The T5 Q&a Thread - split

Matt,
Not sure if you've seen my layout but here is an old pic for reference.
IMG_9053.jpg

The 4 pucks are thin coverage for sure. But the way they are positioned there is no fixture in the center of the tank. So, you think 2 8 bulb fixtures will do it?

Corey
 
Matt,
Not sure if you've seen my layout but here is an old pic for reference.
IMG_9053.jpg

The 4 pucks are thin coverage for sure. But the way they are positioned there is no fixture in the center of the tank. So, you think 2 8 bulb fixtures will do it?

Corey

Two 8 Bulb fixtures will cover it for sure:)
 
Just ordered an 8x24" dimmable sunpower... going to run 6 blue+ 1 coral+ 1 purple plus. So I should hang the light 10" awl to start? Have a 24 tall tank with a shallow rockscape.... highest point is 12" lowest being around 4 to 6" what par should I be seeing at the bare bottom of my tank, I say bare bottom obviously be a use there's no sand.
 
Just ordered an 8x24" dimmable sunpower... going to run 6 blue+ 1 coral+ 1 purple plus. So I should hang the light 10" awl to start? Have a 24 tall tank with a shallow rockscape.... highest point is 12" lowest being around 4 to 6" what par should I be seeing at the bare bottom of my tank, I say bare bottom obviously be a use there's no sand.

Start off at 100%, don't dim the bulbs til they burn in for a while. On my 22" tall tank at 8" above the water line here were some of my numbers for comparison(bulbs about 6 months old):

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I'm stuck between choices. I dont want it to be TOO blue, but not too white either... i want the purples and blues and reds to really pop in the tank. Right now it has a washed out windex/bright white look to it which i hate. (running "stock" aquaticlife bulbs that came in 4 bulb fixture)

Its a 4 bulb 30" fixture

I'm thinking:

1 true actinic
1 blue+
1 coral+
1 purple+

or

1 actinic
2 blue+
1 coral+


or even

1 actinic
2 blue+
1 purple+
 
This is a different set up

I have a 120g 4x2x2 and I'm retro-ing 2×150MH 14000k bulbs with 4x48 T5.
I figure the MH will be bright enough for sps in the direct light. I also love Acans and lps, so I figure t will put them on the bottom and maybe in the shadow of the MH. So...question is what 4 bulbs do I want for blue and "glowing" effect that will enhance the LPS and keep rainbow acans a rainbow?
 
Currently running a 48" ATI 6 bulb over my 150g (60x24x24) and its time to replace the bulbs. Currently running:

coral +
blue +
purple +
coral +
blue +
blue +
with blue LED supplement

Should I go with the same combo or should a switch out a bulb or two? All bulbs are ATI and the tank is going to be SPS Dominate.
 
Matt, so I was reviewing some of your recommendations and I forgot to mention something that might or might not matter. My tank is 48/48/24 acrylic. There is a eurobrace on top and the overflow box is internal. The opening is 30/36 or so. Does that matter?

Corey
 
Matt, so I was reviewing some of your recommendations and I forgot to mention something that might or might not matter. My tank is 48/48/24 acrylic. There is a eurobrace on top and the overflow box is internal. The opening is 30/36 or so. Does that matter?

Corey
The Sunpower fixtures are 17 1/2" wide, so two of them side by side are 35" You will have an almost perfect square of light 36" X 35" with a six inches uncovered around the perimeter.
 
I'm planning to grab ATI sun power 8x39W fixture for my 36x21x11 tank. Is it worthed buying the dimmable version compare to non dimmable?
 
I'm planning to grab ATI sun power 8x39W fixture for my 36x21x11 tank. Is it worthed buying the dimmable version compare to non dimmable?

I have 2 dimmable sunpower but don't use them to dim. I like the fact that it has one power cord, internal clock and fans are automatically controlled. To me it was worth the extra money.
 
I'm switching from a 250w radium to a 24" t5 6 bulb fixture with reefbrite blue led supplements what bulbs should I use?

Color is really subjective but I would try.
3 blue plus
2 coral plus
1 purple plus

You may want to buy an extra bulb or 2, say an aqua blue special and another blue plus and swap them out till you find what you like.
 
I've been running 4 b+ and 4 c+ since November. Although the fixture is dimmable I ran both channels for 8 hours. My corals were growing but I lost color. Some turning somewhat pale, a purple bonsai for example lost the vibrant purple and turned a drab tan.

I have around 50 acropora in the tank and my colors really had me stumped. Some turned pale others were turning darker. Assuming the darker colors were high nutrients and not enough light I held the same bulbs and photoperiod but reduced nutrients. The pale corals became paler. Being a rookie I was stumped! Talking with another reefer, we went through my set up in great detail. He narrowed it down to too much light. If too much light then how come several acros are brown!?!

Three weeks ago I raised my fixture 3" and replaced 2 c+ with actinic, also reduced the photoperiod and started using the dimmer to hold intensity in two hour increments with peak power At 85% for 2 hours long, and low and behold The pales acros and returning to normal and the corals that darkened are now lightening. NO WONDER new reef keepers have issues sometimes!

I thought darker colors meant not enough light and/or excess nutrients. Yet again, some corals were paling. Not the case here as nutrients were not the issue. I'm assuming the corals that got darker went into some sort of photo inhibition mode. Heck I don't know. I just know that running too much light came at the expense of lost Acros and me chasing water issues that didn't exist.

I hope this rant helps someone else.
 
what would you recommend for an Aquaticlife G12 with 2 HIDs and 2 T5's?
thinking 2 x 20K HIDs and not sure about the T5....

any help would be amazing !
 
I've been running 4 b+ and 4 c+ since November. Although the fixture is dimmable I ran both channels for 8 hours. My corals were growing but I lost color. Some turning somewhat pale, a purple bonsai for example lost the vibrant purple and turned a drab tan.

I have around 50 acropora in the tank and my colors really had me stumped. Some turned pale others were turning darker. Assuming the darker colors were high nutrients and not enough light I held the same bulbs and photoperiod but reduced nutrients. The pale corals became paler. Being a rookie I was stumped! Talking with another reefer, we went through my set up in great detail. He narrowed it down to too much light. If too much light then how come several acros are brown!?!

Three weeks ago I raised my fixture 3" and replaced 2 c+ with actinic, also reduced the photoperiod and started using the dimmer to hold intensity in two hour increments with peak power At 85% for 2 hours long, and low and behold The pales acros and returning to normal and the corals that darkened are now lightening. NO WONDER new reef keepers have issues sometimes!

I thought darker colors meant not enough light and/or excess nutrients. Yet again, some corals were paling. Not the case here as nutrients were not the issue. I'm assuming the corals that got darker went into some sort of photo inhibition mode. Heck I don't know. I just know that running too much light came at the expense of lost Acros and me chasing water issues that didn't exist.

I hope this rant helps someone else.

Hope this help a little:https://youtu.be/Y-TbkPJhHkY
 
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