Second Guessing Myself on T5

[layer3switchguy]

Hi folks,

Here I go again... I'm making myself nuts over my choice of lighting on my reef tank. I made the leap into T5, having been a MH guy for 2 years when I built my new tank. (Oceanic Tech 120g 48x24x24)

I've always been a big fan of Aquatincs, and made the choice to purchase a Solar Flare. So far, it has been great. It's low profile, generates very little heat, and I have it sitting right on top of my tank with no issues. But, unlike MH, where if I want a certain look (i.e. 12k, 14k) I just buy the correct bulb, T5 seems to be more of a challenge to me. Currently, this is the config I'm running:

Front -to - Back:

AquaBlue Special
Blue Plus
AquaBlue Special
Aqua Sun
Blue Plus
AquaBlue Special

While my Orange Monti Cup still looks nice and orange under this combo, I've noticed my red/pink acro is not so vibrant under these lamps. The blue/purple/red coralline algae growing on the live rocks also looks a bit washed out... I guess ultimately what I want is a good balance between color and growth... (14K look perhaps?) My plan was to fill in the very lower levels of the live rock with zoas and Acans, so something that complements their colors would be ideal as well... Not sure, perhaps I want too much out of my fixture! I do have an ATI Pro Color I thought about using to replace the AquaSun, but not sure…

Recently, I've had a few fellow reefers suggest the SolarFlare may not be sufficient for keeping SPS, as it's only a 6 bulb fixture. That, along with trying to find the right bulb combo has me thinking about going back to MH! So, what should I do guys? Keep searching for the right bulb combo, hopefully with some input from all of you, or write off the fixture and go back to MH, and buy a few 13 or 14K bulbs and stop making myself insane?!

I’d be grateful for any advice!

 

[holdyourlight]

go to the T5 FAQ thread and ask Grim, he will be able to help you undoubtedly

 

[jayco5]

Ditto

 

[jennmac415]

pics??

 

[hansmatt]

I've heard that the solar flare is one of the better fixtures available. Only the ATI is "above par" so to speak. Talk with grim and don't give up yet...I'm about to take a similar plunge with the ati!

 

[Paulairduck]

Deffinitely throw in the Ati pro color one or even two, this will help with your lack of coloration on the red and pinks, i use them and love the colors they bring out.

 

[Amphiprion]

From what I have seen, overall PAR values from the SolarFlare are higher than any other fixture. The ATI powermoduls are certainly more efficient, but not really brighter--at least not from what I have seen.

 

[SlowCobra]

The fixture will be able to keep SPS in at least the top half of the tank without issue. Contact either GrimReefer or Greg at ReefGeek and ask for a suggestion on bulbs and their placement. I too made the switch from MH to T5 and at first was not happy with the look. Once I, as well as the corals, adjusted I love the colors I get with it.

Here are a few pictures of my SPS under T5/VHO combo(6 bulbs total). I run a 4 bulb T5 retro with 2 VHO actinics.

Some of the pictures aren't the best due to being shot with a 5 y/o point and shoot that absolutely hates blue light spectrum. But this should give you an idea of how SPS can grow quite nicely under T5. I actually miss the shimmer of my MH but love the coloration from the T5's. I don't know if I will ever go back to MH's.

 

[layer3switchguy]

SlowCobra - Awesome pics, great job!

 

[SlowCobra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13419543#post13419543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by layer3switchguy
SlowCobra - Awesome pics, great job!

Thanks. Though it was more of a "you can get excellent SPS from T5" than just a posting of some of the things in my tank. :lol:

 

[layer3switchguy]