T5's: A cautionary note
- Thread starter gregt
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FastUno
New member
All kidding aside, I really tried to make the T5's work, but I just couldn't take it anymore. Everyone who had MH did not have the problems that I was having & I was getting so darn envious.
I still say I need more time for a final conclusion, but things seem to be heading in the right direction & so soon. I thought it would take longer to see results, but it's happening sooner than I expected. I thought that I would see a negative reaction in at least 2-3 corals, but none yet. I don't see a single coral that is unhappy yet. Even my partially bleached maze brain looks like it has just started to get a little darker. All parameters are pretty much the same, all the equipment is the same, only big difference is from mainly T5 to MH.
Ti, can you give us a more descriptive rundown on your coral responses after the MH switch? Reflecting back how do you feel about the T5's now?
I still say I need more time for a final conclusion, but things seem to be heading in the right direction & so soon. I thought it would take longer to see results, but it's happening sooner than I expected. I thought that I would see a negative reaction in at least 2-3 corals, but none yet. I don't see a single coral that is unhappy yet. Even my partially bleached maze brain looks like it has just started to get a little darker. All parameters are pretty much the same, all the equipment is the same, only big difference is from mainly T5 to MH.
Ti, can you give us a more descriptive rundown on your coral responses after the MH switch? Reflecting back how do you feel about the T5's now?
Ti
New member
well one thing that comes to mind is my this green monti I had. It was always yuck green under the T5. It grew, but it was yuck green. After a week of the MH the green became more vibrant. NOw it grows faster and shows much better color. Some brown sps I acquired grew under the T5, but stayed drab. I see hints of color comming from them now under MH.FastUno said:
I need a supplement bulb now, so it's either gonna be VHO or T5.
I'm leaning more towards VHO though.
Also all the softies and LPS are out to play now.
Zoos are growing faster now too.
I think it has something to do with the more complete light spectrum of the MH.
and SHIMMIES LOOK AWESOME! :bum:
FastUno
New member
Got them from.
http://www.aquactinics.com/Store/Lighting_Systems.htm
I tried to do my HW & interrogated other users about this fixture before making the purchase. If you need I can give you their names & you can do your own digging.
I almost got the Coralife 48" AquaLight Pro, but then decided that I was going to spend a little more & that this would hopefully be my last lighting purchase & it looks to be. My long journey looks to have finally ended. I can spend more time with other concerns now & less worrying about acclimation (humpppph).
http://www.aquactinics.com/Store/Lighting_Systems.htm
I tried to do my HW & interrogated other users about this fixture before making the purchase. If you need I can give you their names & you can do your own digging.
I almost got the Coralife 48" AquaLight Pro, but then decided that I was going to spend a little more & that this would hopefully be my last lighting purchase & it looks to be. My long journey looks to have finally ended. I can spend more time with other concerns now & less worrying about acclimation (humpppph).
FastUno
New member
Aquactinic with the "c", go to the sponsors page they are listed on RC. New Co. I think? With great customer service. The owner, Tom, will let you even try the lights for 30 days & if you don't like you can return them, but you will have to pay for shipping though.
That is why I bought them, I figured if anything goes wrong I can return them. He even gives you time to test your MH bulbs & if you don't like them, he allows you to replace them until you get the look you want. He even has upgrade programs, so you can start with 175W & then upgrade to 250W.
Codeman00, thanks but it was like playing Russian Roulette. I never knew what was going to happen. I was worried about just moving corals a few inches. Right now my mushrooms are happy & so am I. I am a MH fan now, for the dark side has prevailed once again. The big factor in a MH purchase was heat & that is why I went with T5's in the first place. Now we have other options. The Coralife 48" AquaLight Pro is also a low heat emitting fixture.
That is why I bought them, I figured if anything goes wrong I can return them. He even gives you time to test your MH bulbs & if you don't like them, he allows you to replace them until you get the look you want. He even has upgrade programs, so you can start with 175W & then upgrade to 250W.
Codeman00, thanks but it was like playing Russian Roulette. I never knew what was going to happen. I was worried about just moving corals a few inches. Right now my mushrooms are happy & so am I. I am a MH fan now, for the dark side has prevailed once again. The big factor in a MH purchase was heat & that is why I went with T5's in the first place. Now we have other options. The Coralife 48" AquaLight Pro is also a low heat emitting fixture.
Codeman00
Premium Member
FastUno...don't mind me or my comments. I did a heck of a lot of research on what lighting to get...(I didnt want to get a chiller) and after reading your and other's posts on the benefits of T5s, I decided that T5 was the way to go (maybe not softies..but SPS, LPS, and a clam if I want with low heat). After spending the cash and finally getting to work with them myself, its tough to read how great this other lighting is and how crappy the T5s are. They were "the future" just a few months ago and now this thread has turned from cautionary thread to an anti-T5 thread and a "Go MH" thread. I guess I just need to quit reading this thread altogether and move on to one a bit more positive and one that actually discusses T5s instead of MH...and be happy with my T5 tank the way it is.
FastUno
New member
I understand & probably would feel the same. It's hard as a reader to make a decision sometimes, for experience speaks the loudest. Also, what is true for you or me may not be for others. The fact is that there are so many opinions out there on all aspects of reef keeping. We have seen in this thread & others the wonderful outcome of T5's. I still stand by my Tek fixtures & love T5's. That is why I am not selling them, but instead will put them to good use? There are thoughts of an all SPS tank under T5's in my mind, but who knows just yet?
There are many others who are doing well with T5's. With the corals that I am looking to keep & have, T5's might have not been the best choice. Or at least 4x 54W T5's might have not been. The 2 T5 bulbs I ran (instead of 4) for the past week or 2 seems to have yielded more stability. There was no way for me to know exactly unless I saw the results for myself. Not to say that I could have not gone on using the T5's, it's just now that I don't have to be as cautious anymore. I don't think it's a what type of light issue, I think it's more of a coral care issue. I think I have said this before? I am also speaking a little too hastily tonight, but can't help from sharing my joy.
Who knows, every coral can bleach in my tank tomorrow or next week. But you can be sure that I will report back.
There are many others who are doing well with T5's. With the corals that I am looking to keep & have, T5's might have not been the best choice. Or at least 4x 54W T5's might have not been. The 2 T5 bulbs I ran (instead of 4) for the past week or 2 seems to have yielded more stability. There was no way for me to know exactly unless I saw the results for myself. Not to say that I could have not gone on using the T5's, it's just now that I don't have to be as cautious anymore. I don't think it's a what type of light issue, I think it's more of a coral care issue. I think I have said this before? I am also speaking a little too hastily tonight, but can't help from sharing my joy.
Who knows, every coral can bleach in my tank tomorrow or next week. But you can be sure that I will report back.
FastUno
New member
You might be right, I am being a little idiotic with my T5s tonight, but let others chime in as well.
If it's any consolation I am still running T5's, just in another fixture.
Photo period:
2 T5's on 12pm-4pm
2 MH on 3pm to 9pm
2 T5's on 9pm to 11pm.
2 Moonlight LEDs on the rest of the night.
If it's any consolation I am still running T5's, just in another fixture.
Photo period:
2 T5's on 12pm-4pm
2 MH on 3pm to 9pm
2 T5's on 9pm to 11pm.
2 Moonlight LEDs on the rest of the night.
growyourown
Premium Member
Hey guys,
Its been a while since I chimed in, but after now two months with the T5's, and a favid that hates them, I am too considering MH. My issue is I hate the look of a MH display.
Its dark and gloomy in my opinion. I also do not like open top tanks and do not want to see the fixture sitting on top of my display. My display is a focal point in my living room, and dining room. So having the fixture sit on top is not an option.
So now I have another dilema. If I go MH I have to modify my canopy. I am thinking of running dual 250W MH and 4 T5 54W. I think I will go with the 10K bulbs on the MH and then supplement with 2 Actinic and two Blue+ on the T5. I hope the T5's brighten the tank.
Oh and for the record... I DO NOT LIKE SHIMMER LINES!!!.
To me they are just unwanted shadows.
So what do you think. Should I go for it? I just cannot decide.
Will this setup be too bright? Will it be even more stressful for my corals? Should I go dual 175W instead?
Finally, if you reply please say why you feel the way you do.
Hey Uno, You said in the beginning you wanted a softy dominated tank, clearly T5 is not the right choice for softies.
I will say though that my Zoas are reproducing at an amazing rate. In two months I have more than tripled the number of polyps, under T5.
However my coraline comes and goes, its strange it gets really purple, then turns kindof light green, and then white all over a week or so. Then a week later its purple again etc.. etc.. etc.. May have something to do with it being summer and me not being as diligent with water chemistry.
Time to start dosing B-ionic I think.
Glenn
Its been a while since I chimed in, but after now two months with the T5's, and a favid that hates them, I am too considering MH. My issue is I hate the look of a MH display.
Its dark and gloomy in my opinion. I also do not like open top tanks and do not want to see the fixture sitting on top of my display. My display is a focal point in my living room, and dining room. So having the fixture sit on top is not an option.
So now I have another dilema. If I go MH I have to modify my canopy. I am thinking of running dual 250W MH and 4 T5 54W. I think I will go with the 10K bulbs on the MH and then supplement with 2 Actinic and two Blue+ on the T5. I hope the T5's brighten the tank.
Oh and for the record... I DO NOT LIKE SHIMMER LINES!!!.
To me they are just unwanted shadows.
So what do you think. Should I go for it? I just cannot decide.
Will this setup be too bright? Will it be even more stressful for my corals? Should I go dual 175W instead?
Finally, if you reply please say why you feel the way you do.
Hey Uno, You said in the beginning you wanted a softy dominated tank, clearly T5 is not the right choice for softies.
I will say though that my Zoas are reproducing at an amazing rate. In two months I have more than tripled the number of polyps, under T5.
However my coraline comes and goes, its strange it gets really purple, then turns kindof light green, and then white all over a week or so. Then a week later its purple again etc.. etc.. etc.. May have something to do with it being summer and me not being as diligent with water chemistry.
Time to start dosing B-ionic I think.
Glenn
Obi-dad
Active member
Not everyone is switching from T5 to MH. My softies tank has 2 T5s, all the softies and BTAs love it. My stonies tank looks better to me than some MH tanks I have seen, and it is in my line of sight in my office so shimmer lines would be too distracting - I am taking down my MH lit tank because of distracting shimmer lines and heat.
Codeman00
Premium Member
growyourown said:
Glenn, make sure you read some of Randy's chemistry articles before you start just adding B-Ionic. Bionic will bring your Ca and Alk up at the same time, and if you haven't checked what your tank needs then this might be a mistake. You don't want the values too high (equipment maintenance)or too low (not enough for corals to grow...you want them just right.
rdmpe
New member
Hey Uno -FastUno said:
Why exactly did you decide against the Coralife AquaLight Pro? I'm not inclined to go that route due to the PC, I'd rather have a more efficient T5 / MH combo.
Aquactinics doesn't do a 72" fixture. In any case, I'm really looking for the sleek look of
AquaMedic Ocean Light
72" Maristar
Due to cost savings, I'm leaning toward the Aquamedic right now.
Last edited:
Aquactinics
Registered Member
FastUno said:
Don't forget the "s".
Tom
Aquactinics
Aquactinics
Registered Member
rdmpe,
Our 72" fixtures are in the works and should be ready in a few weeks.
Tom
Aquactinics
Our 72" fixtures are in the works and should be ready in a few weeks.
Tom
Aquactinics
tgreene
Reefer
See this thread for T5 Actinic info & pics...
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=625260
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=625260
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