Adding T5 like BRS SPS light video

HeadStrongGrafx · Dec 10, 2018

I just watched the latest BRS video about lighting SPS (wwc/BRS hybrid)
Ryan talked about this fixture 36" HYBRID T5HO 4X39W FIXTURE WITH LED MOUNTING SYSTEM - BLACK
I have 2 Hydra 26 and I bought this fixture to add to my system. My question is...

Will I need to lower values on my hydra’s? Or will the T5’s just add more blanket of light and not extra Par? Basically what I’m asking will my hydras need to be turned down or can I keep same setting even though I’m adding 4 T5’s?

Oh and this is my first T5’s and will be hooked to my Apex.. will they Ramp with apex or just on and off? Just turn on antinics then daylight to try to simulate the ramp of the hydras?

HeadStrongGrafx · Dec 10, 2018

DarkSky · Dec 10, 2018

Adding more light via any source will increase PAR. You might have to turn down your LEDs, but it probably would be best to get a PAR meter and measure what the levels are with/without T5s and see what the difference is.

ReeferReefer · Dec 10, 2018

I would just add one bulb at a time, and waiting a week between bulbs.

HeadStrongGrafx · Dec 10, 2018

Does anyone know if apex will ramp these T5’s? Never had them so sorry if it’s a stupid question.

DarkSky · Dec 10, 2018

No, the ballasts aren't dimmable.

madweazl · Dec 10, 2018

The "Hybrid" column on this post will give you a good idea on what the T5s will add.

Daniel Waters · Dec 10, 2018

HeadStrongGrafx said:
Will I need to lower values on my hydra’s? Or will the T5’s just add more blanket of light and not extra Par? Basically what I’m asking will my hydras need to be turned down or can I keep same setting even though I’m adding 4 T5’s?

Oh and this is my first T5’s and will be hooked to my Apex.. will they Ramp with apex or just on and off? Just turn on antinics then daylight to try to simulate the ramp of the hydras?

Adding 4 bulbs of T5 with your LED's might be too much of an increase in light if added all at once. You have a few options. You can decrease your LED intensity, decrease your overall photo period, or add the T5's in gradually. Personally, I'd recommend going ahead and adding all 4 of the T5's but only run them for 1 hour during the day. Add an hour each week to your T5 duration. If you are just keeping softies and LPS, you probably don't need the extra par anyway, in which case I would probably advocate decreasing your LED intensity also. If you're wanting to keep high light corals like sps or clams, then I think you could utilize the full 4 T5 bulbs and adjust your LED's to an intensity settings to give you the par range that you need (you might want a par meter to give you a better gauge). In general, corals seem to handle T5 lights pretty well, so I don't worry about bleaching a coral with T5's like I do when making changes with LED intensity (but that also depends on the type of LED unit, as some are more prone than others for creating hot spots).

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 11, 2018

Just add them slowly imo.

Maybe one day you’ll get here.

T-5unsystem · Dec 11, 2018

ReeferReefer said:
I would just add one bulb at a time, and waiting a week between bulbs.

Nearly every T5 ballast requires 2 bulbs so adding 1 at a time will rarely work.

HeadStrongGrafx said:
Does anyone know if apex will ramp these T5’s? Never had them so sorry if it’s a stupid question.

You would need a dimmable ballast to do this. For this fixture linked you would need to replace them.

HeadStrongGrafx · Dec 11, 2018

T-5unsystem said:
Nearly every T5 ballast requires 2 bulbs so adding 1 at a time will rarely work.

You would need a dimmable ballast to do this. For this fixture linked you would need to replace them.

Thanks, I added the T5’s today and just lowered my LED intensity. I’m gonna let my LED ramp up and down and just let my apex turn antinic on midway through ramp up and down and turn on other T5’s about an hour before peak and off hour after peak. Will lengthen these times over time.