Best light for sps only tank
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delv2323
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Vita-Lite with Power Twist is a blast from the past | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
Now we can already hear many of you snickering at the thought of even discussing “Normal Output” lighting but yesterday’s thrift store find is a vintage relic from a bygone era. Once upon a time…
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Yanir34
Well-Known Member
Today my tank is powerd by ATI power module 10×54w T5's bulbs + kessil 360x tuna blue (2 unit's).
I simply like this lights , because of the perfect spread , high PAR readings and natural look to my SPS.
in the future ,when T5's will not produce anymore Its most likely that I go with Reefi or straton pro.
here some pics of my current tank , happy reefing !
I simply like this lights , because of the perfect spread , high PAR readings and natural look to my SPS.
in the future ,when T5's will not produce anymore Its most likely that I go with Reefi or straton pro.
here some pics of my current tank , happy reefing !
I have 2 tanks. One lit by T5's with an actinic LED for accent.
The other is entirely LED lit.
The T5 tank is SO much brighter everywhere and there is substantially less Shading throughout. The lighting definitely looks much more "natural". Non-flourescing reds, blues, and oranges look amazing. However, the colors on fluorescent corals are not quite as vibrant.
Take. This derasa for example: nothing fluorescent. Just looks blah under the blues. But under whites, it's a stunner!
The LED tank really gets that fluorescent pop, but the reds, purples and blues are a little muted and shading is more of an issue. It's not like it's short on lights either. 2 full size atlantik Icons over a 48x18" tank. 45% gives me over 400PAR at the top of my rocks. The lights are mounted plenty high 15-16" off of the water. Great lights btw!
The other is entirely LED lit.
The T5 tank is SO much brighter everywhere and there is substantially less Shading throughout. The lighting definitely looks much more "natural". Non-flourescing reds, blues, and oranges look amazing. However, the colors on fluorescent corals are not quite as vibrant.
Take. This derasa for example: nothing fluorescent. Just looks blah under the blues. But under whites, it's a stunner!
The LED tank really gets that fluorescent pop, but the reds, purples and blues are a little muted and shading is more of an issue. It's not like it's short on lights either. 2 full size atlantik Icons over a 48x18" tank. 45% gives me over 400PAR at the top of my rocks. The lights are mounted plenty high 15-16" off of the water. Great lights btw!
Do you use a viewing box to take your pics?Today my tank is powerd by ATI power module 10×54w T5's bulbs + kessil 360x tuna blue (2 unit's).
I simply like this lights , because of the perfect spread , high PAR readings and natural look to my SPS.
in the future ,when T5's will not produce anymore Its most likely that I go with Reefi or straton pro.
here some pics of my current tank , happy reefing !
Love that tenuis btw.
Last edited:
Dburr1014
7500 Club Member
What's the footprint of your display?Today my tank is powerd by ATI power module 10×54w T5's bulbs + kessil 360x tuna blue (2 unit's).
I simply like this lights , because of the perfect spread , high PAR readings and natural look to my SPS.
in the future ,when T5's will not produce anymore Its most likely that I go with Reefi or straton pro.
here some pics of my current tank , happy reefing !
bobnicaragua
Well-Known Member
DanyL
Valuable Member
I guess with all the T5 reefers coming armed with pictures, all-LED reefers need some backup to balance things out 
Main System - ReeFi Uno 1 (mixed day/night time):
Frag Tank - ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro (morning/night - blue spectrum, Day -Full spectrum, notice the white walls outside the tank, no artificial orange tint added ;-)):
Main System - ReeFi Uno 1 (mixed day/night time):
Frag Tank - ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro (morning/night - blue spectrum, Day -Full spectrum, notice the white walls outside the tank, no artificial orange tint added ;-)):
bobnicaragua
Well-Known Member
You’re making us T5 guys look bad Dany!I guess with all the T5 reefers coming armed with pictures, all-LED reefers need some backup to balance things out
Main System - ReeFi Uno 1 (mixed day/night time):
Frag Tank - ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro (morning/night - blue spectrum, Day -Full spectrum, notice the white walls outside the tank, no artificial orange tint added ;-)):
Dburr1014
7500 Club Member
Dany, did you make these frag plugs?I guess with all the T5 reefers coming armed with pictures, all-LED reefers need some backup to balance things out
Main System - ReeFi Uno 1 (mixed day/night time):
Frag Tank - ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro (morning/night - blue spectrum, Day -Full spectrum, notice the white walls outside the tank, no artificial orange tint added ;-)):
They look like rice crispy marshmallow squares.
DanyL
Valuable Member
Nah T5 and MH still are very relevant today, and produce results that not many LEDs can compete with.
I’ve used T5 myself for close to a decade (and previously used PLL which are basically T5x2 in one bulb) and always liked the brightness and spread they were able to achieve.
But fixtures like the Uno 2.0 and the Straton are game changers in my opinion, as they do provide great spread, lots of power and the ability to control the spectrum however you like it to be.
It is the wide spectrum range and excess of power for each channel that made that difference for me, because it made it possible for me to mimick the look and feel of a T5/MH hybrid over my frag tank, while still pushing 300-800 PAR bottom to top.
Why would I say T5/MH hybrid?
Because I’m able to get both real UVA and shimmer, which really does give that old school vibe that I always strived for but never had back in the day.
These are Aquaforest Coral Rocks.
I like to put some candy on top - it makes them delicious
Big E
Valuable Member
I'm only going to suggest what I've used---
Orphek Icons
Reefi Duo Extreme- based on this I recommend the 2.0 unos as well
T5-- mainly consisting of blue and coral+ bulbs
You need to run them at full spectrum...........if you're a blue head then you aren't going to get complete excitement on all coral pigments. This goes for all LED brands............more full spectrum and less blue. It 's fine to run heavy blue if you like the look for viewing at times but most of the day should be full spectrum.
T5s are going to produce the best reds and pinks.
Regardless what you use you need full blanket coverage.............don't skimp
Orphek Icons
Reefi Duo Extreme- based on this I recommend the 2.0 unos as well
T5-- mainly consisting of blue and coral+ bulbs
You need to run them at full spectrum...........if you're a blue head then you aren't going to get complete excitement on all coral pigments. This goes for all LED brands............more full spectrum and less blue. It 's fine to run heavy blue if you like the look for viewing at times but most of the day should be full spectrum.
T5s are going to produce the best reds and pinks.
Regardless what you use you need full blanket coverage.............don't skimp
Viking_Reefing
Valuable Member
Not just one light huh? Hold my beer
No but honestly you need to define what you mean by “best”.
I still think the most complete reef lighting is halides with those huge reflectors but they have several drawbacks that makes them not so appealing.
Simply put, what you value in terms of deciding what’s best will not be the same as others in most cases making it impossible to advice you without a very well thought out list of requirements.
Dburr1014
7500 Club Member
That is not one light, lol, here is your beer back.Not just one light huh? Hold my beer
No but honestly you need to define what you mean by “best”.
I still think the most complete reef lighting is halides with those huge reflectors but they have several drawbacks that makes them not so appealing.
Simply put, what you value in terms of deciding what’s best will not be the same as others in most cases making it impossible to advice you without a very well thought out list of requirements.
That looks like led with T5 to me.
My statement is just saying MH alone will cause shading. Led pucks will cause shading. One T5 is not enough.
But if you use a bunch of each light and blanket the tank all the shading is gone.
I have a panel light, it has served me well in my 18" width tank. I do have shading under the acros but it's not too bad.
My new build, tank is on the way, is 24" width. I don't think my 9" width panel is going to work very well. I have T5 ready to compliment the panel to avoid the shading.
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