue + and hate aquablue special. I agree with above, the blue + is way to blue and drowns out all the colors I want to come out in my reef. See what you think!

 

[crazycolt42]

Sorry, but I got away from your original question. I certainly have seen many T5 users say they use a similar combo, but like the other two said, often an actinic is in there as well, but not always. As a matter a fact, I read a thread on here where several had the opinion that the actinic was too dim and a complete waste. Again, I think it's more a matter of what is pleasing to you than how it will affect the overall growth.

 

[mcgyvr]

I read a thread on here where several had the opinion that the actinic was too dim and a complete waste..

They would be wrong
Certainly not a complete waste at all but may be lower in PAR vs others.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

They would be wrong

Certainly not a complete waste at all but may be lower in PAR vs others.

For your stock of corals I hope the ati loadout works. I agree on actinics being a valuable bulb a lot of bands that are heavily used in cnidarian photosynthesis. May not be the highest PAR bulb out there but the bands emphasized in an actinic bulb have a far greater utilization rate. I personally don't think you can go wrong with 3 blue +, 2 coral+ and one actinic. But @Bpb thoughts?


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[Orcus Varuna]

Also, I have been running one Prime over a 16x16 cube and stuck all of my acans, shrooms, zoas, etc in the tank and even with it being about 2 months old they are doing great. I am beginning to wonder if you ever switch back to the hydras just raise them up to like 16-24" and maybe take away a fixture. You would see a rebound with your softies and lps.

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[Chicagoreef2016]

Also, I have been running one Prime over a 16x16 cube and stuck all of my acans, shrooms, zoas, etc in the tank and even with it being about 2 months old they are doing great. I am beginning to wonder if you ever switch back to the hydras just raise them up to like 16-24" and maybe take away a fixture. You would see a rebound with your softies and lps.

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Orcus,

I am keeping my Hydra 26HD. this is my first tank and almost done with year 1 in the hobby. With all of the people that have had success with LEDs like yourself there is a very good chance I missed something or several things along the way Not having a SPS tank I will be interested to see how things shake out with the ATI, as I will try and add one or two easy SPS in a little while. I look at this as tweaking the different options at my disposal to see what my results look like given my husbandry routines, etc. I have purchased a couple acans and favia in the last couple months and they are doing great on my sand bed with the Hydra profile you created. Or at least I found the spot they enjoy the best re: flow, light, etc.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Orcus,



I am keeping my Hydra 26HD. this is my first tank and almost done with year 1 in the hobby. With all of the people that have had success with LEDs like yourself there is a very good chance I missed something or several things along the way Not having a SPS tank I will be interested to see how things shake out with the ATI, as I will try and add one or two easy SPS in a little while. I look at this as tweaking the different options at my disposal to see what my results look like given my husbandry routines, etc.

ATI lights are awesome if I hadn't gotten out of the hobby for a bit and came back in completely fresh I would never have switched to LED's. The results for ati's t5 loadouts speak for themselves. Here is a good read on led vs t5 lighting and replicating the results seen by grow farms using ati t5 lights. It's what I based the sps ab+ schedule on! http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ReefWholesale_CoralLab.pdf


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[jayball]

They would be wrong

Certainly not a complete waste at all but may be lower in PAR vs others.

Absolutely, in addition I doubt many of them let the actinic burn in. There is a large increase in output after running them for a week or two.

 

[Bpb]

For your stock of corals I hope the ati loadout works. I agree on actinics being a valuable bulb a lot of bands that are heavily used in cnidarian photosynthesis. May not be the highest PAR bulb out there but the bands emphasized in an actinic bulb have a far greater utilization rate. I personally don't think you can go wrong with 3 blue +, 2 coral+ and one actinic. But @Bpb thoughts?


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I think it's a great combo!!!! That's actually channel 2 on my 8 bulb ati fixture.

I'll echo the others. Anyone who says the actinic bulb is useless is wrong. I won't go so far as to say they don't understand lighting, but they are definitely wrong.


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[Pdisner]

Just curious....why the switch? I've had both and I prefer the simplicity of my 26 & 52 Hydras


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[Bpb]

There's nothing simpler than t5ho. Bulb in. Turn it on. No App or software necessary


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[crazycolt42]

They would be wrong
Certainly not a complete waste at all but may be lower in PAR vs others.

Agreed. I actually really like what it adds when put with the coral + or aquablue special. This is why it is so important to read, research, and read some more. Had I went with the combo suggested on that particular thread, I would have been disappointed. Chicago reef 2016 - check out those vids on U-tube.

 

[crazycolt42]

ATI lights are awesome if I hadn't gotten out of the hobby for a bit and came back in completely fresh I would never have switched to LED's. The results for ati's t5 loadouts speak for themselves. Here is a good read on led vs t5 lighting and replicating the results seen by grow farms using ati t5 lights. It's what I based the sps ab+ schedule on! http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ReefWholesale_CoralLab.pdf


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So they based the ab+ settings on 80% blue+ and 20% aquablue special right? So would that be like having 6 blue + and two Aquablue specials as your combo for SPS? Am I reading that right? So confused:uhoh3:

 

[Chicagoreef2016]

Pdisner:

I love the look and capability of my Hydra 26HD. That being said for someone 1 year in, it almost gives too many options if that makes sense; it is paralysis by data/options. And AI does not come out of the box with any pre sets that have been proven to work, like the Radions and their white paper that has been passed around. I have gone through many iterations of my lighting profile, almost certainly burning corals along the way. I do notice that my corals are VERY sensitive as to where I put them in my tank. To be fair, could I raise my light a little, maybe try the kelvin bar to change my profile yet again...you bet. that being said looking at the tank, I could use another Hydra26HD to get better coverage...that adds a bit more to the equation: cost, how do I hang that with my current light, etc.

So, everyone seems to universally say T5s are the way to go, or at least provide an outstanding infrastructure to set it and forget it. For instance, the recommendations in this thread alone, while some differ slightly with the actinic bulbs, all seem pretty close relatively speaking.... in that if I want a slightly different light profile (white blue, etc), use these bulbs...etc etc. Lastly, I am using this tank as my learning experience for a few years until I get my next one (I like the Red Sea XXL & large peninsula tanks). So curiosity, with a little frustration on my current light setup, combined with a solid deal on a ATI 8 bulb fixture has me making the change. If nothing changes in my tank after the light switch then I know I am really messing some other things up.

I appreciate all of the dialogue!

 

[Bpb]

No problem. I love talking lighting!

For @crazycolt42, the ab+ program was created to emulate what WWC was using on their 10 bulb ATI power modules with 8 blue+ and 2 aquablue special bulbs. To me the actual look of the ab+ program is nothing like that bulb combo but I digress. It seems to work for lots of people. If I ever run a frag tank or something I'll consider that bulb combo but it's just too unattractive for a display tank. Gotta have some actinics in thete


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[Orcus Varuna]

So they based the ab+ settings on 80% blue+ and 20% aquablue special right? So would that be like having 6 blue + and two Aquablue specials as your combo for SPS? Am I reading that right? So confused:uhoh3:

Yes basically that's the gist of the study. As @Bpb pointed out that bulb layout and the radion schedule don't look that similar to the eye but when you analyze the spectrum the radion schedule and the aquablue, blue plus bulb combo produce they share a similar PUR profile. Basically they are both high in certain heavily utilized spectrum bands. IMO though neither the t5's or the ai/radion program running the ab+ schedule are the most attractive but they work at growing some damn nice sps!


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[crazycolt42]

Yes basically that's the gist of the study. As @Bpb pointed out that bulb layout and the radion schedule don't look that similar to the eye but when you analyze the spectrum the radion schedule and the aquablue, blue plus bulb combo produce they share a similar PUR profile. Basically they are both high in certain heavily utilized spectrum bands. IMO though neither the t5's or the ai/radion program running the ab+ schedule are the most attractive but they work at growing some damn nice sps!


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Thanks guys! Sounds like, if you are wanting to keep SPS and have the most effective spectral output combo for SPS, it may not be aesthetically pleasing to some. I am @ this point, thinking mixed reef, but the allure of and SPS dominant tank is almost too much to resist. Probably not a good idea for my first go @ a reef tank though. Great thread Chicagoreef2016! Good luck with the t5's! Sounds like a sure bet for your corals!