The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
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TimeConsumer
Active member
What are your thoughts on the PAR of a 4x24w Sunpower vs a 4x24w Sunlight Supply (or similar) for a softy/LPS 20 long? How about a 2x24w Sunlight Supply? I know the Sunpower would be on the verge of too much while the 2x24w on the verge of too little. Is the 4x24w horticultural light the happy medium?
Bpb
New member
I think a sunlight supply or comparable horticultural fixture would
Be just fine honestly. Those actually have comparable reflectors to the sunpower. Just not the same efficient cooling. I really don't think you'd be short on par at all. With the fixture hung 6-12" from the water you'll easily be in the 150-350 par range throughout the tank which is more than enough for all lps really.
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Be just fine honestly. Those actually have comparable reflectors to the sunpower. Just not the same efficient cooling. I really don't think you'd be short on par at all. With the fixture hung 6-12" from the water you'll easily be in the 150-350 par range throughout the tank which is more than enough for all lps really.
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stelliofleondis
New member
would a 48 inch sunblaze 6 bulb be enough for a sps tank of 75 gallons or should i go for a 8 bulb it will be 6-8 inches over the tank with a photo period of 11 hrs any advice would be appreciated i would also like to keep a clam on the sand bed
here is the link to the fixture
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-sun-blaze-t5-ho-lighting-fixture-sunlight-supply.html
here is the link to the fixture
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-sun-blaze-t5-ho-lighting-fixture-sunlight-supply.html
shred5
Premium Member
6 bulbs is plenty good for 18" front to back..
stelliofleondis
New member
thank you!
stelliofleondis
New member
would i be able to put sps on the bottom of the tank
Cheers! I'm about to upgrade my tank to a new one. The size of the new will be
70"/27"/24" (L"¢D"¢H). Now I'm planning the new light and wondering what u guys think if I should get 8"¢80w or 6"¢80w ATI Powermodule?
It will be sps dominated
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70"/27"/24" (L"¢D"¢H). Now I'm planning the new light and wondering what u guys think if I should get 8"¢80w or 6"¢80w ATI Powermodule?
It will be sps dominated
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Bpb
New member
I think either would be adequate. The LEDs in that Powermodule WiFi are very powerful and pack more than just supplemental color. If it were me I'd go with the 8 bulb though just for better spread and more color options with the tubes. The 6 bulb would likely be plenty to grow anything though
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Thanks for fast reply! I'm currently not planning on any hybrid armature. But I have 1 Ai 52hd as backup and maybe use it for dusk/dawn effects. Think I'll stick to the 8*80w then better safe than sorry.
Now it's just the bulb question. What I can see many ppl uses blue+, purple and some daylight bulb.
Would a mix of blue+ and 1 or 2 purple and maybe a coral+ or aqb special be fine?
(Btw only looking at ATI bulbs)
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Simplereefing
New member
What are your guys opinions on an 18” tall tank with 2 blue+ and 2 coral+ bulbs 5.5” above the water line and with most sps 7-11” below water line?
Do you guys think it’s not enough light?
It’s a 6 bulb Sunpower running only the 2nd channel on for 8 hours. While the first channel (x2 ATI true actinics) are used for dusk/dawn?
Do you guys think it’s not enough light?
It’s a 6 bulb Sunpower running only the 2nd channel on for 8 hours. While the first channel (x2 ATI true actinics) are used for dusk/dawn?
shred5
Premium Member
Whats the width front to back? That is what really is important because the amount of bulbs equals the amount of coverage. Depth really is fine to 24" for t-5.
For me width under 18" 4 bulb.
18" to 23" 6 bulb.
24" and up 8 bulb and so on.
Simplereefing
New member
Front to back is 18". All sps are mainly up top. All other low light corals are on the bottom
shred5
Premium Member
6 bulbs should be fine and corals and sps down to bottom..
As far as lamp types for 6 bulb it is all preference really.
i like to run 2 whiter bulbs with 4 bluer bulbs.
I try to run at least one coral or purple lamp for some reds.
Sometimes I run a 6500k lamp for red and green instead of the coral or purple +which most people do not like the look of but it is good for the coral that come from shallower water. So if it is heavy sps I run that lamp.
The fad right now is super blue reefs which I am not a fan of. I personally prefer corals with true colors and a whiter light and not just a fluorescence with the super blue look . But that is why it is preference in bulbs selection..
Your post above does not say what other 2 bulbs you are wanting to use or what look you are going for. Most people that like the blue look add blue led and do not go t-5.
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Simplereefing
New member
I wouldn't mind the 6500k look if it has better results.
For the other two I'm running ati true actinic for dusk/dawn along with the reefbrite xho. I don't know if itd be worth running those along with the other 4.
I'd like to keep the fixture as close to the water as possible for my reefbrite.
Bpb
New member
With that setup I'd run 3 blue+, 2-6500k, 1 true actinic, and the reefbrite. I'd actually put the 6500k bulbs on the 2 channel setting you're using now for your actinics and use that as your daytime peak of roughly 4-5 hours and have actinic viewing for the rest
The conventional wisdom that your dawn dusk blues are for visual appeal only and that your growing power is in the daylight bulbs has been fairly well debunked. You can have a 10-12 hour photoperiod of blue+ and actinic and that will provide all the growing power you need and the reef brite will show it off. Your white channel in the middle will definitely HELP with growth some, but the biggest difference will be in developing a full range of color pigments you would miss out on with shallow water corals if you skip the white. It'll improve your actinic colors, despite having a less fluorescent presentation while they're on
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Simplereefing
New member
shred5
Premium Member
I run almost the same thing on my display tank upstairs.. I run 2 actinics, 2 other blue bulbs I used Giesemann, a coral+ and KZ new generation..
The reef bright i am guessing it is a blue should help with pop..
What you are talking about running is almost exactly what I am running just different brands. Only difference instead of two coral + I run the KZ which is a little whiter.
i used the 6500 on one of my frag tanks for color and growth. My new frag set up is going to be 3 tanks one with pure led, one hybrid and one just led.
shred5
Premium Member
To much light depends on what you are keeping.. Hard to say without a par meter either. For my tanks which are sps dominant, so it would be fine..
Honestly I would start with the led strip if it is dim-able for dusk to dawn? then hour later turn on the actinic and off a hour before lights out. The other two circuit add a blue and a white and one runs around about 8 hours and the other 3 or 4 hours if you are worried about too much light. So basically all lamps are on for 4 hours.
Plus led should not have a issue with how long they are run where t-5 does.
But like I said it really depends on what you are keeping. Sps should have no issues with lights being on longer but a chalice would.
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