Opinions on T5 supplement combos....

[MichaelW]

If my radions are 13 inches above water level would 4 retrofit t5 be useless at that height?

 

[Moser]

No- my T5 are about 12-15 inches above water.
I have ATI Hybrids, but rely mostly on the T5 and my tank is 3ft deep.

I also run mostly Blue+. If you need more punch, add a whiter bulb like coral+.
I also feel that reds do better with whiter bulbs, but my frag tank has 6 Blue+ and colours are very nice!

There are lots of nice led tanks out there. You just need to get the spread and intensity of LEDs right.
You can't just point and shoot like you can with T5 or MH.
That's why the ATI Hybrid is ideal. You have enough T5 to ensure the corals get enough light to grow bad colour up and you can tinker with LEDs to slowly raise them up whilst backing off the T5 levels.
Win / win!

Mo

 

[MichaelW]

Thanks Mo. And your tank is stunning, I also have recently started some aquaforest products. I have got good spread with my leds I have 5 fixtures over a 6 foot tank, raised the lights high and use wide angle lenses. In just wondering if things could be better with some t5 additions

 

[jdm1114]

I recommend

BP
CP
PP
BP

 

[Moser]

I'm pretty sure you could. The spotlight effect of LED is the only thing that would worry me, but it sounds like you have that covered!

Mo

 

[MichaelW]

Cheers Mo. It is hard to change things when all is going well though.

 

[africangrey]

Rovster, that is a beautiful light rack you were building there, mind telling us where you get the aluminum and how to assemble all the joints.

I see that most you guys are running blue+, any reason for that particular bulb vs. the super actinics that most people were running back in the MH + VHO T12 days, I know I am from the old school.

Finished the rack, running the first combo now....



Looks good, maybe too blue.

 

[rovster]

I got the components at estoconnectors.com. It's really straight forward. I used the 3/4" black tubing. So far I love the combo.

Recent bank pics...

 

[africangrey]

wow that's a beautiful tank, how do you keep the sand bed so clean?

Do you know if estoconnet makes 30" or 45" connector or curved tube, would like to focus the light towards the tank, since I have a 36x36 cube.

 

[rovster]

They sell the tubes and you cut to length, although you could probably request cuts. As far as sand, I vacuum every so often, areas where my pistol and goby hang out are always pristine.