LED to replace T5

[alfieohalfie]

If you’re serious about LED bars, they are extremely hard to beat. I’ve had the Quanta pro’s for a while now and I wouldn’t use any other bar. The new Helix will be the only thing going over my son’s sps tank as soon as they start shipping. I just received the Atlas today and that thing is a monster. It simply kills all the other fixtures out there. It’s not for the blue light special keepers out there, but if you love acropora and want to use LED, it’s a powerhouse.

I’m eyeing both actually. I have a radion g4/t5
I like it. But I don’t love it
I want the atlas because i plan on keeping a lot of sps
But I was the bars as supplemental blue light.
I know i can control ramp up/down with 0-10v but is it a set spectrum?
Some lights are too windex for me some lights are too purple for me.
I want the perfect color pop, ofcourse, who doesn’t? But I want to see my corals and fish. Maybe I haven’t spent enough time researching but my other considered light were mitras. But $800 f that.
I’ll wait til they’re on marketplace lol

 

[minus9]

I’m eyeing both actually. I have a radion g4/t5
I like it. But I don’t love it
I want the atlas because i plan on keeping a lot of sps
But I was the bars as supplemental blue light.
I know i can control ramp up/down with 0-10v but is it a set spectrum?
Some lights are too windex for me some lights are too purple for me.
I want the perfect color pop, ofcourse, who doesn’t? But I want to see my corals and fish. Maybe I haven’t spent enough time researching but my other considered light were mitras. But $800 f that.
I’ll wait til they’re on marketplace lol

There's no control for color, just dimming, so all of his bars and fixtures are a set spectrum, which I actually like. It's the same as mixing T5's with halides, you need to pick what you prefer. I use the bars (meso blue) all the time, so I get the "pop" and "glow" period in the mornings and evenings and I get the "grow" period during the day, which has a very natural look to it. Fish look awesome under the 14k spectrum, my Ignitus anthias are pretty insane looking under "natural" lighting and don't get me started on true blue acropora and corals, you'll never notice their colors under all blues, same for pinks and purples. The amount of violet in his fixtures is cool, it's a huge fat band. But if you want to play around with spectrum, then one of the many fixtures out there will give you that, but I've always been set and forget with lighting. The one stable thing we can provide corals is lighting, I don't need to play around with clouds, storms, etc....I just want to grow happy, healthy corals.

 

[alfieohalfie]

There's no control for color, just dimming, so all of his bars and fixtures are a set spectrum, which I actually like. It's the same as mixing T5's with halides, you need to pick what you prefer. I use the bars (meso blue) all the time, so I get the "pop" and "glow" period in the mornings and evenings and I get the "grow" period during the day, which has a very natural look to it. Fish look awesome under the 14k spectrum, my Ignitus anthias are pretty insane looking under "natural" lighting and don't get me started on true blue acropora and corals, you'll never notice their colors under all blues, same for pinks and purples. The amount of violet in his fixtures is cool, it's a huge fat band. But if you want to play around with spectrum, then one of the many fixtures out there will give you that, but I've always been set and forget with lighting. The one stable thing we can provide corals is lighting, I don't need to play around with clouds, storms, etc....I just want to grow happy, healthy corals.

I think you sold me because that’s kinda what I’m after. There’s a store near me that still rocks 14k halides and I LOVE the look. And I’m a lazy butt and loves the set and forget.
I think going with 2 atlas and 2 meso blues would be my set up. The blues will show off some color pop from not only my coral but my damsels and navarchus angel. The little accents these fish have are amazing when they glow under the blue spectrum.

 

[minus9]

I think you sold me because that’s kinda what I’m after. There’s a store near me that still rocks 14k halides and I LOVE the look. And I’m a lazy butt and loves the set and forget.
I think going with 2 atlas and 2 meso blues would be my set up. The blues will show off some color pop from not only my coral but my damsels and navarchus angel. The little accents these fish have are amazing when they glow under the blue spectrum.

I’ve been using 14k Ushio’s with three Meso blues and it’s a great combo. I’ll try to get the screenshots from my tablet that I took, which shows the difference in spectrum between the Ushio’s and the Atlas. What surprised me is how much more the Atlas has in the whiter end of the spectrum 490nm and above.

 

[alfieohalfie]

I’ve been using 14k Ushio’s with three Meso blues and it’s a great combo. I’ll try to get the screenshots from my tablet that I took, which shows the difference in spectrum between the Ushio’s and the Atlas. What surprised me is how much more the Atlas has in the whiter end of the spectrum 490nm and above.

I’d love to see photos. Another thing is mounting. I rigged a hanging setup for mine that’s not 100% trusted. But to my mistake the tanks not center to the studs on the wall so the arms are a smidge off but luckily I can adjust where they go. I’m only scared because the fixture is kinda old and weighs a good mount. For a 48” I would assume the 2 bars and 2 atlas would be sufficient? Or too much? You also mention how the atlas adds a smidge of white which I took the standard ab+ from mobius and added maybe 10% white and I really love the look and the corals seem happy but they’re still small frags. Too soon to tell

 

[ProvidenceTidalReef]

Don’t get rid of your t5s! I added the orphek blue sky from ali express to my six bulb ati and it made a huge difference in growth and color. Very crisp look.

Yea but unfortunately many companys are discontinuing the production of these bulbs. So finding sutable replacements in the future might prove to be bothersome.
Leds as much as they cost are just the better answer.
Tho i love the way t5s look with the right bulb combo. But the fact they run at a consistant wattage and offer little to no adjustment is also another thing to consider.

Tidal gardens also switched out all of there t5 fixtures. Because of the issue with getting bulbs or just the maintenance sced required to keep them running at peak efficiency. Changing bulbs every 6-9 months can be a pain. And not very cost effective. They loose alot of power over time and eventually make your corals used to low light. So when you add a new bulb they have to spend upwards of 9 monts to recover and adjust properly.

Just my thoughts. Not trying to take a stab at anyone.

 

[Rick]

Ati discontinued all of their T5 fixtures and said they have a 3-4yr expectation of bulb mfg/availability left

 

[BZOFIQ]

Was just thinking about buying bulbs about every year but now since you spoke up and I’m doing math even with me buying bulbs I might not even be in the hobby 8 years who knows might just be cheaper to keep her.

T5 bulbs dont have to be changed every year. This myth was already busted.

There is a video from BRS about this topic on YT

Norm is 2 years for T5 changes.

 

[Heres_doe_]

Ati discontinued all of their T5 fixtures and said they have a 3-4yr expectation of bulb mfg/availability left

Where did they say this

 

[Rick]

^^ ATI USA did …. The bulb production based on contract is what it sounds like, the same manufacturers make most of the bulbs for the reefing companies so as you see some go away other companies may keep them going.
I always preferred korallen zucht bulbs to ATI. The fixture availability will most likely be the demise of the availability of bulb options.

 

[14A]

^^ ATI USA did …. The bulb production based on contract is what it sounds like, the same manufacturers make most of the bulbs for the reefing companies so as you see some go away other companies may keep them going.
I always preferred korallen zucht bulbs to ATI. The fixture availability will most likely be the demise of the availability of bulb options.

Do you remember where ATI USA said it?

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Its sad that t5 is being phased out. I'm really surprised actually considering how well they work over reefs.

 

[Rick]

Do you remember where ATI USA said it?

Over the phone, while ordering parts

 

[ChiCity]

was going to jump on here and say better stock up on t5 bulbs…
but you guys beat me to it!

look around at the vendors…
you’ll see they’re low,
or outright out of stock on ati t5 bulbs.

i was fortunate enough to buy up for about a decades worth (stagger switched every two years over two months) in advance in anticipation of this happening as manufacturers switch over to led.

bought up on two decades worth of hps and cmh bulbs too

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

was going to jump on here and say better stock up on t5 bulbs…
but you guys beat me to it!

look around at the vendors…
you’ll see they’re low,
or outright out of stock on ati t5 bulbs.

i was fortunate enough to buy up for about a decades worth (stagger switched every two years over two months) in advance in anticipation of this happening as manufacturers switch over to led.

bought up on two decades worth of hps and cmh bulbs too

hps- i know what that is used for….

It’s been a minute since i’ve heard hps lightning since everything (even outside this hobby seems to have gone led)

 

[BZOFIQ]

Ati discontinued all of their T5 fixtures and said they have a 3-4yr expectation of bulb mfg/availability left

I have been hearing this for past 10 years - at least.

I'm not even joking.

 

[Rick]

Yeah has to do with production contracts and the EU going “green” not wanting the chemicals that are in the bulbs

 

[BZOFIQ]

Yeah has to do with production contracts and the EU going “green” not wanting the chemicals that are in the bulbs

EU is going to sacrifice themselves to save the planet, regardless of how high the emissions outside that continent are.

 

[Rick]

Definitely, India and the Philippines will make sure to make up for it

 

[ChiCity]

what’s really messed up is that while i am stocked up on bulbs…
their (dimmable) ballast prices are a straight up racket!