Need T5 advice...

[masgatigata]

I just purchased a 6 bulb 54watt ATI fixture for my 55 gallon. Anyone have any advice on how high I should hang the lights over the tank? I have mainly sps and a few lps on the sand bed. I made the switch from LEDs because, although my growth was fantastic, the color of my coral, IMO could have been better. Im running 4 blue plus, one coral plus and one purple plus. Any advice would be much appreciated. I don't want to cook anything.

 

[jwill275]

I just read an article in Coral Magazine (March/April) Reefkeeping 101, that suggest raising your lights double the distance from the light source to the water surface. The article states to leave the fixture in this position for two weeks and then lowering by half for another two weeks. Good Luck. I'm in the process of changing my T5's and I raised the fixture almost 3X and I'm adding bulbs two per day (I have a 12 bulb fixture).

 

[mbg75]

Need T5 advice...

I just purchased a 6 bulb 54watt ATI fixture for my 55 gallon. Anyone have any advice on how high I should hang the lights over the tank? I have mainly sps and a few lps on the sand bed. I made the switch from LEDs because, although my growth was fantastic, the color of my coral, IMO could have been better. Im running 4 blue plus, one coral plus and one purple plus. Any advice would be much appreciated. I don't want to cook anything.

I run my ATI 6" over the actual top of the water. 8bulb on a 75.

You can start 8-10" and lower it down over time.

If you have the non dimmable, run the fans on the 9v setting.

...almost forgot, the label end of the bulbs goes opposite the exhaust side of the light. So the labels should be in the same side as the cord.

 

[masgatigata]

Thank you, both. I have the fixture kind of high currently just because I'm nervous. I will lower slowly over time just to err on the side of caution.

 

[mbg75]

Some good info in this thread on t5 fixtures.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1641235

 

[masgatigata]

Do you guys think it would be overkill to add a reefbrite Tech blue LED strip to the T5 fixture? I figure it the LEDS will add shimmer and a bit more blue. The tank is 48"x13x21

 

[mbg75]

I used to run my 6bulb with a blue reefbrite. Looked great. Also mounts nicely to the ATI.
You'll need stick on weights to add to the back of the light to balance it.
If you only use the adjusting cables, the added weight to the front will shift the light backwards, putting it off center.

 

[masgatigata]

Ahhh. That makes sense. What kind of weight did you add so it balanced out?

 

[mbg75]

Stick on tire weights.

I still have a set of mounting brackets for the reefbrite if you need them

 

[masgatigata]

Stick on tire weights.

I still have a set of mounting brackets for the reefbrite if you need them

Thank you so much. You've been a huge help!