The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[delrayreef]

I have a 120 gallon 48w x 24h with tek elite 8 bulb.

I currently have the following:

Back:
Blue +
Blue +
Aquasun
Blue +
Fiji Pink
GE Bulb (not exactly sure, cant read it well right now, but its super bright white)
Blue +
Blue +

I am not too happy with this set up. I had some issues with my Neptune Apex locking up and staying on too long and I blame too much lighting time on burning some sps (make sense with my setup??)

What would you recommend? I think this is too white.

Also, how long would you run the two segments (outside and inside).

I appreciate the advice.

 

[TropTrea]

Hi Grim Reefer, I recently purchased a used 65g reef tank set up (deep not long) The light that came with it was a solar extreme 36" light running 4t5 HO bulbs (2x deep blue 10k and 2x deep blue actinic 39w) since I bought it used I want to replace the bulbs. What are the best t5 bulbs and layout to use? I'd like to keep my options open to grow sps corals. I'm currently cycling my tank and don't want to be limited on what I can grow. Will 4t5s be enough? Would adding an led (am I allowed to say what led fixture I'm thinking?) be a good idea or add more t5s or do I have enough with only 4? What do you recommend?

We will assume your 65 Gallon is standard dimensions 36" X 18" X 21" tall. The 4 bulbs your using are the bare minimum for keeping corals with low to moderate lighting needs. Using a GE 6,500K in a mix with only 4 bulb combination would make the tank too yellow apperaing for most people. So I would go with the next brightest alternative which would be 1 Aquablue Special, 1 Purple Plus and 2 Blue Plus bulbs. If you wanted a bluer appearance then I would go with 3 Blue Plus Bulbs and one Coral Plus bulb.

In the long run consider adding more lighting especialy if you want to keep SPS corals. You may be able to find a 2 bulb fixture to fit or you could suplement with LED lighting.

 

[TropTrea]

I have a 120 gallon 48w x 24h with tek elite 8 bulb.

I currently have the following:

Back:
Blue +
Blue +
Aquasun
Blue +
Fiji Pink
GE Bulb (not exactly sure, cant read it well right now, but its super bright white)
Blue +
Blue +

I am not too happy with this set up. I had some issues with my Neptune Apex locking up and staying on too long and I blame too much lighting time on burning some sps (make sense with my setup??)

What would you recommend? I think this is too white.

Also, how long would you run the two segments (outside and inside).

I appreciate the advice.

Many corals are very sensative to excessive red light. In your case you have three bulbs that are pushing out a considerable amount of red. These bulbs are also adding to the full spectrum or white look. The first change I would make with this set up would be swapping out either the GE or the AquaSun for another Blue Plus bulb. Depending on how blue or bright you like will determine which of the two comes closest what you like.

I'm only running 2 Bulbs on my dawn to dusk so I'll modify my lighting recomendations for you. I would start with the dawn to dusk either all blue plus or one Fiji Pink for a 10 hour cycle. Then the remaining bulbs for a 6 hour cycle. But you need to watch how your corals react to this to determine what is the most ideal for your combination.

 

[delrayreef]

Thank you Denis. I read through here and saw some recommendations for about 5 blue + and some mix of purple + and coral +. What about that mix? Mike...what do you recommend?
Thanks for feedback on timing. My internal bulbs were running a bit longer than that so I will adjust.

 

[delrayreef]

I forgot to mention I have a 48" reefbrite xho blue led fixture as well....

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thank you Denis. I read through here and saw some recommendations for about 5 blue + and some mix of purple + and coral +. What about that mix? Mike...what do you recommend?
Thanks for feedback on timing. My internal bulbs were running a bit longer than that so I will adjust.

If you want a more blue look swap the GE & aqua sun for Coral Plus bulbs, they will brighten the tank up but still remain blue with very poppy corals & good growth.

Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Purple plus
Blue plus

Outside 4 bulbs are dawn/dusk. Only running the dawn outside 4 bulbs for an hour before the center 4 bulbs, all on for 6 hours, and dusk 4 bulbs for a couple hours if you like a longer sunset/dusk look, like I do.
If you don't like purple or you want a little less intensity you can swap the purple out for an actinic.

I usually just keep all my bulbs on/off but sometimes use the dawn/dusk bulbs & night for longer viewing times.
You can go less total hours if you need to, I usually run 7-8 hours total and sometimes longer dusk periods.

 

[reefndude]

I just replaced my bulbs on my 6 bulb fixture.
UVL actinic whites x2
UVL super actinic x2
ATI blue plus x2

Would these bulbs allow me to keep sps corals on a 75 gallon tank?

 

[Michigan Mike]

I just replaced my bulbs on my 6 bulb fixture.
UVL actinic whites x2
UVL super actinic x2
ATI blue plus x2

Would these bulbs allow me to keep sps corals on a 75 gallon tank?

At least the UVL actinics have the highest PAR for any actinic bulb.

Give it a try.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I just replaced my bulbs on my 6 bulb fixture.
UVL actinic whites x2
UVL super actinic x2
ATI blue plus x2

Would these bulbs allow me to keep sps corals on a 75 gallon tank?

I would try bluel plus bulbs instead of the actinics ...or...add a coral plus (or 2)instead of the actinic whites if you don't want to change all the bulbs.

Otherwise 3 blue plus, 1 purple, 2 coral plus or something like that. I don't really recommend Actinic bulbs for SPS tanks because they have low PAR, use ATI blue plus, KZ super blue, or GMAN actinic plus instead...these have much higher PAR.

 

[pherring07]

Lighting assistance

Lighting assistance

Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum and the hobby. I am trying to get all my equipment setup and i been reading the lighting forums for bulbs i need to install. I have a TEK light TH 36" 4 lamp 960015 x (2) over a 200 gal new reef tank. I plan on starting easy coral and working my way up to some harder stuff. Can you give me some advice on 8 bulbs and what times i should run which ones. Thanks

 

[Michigan Mike]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum and the hobby. I am trying to get all my equipment setup and i been reading the lighting forums for bulbs i need to install. I have a TEK light TH 36" 4 lamp 960015 x (2) over a 200 gal new reef tank. I plan on starting easy coral and working my way up to some harder stuff. Can you give me some advice on 8 bulbs and what times i should run which ones. Thanks

So (2) 4x39w TEK fixtures...
Not really enough for a 200g tank. What are your exact dimensions on the 200g?

I'd get a 8x80w TEK or better yet ATI Sunpower. A 6x80 will be good for LPS/Softy tank. But 8 bulbs is much better.

2 blue plus & 2 coral plus is a good start for each 4 bulb fixture but I would upgrade to a 60" fixture not 2 36" fixtures.

 

[pherring07]

84 x 24 x 24 with 3 side sappire glass

 

[Michigan Mike]

84 x 24 x 24 with 3 side sappire glass

(2) 8x39w fixtures would fill that tank end to end well.

 

[pherring07]

(2) 8x39w,, You mean 2 x 8' fixtures or 8 bulbs. I confused cause i have 8 bulbs in the 2 fixture that i already have. If i need to upgrade could you post a link to something that you think would be a good long term solution.

Thanks

 

[vanzea]

Hi everyone looking to get new bulbs for my 6x54w tek. I currently run 4 blue+ 1 Fiji purple and 1 GE 6500. Going to get 4 new blue+ 1 ati purple... And I want something similar to the 6500 k. Does ati make something or is there any other suggestions.

 

[delrayreef]

If you want a more blue look swap the GE & aqua sun for Coral Plus bulbs, they will brighten the tank up but still remain blue with very poppy corals & good growth.

Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Purple plus
Blue plus

Outside 4 bulbs are dawn/dusk. Only running the dawn outside 4 bulbs for an hour before the center 4 bulbs, all on for 6 hours, and dusk 4 bulbs for a couple hours if you like a longer sunset/dusk look, like I do.
If you don't like purple or you want a little less intensity you can swap the purple out for an actinic.

I usually just keep all my bulbs on/off but sometimes use the dawn/dusk bulbs & night for longer viewing times.
You can go less total hours if you need to, I usually run 7-8 hours total and sometimes longer dusk periods.

Mike - Thanks for your input. Quite helpful

 

[delrayreef]

If you want a more blue look swap the GE & aqua sun for Coral Plus bulbs, they will brighten the tank up but still remain blue with very poppy corals & good growth.

Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Purple plus
Blue plus

Outside 4 bulbs are dawn/dusk. Only running the dawn outside 4 bulbs for an hour before the center 4 bulbs, all on for 6 hours, and dusk 4 bulbs for a couple hours if you like a longer sunset/dusk look, like I do.
If you don't like purple or you want a little less intensity you can swap the purple out for an actinic.

I usually just keep all my bulbs on/off but sometimes use the dawn/dusk bulbs & night for longer viewing times.
You can go less total hours if you need to, I usually run 7-8 hours total and sometimes longer dusk periods.

Mike - BTW, how would you run my setup with that LED supplement? It is a 48" reefbrite xho blue led fixture. I usually run that in the evening and at night and have it stay on longer than dusk. What do you think?

 

[Michigan Mike]

Mike - BTW, how would you run my setup with that LED supplement? It is a 48" reefbrite xho blue led fixture. I usually run that in the evening and at night and have it stay on longer than dusk. What do you think?

Keep doing what your doing or try & run it before and after your dawn/dusk kicks on/off, so its first & last, you can run it the longest if you like the look of it on with all the t5 bulbs on. Whatever you like, either way.
Those are nice led strips by the way!

 

[Michigan Mike]

(2) 8x39w,, You mean 2 x 8' fixtures or 8 bulbs. I confused cause i have 8 bulbs in the 2 fixture that i already have. If i need to upgrade could you post a link to something that you think would be a good long term solution.

Thanks

Okay a 24" wide (front to back) should be at least 6 bulbs, 8 is better, for coverage.

Now you need to figure out if a 60" fixture (with 80w bulbs) will cover the length of your tank enough. If you think you won't put corals on the last 10" on each end (left & right ends of tank) and leave this room open for fish, rocks, and extra room for cleaning etc. a 6 or 8x80w T5 (60") will be much cheaper when buying bulbs compared to 12 or 16 39w (36") bulbs.

If you don't think a 60" will cover a 84" tank well enough, because its pushing it, you may want to use what you have and buy a couple 2 or 4 bulb 36" (39w) fixtures to add to it.
This way you're getting more coverage on the length 72" with only leaves you half a foot on each end, should be fine.

Its just 4 x 4 bulbs isn't going to cover a 24" width, you need 8 bulbs for optimal coverage, 6 minimum.

 

[Stylo328]

The posts about tank dimensions and fixtures got me doubting my decision. I am setting up a 187 gallon tank 60x30x24h. Was planning on going with an 8x54 ATI sunpower. Will be an sps dominated mixed reef. Bonsai style with open water.

I would love your thoughts on fixture choice. Thanks