light question need advice

[ReeferItIs2]

So as of right now I'm running the rapidled onyx with my blues at 60% and whites at 40% and the red knob at like 20% and I have them on a timer from 11:30 to 9:30..i have an old coralife dual t5 lamp with 1 10k bulb and 1 actinic bulb...my question is would i be able to add that to my system without any problems?? All help is greatly appreciated thank you

 

[lokii_37]

You should be able to add that with out any problems. I'm running a rapid led 90g DIY kit that I added 2 t5s to. I really like the colors I get with the t5 supplementation. I just switched from 2 actinics to 2 blue+ and I like the colors way better

 

[ReeferItIs2]

Ok cool thanks nick...I'm going to try it and see how it looks and if keeps everything alive and thriving...since my leds are on 10 hrs a day how long should I put on the t5s for?

 

[Ssteve]

Start slow and work up. Personally I would swap the 10k bulb to a blue+ though.

I'd start with two hours a day and maybe add 15-30min in a couple weeks and work towards 4-5hrs of t5

 

[1kwksvt]

Ok cool thanks nick...I'm going to try it and see how it looks and if keeps everything alive and thriving...since my leds are on 10 hrs a day how long should I put on the t5s for?

The way I run my t5 is 1 hour before my leds then my leds kick on and they all run for 8 hours and then 1 hour after the t5 stay on.

 

[lokii_37]

I turn my t5 on 30 minutes before the LEDs come on. They run all day with my LEDs. Then they stay on 30 minutes after the LEDs go off. My total light cycle is only 9.5hrs.

I would add 1 t5 then give it a week or so then add the other. I have a few old 48" t5s if you want to see what the different colors look like. You are more then welcome to them. If you come up this way in a couple weeks you can come by and pick them up.

 

[Ssteve]

I do basically the opposite. LEDs come on two hours before, t5's run for 5hrs, then LEDs stay on for an additional two and a half hours after the t5's go out. One blue+ and one coral+ bulb.

 

[ReeferItIs2]

So it seems like a couple different ways I can go about this and my corals should be fine either way I go...thanks everyone for the help and Nick mine are only 24" lol but I appreciate the offer bro might stop by and check out the tank if it's possible though

 

[ReeferItIs2]

Ok new question...i will not be able to turn the on off switch manually, I mean I can but it will become a hassle...i do have a dual timer that's running my leds, if i decide to connect to that time frame could i keep it going 10 hrs a day or should I tone it down to 8 or 9??? I can also wait awhile to get my corals acclimated to the light so manually turning on and shutting off is doable for a little while

 

[lokii_37]

So it seems like a couple different ways I can go about this and my corals should be fine either way I go...thanks everyone for the help and Nick mine are only 24" lol but I appreciate the offer bro might stop by and check out the tank if it's possible though

We can just cut them in half

Let me know when your coming up and you are more them welcome to come by. I have a little treat for you if you don't want to wait until the next meet.

 

[Dapg8gt]

I'd say you should be fine either way you decide to do it. Manually though is a Pita and prone to forgetting. Timers are cheap so my advice is to get one more for the t5.

Im going to go with the majority here also and say you should run all b+ and have them come on before the leds and turn off after.

 

[ReeferItIs2]

Ran into a problem this morning with it...The leds are 12" from the water surface the t5s are less than 2"...are the corals that are under the t5s going to get efficient light from the leds?? I think before I put it back on ill grab another timer and some b+ bulbs

 

[lokii_37]

light question need advice

Let's see a pic.

Why are the t5s so close?

 

[ReeferItIs2]

Just left won't be back until tuesday...it's just a dual coralife lamp that sits on top of the tank...bulbs probably need to be replaced...probably used them a little over 2 years on this tank when I had cichlids in it