T5 Supplement For my LEDs
- Thread starter Reefpilot11
- Start date
janes_mw
Active member
"quality" open to interpretation. Even the best well known and proven MH lights were usually supplemented with Actinic or what ever. One of the best manufactures out there of aquarium lighting, even sells an LED with T5 supplements.
Will LED lighting get there? sure, but right now it is an easy way to supplement for color, or a specific spectrum you may want to enhance.
Curious to know what you think "quality" is.
mike
cmcoker
New member
Thanks, what is everyone running bulb color wise?
I have a diy full spectrum build on a storm controller. I have some violets, "ocean coral white" clusters, and a 2:1 rb:white (can't remember off hand which white)
I like whiter light with a blueish tint, don't prefer the windex look all day. I have only ever used the cf that came on my first tank a biocube14, got rid of those before my second bulb change. I ran a white and an actinic bulb.. From there went to leds no I have no idea on the t5 bulbs...
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Well it's not my setup but to answer that question it would depend on ur choice of t5 bulbs. The thing about led is the light it puts out is simply a very narrow range of light in spectrum. Even if u have 6 different channels of led u literally hit 6 nm of light spectrum. That's nothing for range. A t5 or mH either single bulb will hit a wide range of spectrum. That giving any of the above that u asked about from color to growth as a benefit depending on the bulbs u choose.
Roger
I'm working with a radion g2 pro and 4x39w T5. It,s a DIY with a Blau 8x39w. I removed the 4 central T5. I post 2 pics. The tank is 36x28x22 and with T5 I have improve the spread a lot.
View attachment 315235
View attachment 315235
Reefpilot11
New member
Thats a nice looking light set up. Would love to see some pics of your tank too, looks beautiful.
Yeah! Of course but it is not as beautiful as I would like...it is a mixed reef. However, I want to convert it into a sps dominant. I am thinking in doing some changes. I will do a post looking for your advise and opinion...
They are with only led and sorry for the quality...
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
This one?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2073747&goto=newpost
I think it's closer to 2,500 gallons then it is 250gallons yes it's great. He does have led supplement though. If that's the tank u r talking about
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Yup watched this build from the beginning years ago
oblio
New member
After thinking about this for a couple of months today I pulled the trigger on (2) 36" Sunblaster t5 fixtures. link here: http://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904297-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUD3Y/ref=sr_1_6?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1429579971&sr=1-6&keywords=sun+blaster
Currently running 2 360AWe's over a standard 90 drilled, primarily sps. Currently lights are 8 3/4" over the water, I was hoping for opinions on bulbs for the t5's. Now I run the Kessil's at 55% color, 60% intensity peek. I am really disappointed with the shadows on the corals. If you don't put directly under the light the far side of the coral is completely shadowed. However I am unsure at this time of what bulbs to use for these fixtures. I was thinking about 2 blue plus bulbs.
Thanks for any input.
Currently running 2 360AWe's over a standard 90 drilled, primarily sps. Currently lights are 8 3/4" over the water, I was hoping for opinions on bulbs for the t5's. Now I run the Kessil's at 55% color, 60% intensity peek. I am really disappointed with the shadows on the corals. If you don't put directly under the light the far side of the coral is completely shadowed. However I am unsure at this time of what bulbs to use for these fixtures. I was thinking about 2 blue plus bulbs.
Thanks for any input.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Are u adding this to the led? What color do u like to see in the tank more white or blue or middle?
More light brighter most white go with ati aqua blue special
Middle ground would be ati coral blues bulb
Most blue most growth for coral ati blue plus bulb not very bright to the eye
Most color ati actinic not bright at all but sait to create most color in the corals. Slow growth.
Hope that helps a bit for u to make a choice.
Any combo of them will work just depends what u want.
The only 2 that I would use the same bulb for both slots is the coral plus or the blue plus. If u use the aqua blue or actinic use another bulb with it that is different.
Roger
oblio
New member
Roger, thank you very much for the input, your breakdown was exactly what I have been searching for.
This sounds like the most appealing option at this time.
Next question:
In an attempt to not stress anyone out, any suggestion on how to acclimate the new lights? Should I start low photo period on the t5's and increase or decrease the Kessil intensity?
Thanks for the input.
Yes I am adding the 2 t5's to the Kessils.
This sounds like the most appealing option at this time.
Next question:
In an attempt to not stress anyone out, any suggestion on how to acclimate the new lights? Should I start low photo period on the t5's and increase or decrease the Kessil intensity?
Thanks for the input.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Always a good idea. Start with 2 hrs a day with the t5 and don't change the LEDs. Add 15 min every 3-5 days till u reach the photo period u want
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Glad to help
BryanS4
New member
How are you liking these fixtures so far? What bulbs did you end up going with and did you like the new color that it provided? It's only been two months, but can you notice any difference in coral growth?
I was thinking about picking up the 48" today, just trying to decide if the spread will be enough on a 6' tank. I wish they had a 60".
oblio
New member
I like the fixtures for sure, your 48 on the 60" tank is the exact same ratio as my 36" fixtures on the 48" tank. I went with the blue plus, and honestly I absolutely love the way the tank looks when the t5's are on, so much so I now don't much care for the way the tank looks when the t5's are off. I am ever so slowly moving times on the 2 systems (led/t5) my goal now is to run the t5's for the entire light cycle and have the leds come on ramp up and down for an overall shorter led cycle.
As far as growth, I don't honestly know, over the last 6 months or so all my husbandry skills have definably come way up, so for the first time Ive past the "things went well for 90 days and took a turn" cycle I was perpetually caught in for a long time. I believe the t5's do bring something to the table that the leds are missing. All my SPS are growing although my green slimmer looks amazing but has not grown 1mm in the 6months Ive had him. (no idea why its not growing)
My personal feeling is that the led/t5 combo is a solid set up. I'm very happy with the look of the tank, and the Sunblaster makes adding light a 5 min job.
