The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Michigan Mike]

Do I read you correctly the GE 6500 on dawn to dusk not mid day? Then basicly add all the blue to midday?

No not like that...ha
I would have the leds come on first for 1 hour then turn on the blue, actinics, & purple bulbs for 1 hour....then turn on the ge6500 & coral plus for your midday boost for 5 - 6 hours or so and reverse it from there. You could also keep the LEDs & blue/purple/actinics on for 5-6 hours and have a midday boost (GE/coral plus) for a couple hours, something like that would work also but I would only do this if the tank requires less light or it visually is more appealing without the midday boost.

This gives you the gradual ramping up & down of color & intensity. Although you don't have to turn the LEDs on first or do it the way I would like.:lmao:

So in simple words, use the 2 bulb channel as your midday boost (GE/coral).

 

[TropTrea]

Ive been looking at the reefbrite leds to add to the ends of the fixtures and was wondering what other leds everyone is using?

All my LED fixtures are home built.
For what I use as pre-darn to Post Dusk is a combination of 430 nm Near IR, 454 nm Royal Blue and 460 nm Trrue Blue LED's on a ratio of 1 to 2 to 1. this creates a deep Blue effect and the florescense in the corals pop like it is an old florescent light painting.

For the Dawn to Dusk effect I like to add a pair of blue plus bulbs that brighten up the tank but still allows the florescense in the corals to dominate. Some people that want lesser blue could probably use the coral plus for this dawn to dusk effect.

Then for daylight I'll add a 1 to 2 Ratio of 454 Royal Blue LED's and Neutral White LED's. The neutral whites are very bright and it only takes a little of them them to brighten up a tank. But again personal color preference should determine what ratio someone should use.

On my all LED tanks the big difference is in my Dawn to Dusk where I use a combination of 554 nm Royal Blue 460 nm True Blue and 495 nm Cyan LED's whigh give a very simular effect as the ATI Blue Plus T-5 bulbs when used in a ratio of 2 to 3 to 1.

I have looked at many comercial fixtures and realy did like any of them ontill I get over the $1,000 price tag for a smaller tank and about $2,000 price tank for my 120 gallon. With the DIY aproach there is also the option of making changes if do not like the color combination and it does not cost an arm and a leg afterwards. And yes in the two years I had been playing with them I have made many changes to get where I am today.

But if we want to talk about LED T-5 combinations it might be better for us to simply start a new thread on that subject.

 

[jgraz]

Also I just saw another local reefer list a 6x18w Nova extreme pro, how would that work out? same deal with the bulbs?

 

[Michigan Mike]

Also I just saw another local reefer list a 6x18w Nova extreme pro, how would that work out? same deal with the bulbs?

Same thing, no good bulbs for that bulb length.

 

[jgraz]

Same thing, no good bulbs for that bulb length.

Yeah I know I was hoping the better reflector would give it a boost.

 

[rtparty]

Same thing, no good bulbs for that bulb length.

Actually uvl makes bulbs for that fixture last time I checked. They would be a nice upgrade.

 

[zephryn100]

I just bought a new 24" 4 bulb t5 fixture for my coral grow out tank and right now it has the following bulbs that it came with. 2 x 24W T5 HO 12000k Fluorescent Lamps, 2 x 24W Actinic Blue Lamps. I am wondering what bulbs would be the best to help my corals grow. Right now they are all softies but in the future want to put LPS in the tank. I would appreciate any help on this and what sequence I should have them in the fixture.

Thanks for the help

 

[rtparty]

Straight growth? 2 blue plus and 2 aquablue or ge6500k

 

[Michigan Mike]

I just bought a new 24" 4 bulb t5 fixture for my coral grow out tank and right now it has the following bulbs that it came with. 2 x 24W T5 HO 12000k Fluorescent Lamps, 2 x 24W Actinic Blue Lamps. I am wondering what bulbs would be the best to help my corals grow. Right now they are all softies but in the future want to put LPS in the tank. I would appreciate any help on this and what sequence I should have them in the fixture.

Thanks for the help

I wouldn't sacrifice color for supposed faster growth, unless you like alot of white.

You can use a ATI Coral plus or KZ new gen instead of the GE/aquablue and still get great growth.

2 coral plus & 2 blue plus comes to mind for good growth and better color, if you like a bluer look.

But if you really want those high PAR bulbs Ryan mentioned I'd do...
3 blue plus & 1 GE/ or aquablue special.

The blue plus bulbs have almost as high of PAR as the GE/aquablue special! Most coral grow better with blue spectrum light anyways.

 

[xdannyxrocksx]

current set up

current set up

I have a 6x39w Tek fixture. My current set up is as follows

Front:
Blue plus
aquablue
GE 6500K
aquablue
purple plus
Blue plus

Is there any recomendations anybody can give? I am not unhappy with the color but im up to try anything, tank isnt blue but it isnt white either so somewhere around 14K? Not sure. Any bulbs you would replace, or switch around? Maybe use a coral plus or true actinic? Thank you for the recommendations in advanced.

 

[rtparty]

I have a 6x39w Tek fixture. My current set up is as follows

Front:
Blue plus
aquablue
GE 6500K
aquablue
purple plus
Blue plus

Is there any recomendations anybody can give? I am not unhappy with the color but im up to try anything, tank isnt blue but it isnt white either so somewhere around 14K? Not sure. Any bulbs you would replace, or switch around? Maybe use a coral plus or true actinic? Thank you for the recommendations in advanced.

I'd find that combo way too white for me. You don't have a lot of blue.

For 6 bulbs I like to run at least 3 blues then fill in from there.

If you want to stay close to where you're at but maybe add some color I'd replace both aquablue with coral plus bulbs.

I also think you'd like 3 blue, 1 coral plus, 1 purple plus and 1 ge6500k.

 

[xdannyxrocksx]

I will give those combos a shot see how I like them.

 

[TropTrea]

I just bought a new 24" 4 bulb t5 fixture for my coral grow out tank and right now it has the following bulbs that it came with. 2 x 24W T5 HO 12000k Fluorescent Lamps, 2 x 24W Actinic Blue Lamps. I am wondering what bulbs would be the best to help my corals grow. Right now they are all softies but in the future want to put LPS in the tank. I would appreciate any help on this and what sequence I should have them in the fixture.

Thanks for the help

I have to agree that if you want growth you need a strong Blue Spectrum. Simpoly using one bulb that is partialy full spectrumed is all you need for growth with the other three bulbs being blue plus bulbs. If you do not mnd the blueness of the spectrum then a single coral plus with three Blue Plus bulbs. If you want to lessen the blue slightly use the aqua blue special with the three blue plus bulbs.

Also do not beat your corals on a PAR meter. Par meters loose sensativity when you get into the blue spectrum while they are more sensative to the green yellow spectrum. But corals need 10 times more blue light than they need yellow and red light. So you can have a high par meter reading of 300 with full spectrum lighting and not get nearly the growth of someone else with a par meter reading of 150 and a powerful blue spectrum.

Sometimes I wonder why people even look at PAR when they have corals rather than fresh water or terestial plants. Yes it is better than a Lumens but I think it still covers too broad of a spectrum for corals.

 

[TropTrea]

I have a 6x39w Tek fixture. My current set up is as follows

Front:
Blue plus
aquablue
GE 6500K
aquablue
purple plus
Blue plus

Is there any recomendations anybody can give? I am not unhappy with the color but im up to try anything, tank isnt blue but it isnt white either so somewhere around 14K? Not sure. Any bulbs you would replace, or switch around? Maybe use a coral plus or true actinic? Thank you for the recommendations in advanced.

I will agree with RTPARTY that this much whiter than 90% of us would like. With the GE in a 6 bulb mix the most you get is about a 14K look and the Aqua Blues rather than Blue Plus bulbs would be moving you even to less blue.

If it were my tank I think the first thing I'd do is replace one of the aquablue specials with another purple plus. The added blue and red of the purple plus will neutralize the yellowish tint from the GE bulb.

My second move would be to get another Blue Plus bulb and then replace either the aqua blue special or the GE with that bulb. Personal taste in color would determine which you change out. Keeping the GE would be brighter, and keeping the aquablue special would make it bluer. But either way iut would look bluer than what you have now.

 

[jgraz]

First thank you guys for the assist on the frag tank lighting. Im leaning towards the Tx5 24" fixture at the moment.

Onto my Main DT. Im running a Tek 8x54w. This is a mixed reef but predominatly SPS. Front to back my mix is all ATI:
Blue+
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+

I have to say that when only the four middle bulbs are on I like the color. The four outside bulbs im unhappy with. To me not blue enough. Is that because of the Purple+? Im indifferent to all eight on at the same time. I would like it a bit more blue. My growth is extrodinary and colors are pretty darn good for most of what I have. What Changes are available to me without sacrificing growth and color while still allowing me to get a bit more blue to the look. Also are there any changes to the mix that you guys would make for yourselves. Thanks in advance

 

[rtparty]

First thank you guys for the assist on the frag tank lighting. Im leaning towards the Tx5 24" fixture at the moment.

Onto my Main DT. Im running a Tek 8x54w. This is a mixed reef but predominatly SPS. Front to back my mix is all ATI:
Blue+
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+

I have to say that when only the four middle bulbs are on I like the color. The four outside bulbs im unhappy with. To me not blue enough. Is that because of the Purple+? Im indifferent to all eight on at the same time. I would like it a bit more blue. My growth is extrodinary and colors are pretty darn good for most of what I have. What Changes are available to me without sacrificing growth and color while still allowing me to get a bit more blue to the look. Also are there any changes to the mix that you guys would make for yourselves. Thanks in advance

Go with 5 blue and 3 coral plus

 

[jgraz]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks

 

[trinity1012]

i have a 180g sps only and i have a 8x80 ati...i started it at 15" above the tank and now down to 11"...is there a certain height to keep it at after acclimation? i was told to keep it at 10" i have an inch to hit that mark so i thought i would ask here and see

thanks for your help...Ron

 

[rtparty]

i have a 180g sps only and i have a 8x80 ati...i started it at 15" above the tank and now down to 11"...is there a certain height to keep it at after acclimation? i was told to keep it at 10" i have an inch to hit that mark so i thought i would ask here and see

thanks for your help...Ron

There is no ideal height. Watch your corals, they will tell you where to leave it.

 

[trinity1012]

good point thanks rtparty