Need help with 8bulb Ati dimmable combo and..

[Crackem]

Please help me with my bulb combo and my lighting schedule. This is my first Ati fixture and a friend recommended the following combo so that's what I used. When the bulbs were installed I didn't even know which bulbs are on channel 1 or channel 2 and I still don't really know. I'm open to suggestions. My tank will be 100% sps with high flow and I will post pics soon.

Please help me with my light schedule. I know it needs to be changed. Also what bulbs should I put on channel 1 and what on 2? From what I understand there are only 2 bulbs on channel 1 and 6 on channel 2? Is that right?

Keep in my I also have 2 48" xho reefbrites as well

Reefbrites are on from 11:30 to 2pm and 8pm to 11:30. Only have 1 Reefbrite installed at the moment. Tank is 120 gallon 48x24x24. Pics to follow. Tank is going to be 100% sps with a few highend chalices on the bottom.



Front to back
Blue plus.
Actinic plus
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Actinic plus
Blue plus

Channel
1 11:30 On
2. 12:00. 10%
3. 12:30. 20%
4. 2:30. 60%
5. 4:00 70%
6. 6:30. 90%
7. 8:00 50%
8. 9:00. 20%
9. 9:30. 10%
10. 10pm. Off


Channel 2

1. 12:00. On
2. 12:30. 10%
3. 1:00. 30%
4. 2:30. 70%
5. 5:00. 80%
6. 6:00. 100%
7. 7:30. 60%
8. 8:30. 30%
9. 9:00. 10%
10. 9:30. OFF

 

[Crackem]

<a href="http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/crackem/media/Mobile%20Uploads/ECB7B36D-CB22-4068-AFA3-E92451754EA6_zpsrkndqe2v.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u613/crackem/Mobile%20Uploads/ECB7B36D-CB22-4068-AFA3-E92451754EA6_zpsrkndqe2v.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo ECB7B36D-CB22-4068-AFA3-E92451754EA6_zpsrkndqe2v.jpg"/></a>

Ignore the signature and don't go by the iphone pic. This was with both channels at 100% and both reefbrites on.

 

[Steve Atkins]

That schedule looks a bit complex - you are not trying to land them on a comet.

As for which channel is which - just turn one off and look at what tubes are left on.

And for colour, that is up to personal taste with possibly some small consideration as to what the corals might actually require to be healthy. Personally I would go for something a little less blue but that is because I want my tank to look like an actual reef might look if I was snorkling over it.

 

[s2nhle]

That schedule looks a bit complex - you are not trying to land them on a comet.

As for which channel is which - just turn one off and look at what tubes are left on.

And for colour, that is up to personal taste with possibly some small consideration as to what the corals might actually require to be healthy. Personally I would go for something a little less blue but that is because I want my tank to look like an actual reef might look if I was snorkling over it.

 

[s2nhle]

That schedule looks a bit complex - you are not trying to land them on a comet.

As for which channel is which - just turn one off and look at what tubes are left on.

And for colour, that is up to personal taste with possibly some small consideration as to what the corals might actually require to be healthy. Personally I would go for something a little less blue but that is because I want my tank to look like an actual reef might look if I was snorkling over it.

+1 I agreed with this comment. it is depended on personal taste. It is T5 not led.

 

[JAustin]

Try this instead.

1. 12:00. On
2. 12:30. 10%
3. 1:00. 70%
4. 2:30. 100%
5. 5:00. 100%
6. 6:00. 100%
7. 7:30. 100%
8. 8:30. 70%
9. 9:00. 10%
10. 9:30. OFF

Do the same thing with the other Chanel and overlap them a bit.

No need to get crazy with the %. The fixture will blend for you and ramp the light intensity.

As for your tube choices...mix and match and see what you like. They all grow coral well.

Cheers
Jason.

 

[Mark426]

What JAustin said. Basically just stick with a 1 hour ramp up to 100% and 1 hour ramp down from 100% on both channels. Overlap like JAustin said. These are T5 not LEDs, they really should be run a 100%. If you decide its too much light, shorten one channels photo period.

You can read this thread and become a T5 expert by the time you are done

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2096816&highlight=t5+q%26a+thread

 

[Crackem]

My t5's are in my canopy and almost impossible to take down and change out the bulbs so I want to put the best combo so I don't have to change them again. I can't really play around with the combo to much.

Thank You very much for the schedule!

If anyone else has some tips please chime in.

 

[jdraider75]

I have same size tank. 100%SPS. I use to have 8 bulb non dimming sunpower. Channel 1 was on from 11 AM till 9pm. Channel 2 was daylights on from 1 pm till 6 pm. Light was hung 9 inches above water. Channel 1 was bulbs 3 and 6. Channel 2 was 1 2 4 5 7 8. Had 1 reef Brite tech blue led strip on from 10am to 930 pm.
Front
Reef Brite
Blue plus
Fiji purple
Blue plus
GE 6500k
Blue plus
Blue plus
Fiji purple
Blue plus
The look was probably 14-16k. Good growth and color. I have switched to halides so I no longer run it but wouldn't hesitate to go back. If you don't like the GE 6500K bulb switch to either a Aqua blue special or coral plus.
Definitely read through the T5 Q&A Thread lots of great info. I also have a link for ATI popular bulb combos. And if you need help call them they have excellent customer service.


http://www.atinorthamerica.com/faq.php