mh/t-5 fixture question

riche · Mar 8, 2016

I have a canopy on my tank(90 gallon) and the fixture I have is a dual 250 watt/dual t-5 fixture

It is sitting on the frame of the tank I can raise it about 1"-1-1/2" max

My question is will the mh bleach out anything coral wise?

I love the growth and look of mh and t-5 and that's why I'm using it, but since its in the living room next to the tv I have to have the canopy per the wife

I was told by a local reefer who is a lighting guru that I should run the mh for 3 hrs until i get sps in the tank and then when I do bump it to 5 hrs.

I have a led strip that is a combo of 450mm blue and 10k white, I was going to use the blue for night time viewing.

The bulbs In the fixture are ati Blue+ and it really makes the tank blue, since I can only use 2 bulbs for t-5 whats a good bulb thats not so blue

jeremy · Mar 8, 2016

Try changing one of your blue plus to a purple plus. If you dont like the purple plus try a coral plus.
And you should be fine starting your halide at 3 hours. Your corals will let you know if they are getting to much light and you can lower your halides to 2 hours. That fixture is really close to the water it would be better to be about 6-7 inches off the water. Spread light a little better and not get as much splashing of water on it.

riche · Mar 8, 2016

I have glass lids so I'm not worried about the water splash.

I might have to get a different canopy down the road

What is a noticeable difference between the purple plus and coral plus?

jeremy · Mar 8, 2016

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-TbkPJhHkY&ved=0ahUKEwib6rPX1rLLAhWE5yYKHQlFBWAQtwIITzAD&usg=AFQjCNH0HNOxY4wuN7jxf8ksu8FczulLOg
Link for a video shows different ATI bulb colors.

Bpb · Mar 9, 2016

Why not cut a hole in your canopy on the top and rest the lights ON the canopy, rather than inside it. That way you have the light shielding benefits, and you can get a little elevation off the water. 1" off the water line with 250 watt halides inside a canopy sounds like a temperature management disaster