T5 Lighting Schedule

[tvm2487]

I need a little bit of help from everyone I just bought a 6 bulb t5 light fixture and need some scheduling ideas the light has 2 blue bulbs and 4 white bulbs with a separate switch 1 for 2 bulbs and 1 for the other 4 bulbs also has 2 plugs for individual timers please help

Thanks Tony

 

[Bulldog39]

I need a little bit of help from everyone I just bought a 6 bulb t5 light fixture and need some scheduling ideas the light has 2 blue bulbs and 4 white bulbs with a separate switch 1 for 2 bulbs and 1 for the other 4 bulbs also has 2 plugs for individual timers please help

Thanks Tony

I thought about getting same thing good question

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[nereefpat]

Most of us use the two bulbs for a sunrise/sunset. Then run all six for daytime.

Something like 2 bulbs on for 10hrs and add the 4 bulbs for about 8 hrs.

 

[tvm2487]

Most of us use the two bulbs for a sunrise/sunset. Then run all six for daytime.

Something like 2 bulbs on for 10hrs and add the 4 bulbs for about 8 hrs.

What color bulbs do you run

 

[nereefpat]

For the last year, I've been using ATI bulbs:

Blue plus
Coral plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Aqua blue
Blue plus

Had it this way for about a year. I'm switching back to giesemann when I replace them.

 

[tvm2487]

For the last year, I've been using ATI bulbs:

Blue plus
Coral plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Aqua blue
Blue plus

Had it this way for about a year. I'm switching back to giesemann when I replace them.

So would a good schedule be a white and blue bulb from like 10am - 12pm then all on from 12pm to 6pm then 2 back on from 6pm to 8pm

 

[nereefpat]

That sounds like a reasonable place to start.

What brand of bulbs?

 

[tvm2487]

That sounds like a reasonable place to start.

What brand of bulbs?

I'm not entirely sure I bought the setup from a guy who owns a fish and coral place locally I'll try to find out

 

[mcgyvr]

All thats needed is ~8 hours of light.. Whatever you do beyond that is personal preference..
There is no absolute need to run a sunrise/sunset.. But if it makes you happier thats just fine...

 

[tvm2487]

Also how high from the top of the tank should the light be

 

[dallen2233]

I'v got my six bulb fixture about 9" from the water. I run 4 ATI blue plus, a coral plus, and a purple plus.

 

[tvm2487]

My fish store guy told me to put it a out 2 inchs from the water that seems to close to me

 

[tvm2487]

That sounds like a reasonable place to start.

What brand of bulbs?

Just checked my bulbs and they are

3 CURRANT T5 HO 54w Actinic bulbs
3 TRUELUMEN T5 HO 54w 12KK Power White bulbs

 

[nathanemmerich]

I use three ATI blue plus and three ati coral plus. I love the look of this combo colors pop on every coral!

 

[tvm2487]

How far from the top of the tank should the light be placed right now I have it only like 3 inches off the top I feel like that's to close

 

[nereefpat]

seems like that would make it quite difficult to work on the tank, and you would get salt creep on the fixture.

 

[tvm2487]

seems like that would make it quite difficult to work on the tank, and you would get salt creep on the fixture.

What height would you recommend

 

[hkgar]

What corals do (will) you have? That is the only thing that changing the height would affect.

I would guess most of us are at 6-9 inches.

Go to the lighting section and start doing some reading. You have to make a decision based on your likes and the tanks requirements.

 

[urban_s]

I use three ATI blue plus and three ati coral plus. I love the look of this combo colors pop on every coral!

I ran that setup for awhile. Looked awesome.

 

[RobSpeed13]

my setup is obviously different because im supplementing LEDs, but i run mine for 6 hours during the day. 10" above water level though for me. IF i had a full T5 set up though id run 2 for 8hours being Blue+ then the others on for 6 with a mix of blue+ coral+ depending on how many bulbs i have.