T5's: A cautionary note

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What do you guys think.... I currently run 4 6000k sun's and 4 Actinic/Blue Plus, should I change some of these bulbs out with the Pure Actinic 03 and the 11000K Aquablue Special?

Like this front to back on one end same on other end:
6000k
Actinic/Blue Plus
6000k
Actinic/Blue Plus

Change to something like this:
11000K Aquablue Special
Pure Actinic 03
6000k
Actinic/Blue Plus

What do ya think? Would this be a better combination?

Here is the hood:

59601IMG_0681_resize.jpg
 
I am going to be putting some Montipora under my t5s hopefully by the end of the week - this is going to be my first forray into SPS so I will let you know how things go - I am assuming at this point any bad experiences will be due to my lack of experience with SPS as opposed to actual light problems until it can be proven otherwise :)

:lol:
 
Warnberg

I ran the following combination of bulbs front to back:
Code: 
Bank 3  11000K Aquablue Special
Bank 3  Actinic/Blue Plus
Bank 2  6000k
Bank 2  Actinic/Blue Plus
Bank 1  Pure Actinic 03 
Bank 3  6000k
Bank 2  11000K Aquablue Special
Bank 1  Pure Actinic 03

Bank 1 came on first (on for 12 hours) then bank 2 (on for 10 hours) then bank 3 (on for 6 hours).

I really liked the color at all times (the balance of all bulbs really looks good in my mind)... You don't get that it's too blue look.

I swaped the bank 2 6000K bulb with the bank 3 actinic/Blue Plus bulb.

What I noticed... Now when bank 3 is off I have the too blue look, but since there is more blue spectrum in the tank I have noticed increase coral growth.

In fact I purchased another blue plus and am thinking about replacing one of the 6000Ks with it.

Dave
 
spammin...

I've had great sps growth under the T5s (1 acro, 6 montis (3 caps, 3 digis, and a green slimer)... All have done fantastically.

Dave
 
I'm really looking to have to optimum spectrum for SPS. Right now I think that a couple of Pure Actinic 03's would help. But I'm not sure what "look" that will give me. The 6000k's seem to give it an almost yellow look to the tank. I figure this weekend I'll pick up a pair of the Actinic's and put them in place of 1 pair of 6000k's and see what that does.

Let me know if you think this would be a good idea or bad idea, I just hate to waist money.

Thanks
 
Warnberg--

Don't get me wrong-- but are you certain you are going to have enough light for SPS? Maybe some right at the top, but... you have a 30" tall tank, and are lighting with non-overdriven T-5s? (From your signature). I wouldn't worry about spectrum as much as intensity.

I think you are going to want to overdrive your bulbs, or add a few more.
 
Now, I am no expert on T5 lighting and I'm sure Grim or FastUno have a lot more experience with T5's than I do, but I would think that Warnbergââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s lighting is enough for almost anything.

In my opinion, T5ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s are mostly limited in the spectrums available for our needs, but we have all sorts of ways available to us to overcome this.

All it takes is a little thinking outside of the box. : )

Tom
 
Hey guys,

Its been a while since I posted but here is an update, my tank has been running for 10 days now.

I have some zoa's that came with my LR that are doing really well.

But hres the deal I have been running 2 Actinic 03's only for the last ten days 24 - 7 and will continue this way for 4 more days. I have a huge diatom bloom going on but... I also have coraline growing on all of the glass, the overflow and the silicone corners..

These 03 bulbs are living up to their expectations.

Glenn
 
growyourown

Are you using the T5 Actinic's? And if you are, can you compare them to the VHO URI Actinic's?

Just something I'm currently comparing. (Purely subjective on my part)
 
Tec,

I the only comparison I have is that my LFS uses T5 actinics, and they dont like the D&D actinic by the way they showed me a CA Actinic and a URI VHO and the D&D side by side.

As for the CA it is as close to the URI of the two in color. But the T5 is alot brighter visually than the URI.

Glenn
 
RGibson,

Who is making it... and where might others get their hands on it...

What lengths/wattages will it come in?

Thanks,

Dave
 
Warnberg. If you drop 6000K lamps replace them with Aquablues or maybe even Blueplus, NOT ACTINICS. You have a pretty tall tank and need as much PAR hitting the water as possible. The Aquablue puts out more PAR than anything but the GE 6500K Daylight so it would be a good choice.

It looks like you have room for another row of lamps so if you want to add some actinics I'd grab a couple of the Helios 4 foot long strip lights and throw them in there. The actinics look pretty good to me, at least in the 6 foot 105 watt version I have.
 
ratherbediving

[Warnberg--

Don't get me wrong-- but are you certain you are going to have enough light for SPS? Maybe some right at the top, but... you have a 30" tall tank, and are lighting with non-overdriven T-5s? (From your signature). I wouldn't worry about spectrum as much as intensity.

I think you are going to want to overdrive your bulbs, or add a few more.]

I have to admit, I have little experience with non-overdriven lights and ratherbediving could be totally correct about this.

IMO T5's could benefit from a wider selection of spectrums, Then the striped effect that some people have would not be an issue.
 
Grim,
I tried the Helios lights before. I bought 6 of them to begin with, they were guaranteed for 1 year. In that one year, I had 11 replacements. My LFS did not seem to mind (they just kept giving me new ones), but I was not impressedââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ LOL
 
TEC

At least your lamps were fresh LOL! I heard they have improved the Helios over the original design. I have a 105 watt six foot actinic that has waterproof endcaps, a real built in reflector and external ballast. I haven't ran it long enough to say how well it will last.
 
dhoch said:
spammin...

I've had great sps growth under the T5s (1 acro, 6 montis (3 caps, 3 digis, and a green slimer)... All have done fantastically.

Dave
Click to expand...

That's what I am hoping. I have never grown them before on account of a lack of light - but now that I have T5s, I have the light necessary :)
 
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