Need T5 Advice

[GlassReef]

My light rack holds four 400W MHs and eight 36" (39W) T5s. The T5 bulbs are only on when the MHs are off. I made the mistake of installing "cheap" T5 when I started the tank 5-1/2 months ago and I think I'm paying for it with less than stellar coral colors.

I'd like to ask all you lighting experts, what T5s would you install in my setup.

Thanks!

 

[rezaktp]

Post this in the t5 thread, Grim will let you know!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1677547

 

[GlassReef]

Done. Thanks!

 

[Emster]

What photo period do you want to run? You have to be very careful running MH and T-5's. A friend is running t-5's only for 4.5 hours a day and it's looking like its enough. We are still trying to find the sweet spot. I'm starting to think that even the ATI blue plus can be too much light if ran too long.

 

[Emster]

Wanted to clarify - running 4.5 hours a day white and actinics. The actinics are on for 9 hours

 

[GlassReef]

Morning, Emmett. You can see I took your comments, at the last meeting, about my T5s seriously.

My T5's go on at 8:00 AM and run till 11:00. Halides come on at 11:00 and run till 5:00. T5s back on at 5:00 and run till 8:00 PM. So I have a 12 hour light period, 6 hours T5 and 6 hours halide.

What bulbs and times would you suggest.

BTW: I also took your advice on the halides and installed 2 Radium 20Ks on the left side of the tank - just to see how it went. Looking good, so far.

 

[Emster]

Good morning to you too Okay IMHO your 6 hours of halides should be plenty of light for the corals to grow so that leaves the T-5's for viewing purposes? There are many ways to do this you could cut back on your halides to 3 hours and run your t5 whites for 3 hours, man this can get complicated. If I was you I would leave the halides at 6 hours and switch all the t5's to actinic and run them for 9 hours. I say a low 9 hours because I'm still not sure how hard the ATI blue pluses are on corals yet. I know halides thats why I'm recommending them. I'm still trying to get the feel of the t5's

The second thought is your halides. 6 hours could be too much especially with the radiums. What are the dimensions of the tank? What kind of reflectors are you running? Are you trying to keep a mixed reef? Are they 400watt radiums?

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15454342#post15454342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Emster
... The second thought is your halides. 6 hours could be too much especially with the radiums. What are the dimensions of the tank? What kind of reflectors are you running? Are you trying to keep a mixed reef? Are they 400watt radiums?

Although we spoke, this morning, I'll go ahead and answer your questions.

1. The tank is 96" X 36" X 23" (actual water depth).
2. I have the large LumenBrights.
3. Yes, mixed reef.
4. Right now (for test purposes) two 400W Radium 20K and two 400W Reeflux 12K

After out talk, I changed the T5s to (from front to back - same left and right):

- ATI Blue Plus
- KZ Fiji Purple
- Halides
- ATI Blue Plus
- ATI Blue Plus

Visually, it's really great! I love it. The Fiji, as you suggested, makes so many colors pop! So far I'm thrilled.

 

[Emster]

I really think you made a good choice on bulbs there:thumbsup: You should start to see improvements in about a month or so. The only other concern I have is with the lumen brights. I have read reports about having a spot light effect you put them up way high to get the light spread. The corals directly under could be getting too much, keep a close eye on those. I'm thinking you might consider dropping down to 5 hours to be safe.

IMO Photo period is the single most important thing is reef keeping. It's too bad that its not talked about more often, although your starting to see it more and more. It's way better to give your corals too little light then too much. Thanks for posting the last post more people need to see these kinds of threads(thats how I found out) even though we talked.