Anyone run this T5 combo before? BP and CP

[Miami Reef]

I’m interested in knowing if anyone ever used this T5 bulb combo before:

8 bulb fixture: 5 blue plus:3 coral plus

6 bulb fixture: 4 blue plus:2 coral plus

4 bulb fixture: 3 blue plus:1 coral plus


If you have, can I see your corals under it? :)

 

[rwreef]

I run 4x coral plus and 4x blue plus with 2x kessil a500x on my tank.

 

[Miami Reef]

@rwreef

4 blue plus: 4 coral plus was the original plan.

I think I need to see it on my tank, but I’m pretty sure I will enjoy 5 blue plus:3 coral plus even more! I can only imagine the fluorescence!

 

[N-A-S-O]

I have a 8 bulb with 5 BP and 3 CP. plus two Or2 bars.

 

[Miami Reef]

I have a 8 bulb with 5 BP and 3 CP. plus two Or2 bars.

Can I PLEASE see your tank with the Or2 off with the T5’s on? This would be awesome!

 

[rtparty]

I think @Big E runs a 50/50 combo and the results speak for themselves

 

[Big E]

Been running Blue+Coral+ 50/50 combo for 12 years on dominant Acro systems. I think this is best for a 4 bulb system

If you have a 6-8 bulb setup I would add a few Actinics. I've been experimenting with Actinics for 8 months now and have been pleasantly surprised by adding more 400-420nm. I had been planning to test this for years and finally added two more bulbs to my 4 bulb LET setup for 6 bulbs.

On my 6 bulb Sunpower fixture I have front to back--

Actinic
Blue+
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

The nice thing about the actinic bulbs is they don't effect visual ambience but do wonders for coral pigment excitation on some acros. Corals "see/use" this spectrum but our eyes aren't going to detect this because the bulbs also have some 550nm/580 in them.

 

[Miami Reef]

Been running Blue+Coral+ 50/50 combo for 12 years on dominant Acro systems. I think this is best for a 4 bulb system

If you have a 6-8 bulb setup I would add a few Actinics. I've been experimenting with Actinics for 8 months now and have been pleasantly surprised by adding more 400-420nm. I had been planning to test this for years and finally added two more bulbs to my 4 bulb LET setup for 6 bulbs.

On my 6 bulb Sunpower fixture I have front to back--

Actinic
Blue+
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

The nice thing about the actinic bulbs is they don't effect visual ambience but do wonders for coral pigment excitation on some acros. Corals "see/use" this spectrum but our eyes aren't going to detect this because the bulbs also have some 550nm/580 in them.

Do you have any pictures of your acro/tank under this light setup?

 

[Miami Reef]

Been running Blue+Coral+ 50/50 combo for 12 years on dominant Acro systems. I think this is best for a 4 bulb system

If you have a 6-8 bulb setup I would add a few Actinics. I've been experimenting with Actinics for 8 months now and have been pleasantly surprised by adding more 400-420nm. I had been planning to test this for years and finally added two more bulbs to my 4 bulb LET setup for 6 bulbs.

On my 6 bulb Sunpower fixture I have front to back--

Actinic
Blue+
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+

The nice thing about the actinic bulbs is they don't effect visual ambience but do wonders for coral pigment excitation on some acros. Corals "see/use" this spectrum but our eyes aren't going to detect this because the bulbs also have some 550nm/580 in them.

@Tamberav He uses actinics now! :)

 

[Anirban]

Do you have any pictures of your acro/tank under this light setup?

This is his tank

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/big-e-rimless-80g-sps.206607/

 

[Miami Reef]

This is his tank

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/big-e-rimless-80g-sps.206607/

I’m aware. But he has not updated it with pictures of his tank using actinic bulbs. I looked back and he said he was using the blue plus coral plus combo >8 months

 

[Big E]

I'll get some pics posted over the weekend.

I'm sold on adding way more 400-420nm so this will by my long term bulb combo........but I want to make sure I don't change the ambient visual look. I don't want white areas to have a violet tint.

 

[Miami Reef]

I'll get some pics posted over the weekend.

I'm sold on adding way more 400-420nm so this will by my long term bulb combo........but I want to make sure I don't change the ambient visual look. I don't want white areas to have a violet tint.

What color changes did you notice in your acros with the actinics?

 

[Miami Reef]

These are the bulb combos I am considering for my 8 bulb fixture:

4 blue plus: 4 coral plus
5 blue plus:3 coral plus
4 blue plus: 2 coral plus:2 actinic


To be frank, I’m not sure I see the benefit of adding actinic. Is there a real benefit in coral coloration with adding actinic bulbs to T5’s which already have actinic in them? I think 5 blue plus and 3 coral plus will bring out much more fluorescence than the 2nd option.

Luckily, I have all the bulbs needed for this project, so I’m looking forward to playing with spectrums in the upcoming weeks.

 

[Miami Reef]

@jda

 

[jda]

I am a halide guy. I am not the right guy to ask. I use some T5s over fuges, chaeto and occasionally a frag tank if I am overflowing with stuff - I nearly always use GE 6500k for these since they are $3-5 a bulb in bulk and grow stuff like crazy. If I was lighting a tank, I would likely use pairs of 6500k and Actinic - just like Ed has described the actinic doing things that other T5s bulbs do not do, the 6500k can do this too.

 

[spsick]

I'll get some pics posted over the weekend.

I'm sold on adding way more 400-420nm so this will by my long term bulb combo........but I want to make sure I don't change the ambient visual look. I don't want white areas to have a violet tint.

It‘s been 84 years since Big E blessed us with pics of his tank :)

 

[Big E]

I believe some acros have benefited from more 400-420nm. There just isn't enough in the Coral+ & Blue+ bulbs. There are certain pigments that aren't going to get excited unless they get more.

Of course it's not across the board like I discovered some lost spectrum.

I use photos and my own personal observations daily to make most of my conclusions.

Here's one that has really benefited and I've seen some red and pink acros with deeper/brighter coloration.
Polyps are a much deeper red and the coralites now have an intense yellow. Pic doesn't show the exact yellow I see in person.
I also learn things from frequent visitors that point out corals like this one that they didn't notice before.

I also think it's important on how you stack the bulbs. Random bulbs here or there make no sense to me.

 

[Miami Reef]

I believe some acros have benefited from more 400-420nm. There just isn't enough in the Coral+ & Blue+ bulbs. There are certain pigments that aren't going to get excited unless they get more.

Of course it's not across the board like I discovered some lost spectrum.

I use photos and my own personal observations daily to make most of my conclusions.

Here's one that has really benefited and I've seen some red and pink acros with deeper/brighter coloration.
Polyps are a much deeper red and the coralites now have an intense yellow. Pic doesn't show the exact yellow I see in person.
I also learn things from frequent visitors that point out corals like this one that they didn't notice before.

I also think it's important on how you stack the bulbs. Random bulbs here or there make no sense to me.

Thank you @Big E

I consider you my mentor for acros.

So for an 8 bulb:

3 blue plus
3 coral plus
2 actinic

I will alternate the bulbs.

How long would you light my tank for? I do want to have a few Tridacna clams (the book I read said they need 12 hours of lighting recommended including ramping up/down, and I really want my lights on for 12 hours a day so when guests come (during the morning or night) they can see the tank lights on.

Would running all 8 bulbs from 11am to 11pm be a bad idea?

Or I can run 2 bulbs from 11am-1pm
8 bulbs from 1pm-9pm
2 bulbs from 9pm to 11pm

 

[Big E]

I wouldn't run them that long.........that's a lot of light for an 8 bulb fixture.

I run my 6 bulb sunpower 7 hours all on/off.

I would do 7 all on and 1.5 or on hour on each end with two max. That would 9.5 to 10 hours. If you aren't there to view the tank for all 7 of those hours I would even try to cut down even more to 6-6.5 hours all eight.