The T5 Q&a Thread - split

Hey Grim,
Thanks again for the bulb suggestion you gave me almost 2 years ago. It's that time again, but I decided to upgrade to a 120 Gal with the goal of going SPS dominant with some LPS. Here is a question for you: Should I go LED or T5? Now heres the kicker, my wife says I MUST use the canopy for the new tank. She doesn't care what it costs but it must fit under the canopy and look nice. Now I understand that there is more to it than just looking good like heat and energy costs which is why I am staying away from MH. So, if LED what fixture would you suggest (or DIY) or T5 which fixture and bulb combo? Also, if T5 would you suggest adding some supplemental LED if I want shimmer and the color pop. Now I know this is the great debate but I want your opinion since I have followed you advice in the past and I was completely blown away in amazement. Thanks again!
 
Hi Grim, How many T5 bulb should I run in 150 gallons display, This display has 52x32x22 and may have mostly sps and lps. Best regards.
 
Hi Grim, I have a 120 gallon mixed reef with an 8 bulb 54w Current T5ho fixture with the bulbs you sugested. 5 blue plus 2 purple plus and a GE 6500k. I bought this fixture used and was wondering if I should add a stunner strip to it so I could get a few more sps in there or do I need to check a different thread. I just need a little more light without buying a different larger fixture. Thanks in advance. And by the way i really like the bulb selection you sugested when i needed t5s thanks.
 
Bones06 said:
Hey Grim,
Thanks again for the bulb suggestion you gave me almost 2 years ago. It's that time again, but I decided to upgrade to a 120 Gal with the goal of going SPS dominant with some LPS. Here is a question for you: Should I go LED or T5? Now heres the kicker, my wife says I MUST use the canopy for the new tank. She doesn't care what it costs but it must fit under the canopy and look nice. Now I understand that there is more to it than just looking good like heat and energy costs which is why I am staying away from MH. So, if LED what fixture would you suggest (or DIY) or T5 which fixture and bulb combo? Also, if T5 would you suggest adding some supplemental LED if I want shimmer and the color pop. Now I know this is the great debate but I want your opinion since I have followed you advice in the past and I was completely blown away in amazement. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Maxspect LED system would be my choice. As far as the exact model you'd need I dunno. It just has the best color mix I've seen yet. Throw up a thread and I am sure you'll get many recos on which unit to get.
 
jdraider75 said:
Hi Grim, I have a 120 gallon mixed reef with an 8 bulb 54w Current T5ho fixture with the bulbs you sugested. 5 blue plus 2 purple plus and a GE 6500k. I bought this fixture used and was wondering if I should add a stunner strip to it so I could get a few more sps in there or do I need to check a different thread. I just need a little more light without buying a different larger fixture. Thanks in advance. And by the way i really like the bulb selection you sugested when i needed t5s thanks.
Click to expand...

A single LED strip isn't going to make enough difference to be worth the hassle. I don't know of any that produce a meaningful amount of PAR
 
The Grim Reefer said:
Maxspect LED system would be my choice. As far as the exact model you'd need I dunno. It just has the best color mix I've seen yet. Throw up a thread and I am sure you'll get many recos on which unit to get.
Click to expand...

Awesome! If I decide to go T5 retro which do you suggest? How many bulbs and what combo of bulbs? Thanks!
 
Hi All,

I'm setting up a 55 gallon reef aquarium with zoa, softies, and LPS. The light fixture I have is an AquaticLife 216W (4x54W) T5HO w/ 4 lunar LEDs. The bulbs that shipped with it from AquaticLife are as follows:

420/460 actinic - Front Socket
10,000k white - Third Socket

420/460 actinic - Second Socket
460/620 blue/purple - Back Socket

4 Lunar LEDs

The ballast has timers built in to control these 3 "groups". Right Now, the groups are set by default:

Acitinic & White turn on at 10am and off at 8pm.
Acitinic & Blue/Purple turn on at 8am and off at 10pm.
Lunar LEDs are on at 10pm and off at 8 am.

Are these timing cycles good for a softie/LPS setup?
The bulbs - should I be looking for different bulbs that would promote better growth/health?
Will this be sufficient lighting if I decide to go SPS in the future (probably near the top of the tank)?

I know many things can effect PAR levels and ultimately coral health & growth. I'm not looking for exact answers, but more "impressions" if my equipment is heading in the right direction. I'm sure I'll be tweaking it down the road to my own liking anyway.

If you need details on the rest of the equipment, please see my post in the new members forum:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2192520

TIA

-Tim
 
tj1627 said:
Hi All,

I'm setting up a 55 gallon reef aquarium with zoa, softies, and LPS. The light fixture I have is an AquaticLife 216W (4x54W) T5HO w/ 4 lunar LEDs. The bulbs that shipped with it from AquaticLife are as follows:

420/460 actinic - Front Socket
10,000k white - Third Socket

420/460 actinic - Second Socket
460/620 blue/purple - Back Socket

4 Lunar LEDs

The ballast has timers built in to control these 3 "groups". Right Now, the groups are set by default:

Acitinic & White turn on at 10am and off at 8pm.
Acitinic & Blue/Purple turn on at 8am and off at 10pm.
Lunar LEDs are on at 10pm and off at 8 am.

Are these timing cycles good for a softie/LPS setup?
The bulbs - should I be looking for different bulbs that would promote better growth/health?
Will this be sufficient lighting if I decide to go SPS in the future (probably near the top of the tank)?

I know many things can effect PAR levels and ultimately coral health & growth. I'm not looking for exact answers, but more "impressions" if my equipment is heading in the right direction. I'm sure I'll be tweaking it down the road to my own liking anyway.

If you need details on the rest of the equipment, please see my post in the new members forum:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2192520

TIA

-Tim
Click to expand...

All good for now except you don't need to run the LED's at night. I'd shut down the actinic purple lights at 9PM and run the LED's for as long as you are normally awake for night viewing.

In about 6 months I would replace the lampos with ATI. Blue Plus instead of actinics, Purple Plus for purple and keep using the same 10K you have, those are nice.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
All good for now except you don't need to run the LED's at night. I'd shut down the actinic purple lights at 9PM and run the LED's for as long as you are normally awake for night viewing.

In about 6 months I would replace the lampos with ATI. Blue Plus instead of actinics, Purple Plus for purple and keep using the same 10K you have, those are nice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Grim. Do you think this lighting can eventually support SPS in the middle or upper section of the tank? Or would I have to move on to MH or LEDs (probably the direction I'll eventually go. I'm a sucker for DIY soldering projects)?

-Tim
 
tj1627 said:
Thanks for the advice Grim. Do you think this lighting can eventually support SPS in the middle or upper section of the tank? Or would I have to move on to MH or LEDs (probably the direction I'll eventually go. I'm a sucker for DIY soldering projects)?

-Tim
Click to expand...

top half
 
Hey grimm,

I appreciate your help and advice about a year ago. My retrofit went smoothly with my 55 gallon and my corals love the extra par. Would it be ok to add a acrylic splash shield about a inch below my lamps. Would heat be an issue even if the hood is mostly open at the top and the label ends of the bulbs are cooled by a large computer fan? My lamps sit about 2.5 inches above the waterline and I want to ditch my glass covers to increase aeration without coating my expensive reflectors and bulbs with salt!
 
PHensley said:
Hey grimm,

I appreciate your help and advice about a year ago. My retrofit went smoothly with my 55 gallon and my corals love the extra par. Would it be ok to add a acrylic splash shield about a inch below my lamps. Would heat be an issue even if the hood is mostly open at the top and the label ends of the bulbs are cooled by a large computer fan? My lamps sit about 2.5 inches above the waterline and I want to ditch my glass covers to increase aeration without coating my expensive reflectors and bulbs with salt!
Click to expand...

Be fine. In fact you will gain PAR if you have covers on your tank now, glass blocks a lot of light.
 
OK Grim since you da T5 guy I have a question for you. I am setting up a 90Reef tank. I need to order lights tomorrow. I have a 6bulb TEK T5 fixture. The two outside bulbs on a separate cord (dusk/dawn) and 4 in the middle on another cord. I do not like the "super blue" look. I like it bright but with a hint of blue, I will be buying ATI bulbs. Is there anywhere I can see what different combos look like so I dont get the wrong color for my liking? THANKS


Oh btw, mostly LPS, softies, maybe a clam.

Jeremy
 
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