Reef LED 90 w/ Aquatic Life T5 Combination

[Jackooze]

Hello everyone, I need some guidance setting up a the right schedule using my par meter results. Prior to me renting a meter I burned all my sps and lps frags that were on the frag rack. I didnt know that the par acutally is higher by the glass then the center of the tank.
Anyway my setup is Red Sea Penisula 500 (48" long) with 3 Reef LED 90's and Aquatic Life T5's. I received a par meter from brs today and spent some time testing all possible combinations. I attached a picture of my aquascape where you can see how the right side of the tank goes from high to low for a mix reef setup. Now BRS recommends that LPS have a par reading of 50-150 and SPS 250-350. Below is my chart of par reading for LEDs only and LED/T5 combo.

Now with all these numbers, I cannot decide how to set my schedule. I like the T5 look that dulls out the shimmer from the LEDS but how long should I keep them on as a combo ? The T5/LED combo 30% blue 30% white fits the brs guidelines but the lps area in section 1 seems a bit high. I honestly dont know what direction to go after testing par like everyone advises.

	Blue - White	Section 1 - Left	Section 2 Left Mid	Section 3 Right Mid	Section 4 Right
LED	100% - 100%	204	265	300	295
	80% - 50%	148	186	215-230	200-220
	100% - 50%	180-215	230-250	250-270	230-250
	50% - 50%	150	175	205	185
	50% - 25%	86	115	128	128
	65%-15%	96	138	162	155
	30%-30%	75	80	95	90
T5/LED	100% - 100%	300-350	360-390	400-450	350-400
	80% - 50%	270-290	300-320	330-350	320-340
	100% - 50%	315-330	350-380	390-420	350-400
	65% - 15%	215	255	275	280
	50% - 50%	200	250	290	293
	50% - 25%	195	235	275	270
	30%-30%	175	200	235	235

 

[SPR1968]

I can’t answer the specific question, but I can bump the thread to see if we can get you some help

 

[bobnicaragua]

It's going to be a bit of a compromise. I would start with your blues at 25 or 30 percent and tune your whites to taste.

I recommend an hour ramp up led only, then 8 hours led and t5, and then an hour of led only ramp down.

It may not be possible to control the leds separately. If you can figure out a way to do that, just run the sps side at a higher setting.

T5 and red sea led have a great look. I ran a 3 foot sps tank with that combo for awhile. I switched back and forth between t5 and kessils and T5 and red sea leds. The Corals did well under both, and surprisingly didn't mind the fixture swaps at all.

 

[ScottB]

It is great that you have mapped this out to start with, AND that you mapped with/without T5. Unlike LED light, PAR from T5s is incredibly gentle on corals. Over the years I've gone back/forth between LED & T5 several times and almost any given coral can enjoy A LOT more PAR from T5s.

So my point is, don't let the extra PAR that comes from the T5s worry you much if at all.

As you add corals, this map will guide you as to placement; just find out from the vendor what light the piece was getting before.

As to schedule, I run 12 hours total with 90 min LED ramp up/down and 8 hours T5.

 

[Jackooze]

It's going to be a bit of a compromise. I would start with your blues at 25 or 30 percent and tune your whites to taste.

I recommend an hour ramp up led only, then 8 hours led and t5, and then an hour of led only ramp down.

It may not be possible to control the leds separately. If you can figure out a way to do that, just run the sps side at a higher setting.

T5 and red sea led have a great look. I ran a 3 foot sps tank with that combo for awhile. I switched back and forth between t5 and kessils and T5 and red sea leds. The Corals did well under both, and surprisingly didn't mind the fixture swaps at all.

I really like the T5 look as well. What I don’t understand is when you say adjust white to taste. When using the par meter by increasing the white Channel intensity the par goes up. So should I go by par readings versus how the eye sees it?

 

[Jackooze]

It is great that you have mapped this out to start with, AND that you mapped with/without T5. Unlike LED light, PAR from T5s is incredibly gentle on corals. Over the years I've gone back/forth between LED & T5 several times and almost any given coral can enjoy A LOT more PAR from T5s.

So my point is, don't let the extra PAR that comes from the T5s worry you much if at all.

As you add corals, this map will guide you as to placement; just find out from the vendor what light the piece was getting before.

As to schedule, I run 12 hours total with 90 min LED ramp up/down and 8 hours T5.

I tested the par just for T5’s which range from 120-150 all around the tank. I am concerned about burning the coral because my tester sps frags bleached out under the 80/50 with T5 combo so I turned off my T5’s for the moment.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I really like the T5 look as well. What I don’t understand is when you say adjust white to taste. When using the par meter by increasing the white Channel intensity the par goes up. So should I go by par readings versus how the eye sees it?

The red sea 90 has 80 watts of blue and 10 watts of white. Those 10 watts of white won't make much difference overall.

I would tune the amount of white to what you prefer visually. The t5 will provide the corals with what they need spectrum wise.

More blue = more color pop. More white= better shimmer. It's a trade off.

As stated above, t5 light is gentle, but I would still start low and increase over time. Watch how your corals respond.

 

[ScottB]

I tested the par just for T5’s which range from 120-150 all around the tank. I am concerned about burning the coral because my tester sps frags bleached out under the 80/50 with T5 combo so I turned off my T5’s for the moment.

Four T5 bulbs won't bleach anything. LEDs can. Were these some low light chalice pieces?

 

[Jackooze]

The red sea 90 has 80 watts of blue and 10 watts of white. Those 10 watts of white won't make much difference overall.

I would tune the amount of white to what you prefer visually. The t5 will provide the corals with what they need spectrum wise.

More blue = more color pop. More white= better shimmer. It's a trade off.

As stated above, t5 light is gentle, but I would still start low and increase over time. Watch how your corals respond.

When you put it that way it makes a lot of sense. Thank you !

 

[Jackooze]

Four T5 bulbs won't bleach anything. LEDs can. Were these some low light chalice pieces?

Fire Digi. Green slime. Easy sps.

 

[Jackooze]

The red sea 90 has 80 watts of blue and 10 watts of white. Those 10 watts of white won't make much difference overall.

I would tune the amount of white to what you prefer visually. The t5 will provide the corals with what they need spectrum wise.

More blue = more color pop. More white= better shimmer. It's a trade off.

As stated above, t5 light is gentle, but I would still start low and increase over time. Watch how your corals respond.

Now when testing par should I only test blue channel ?

 

[ScottB]

Fire Digi. Green slime. Easy sps.

I've had those sitting in 500 PAR T5 before. They can take some light. Maybe not straight out of the bag (if shipped) but otherwise light is not your issue with the bleach in my opinion.

This is about 420 PAR over the green forest on the right.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Now when testing par should I only test blue channel ?

I think you've got the par testing covered. Really the t5 are key. They are gentle and have superior coverage and spectrum. Your corals are safe unless you crank up the leds too high.

I would ramp up the led blue to 30% for 1 hour. Then turn on t5 and your led whites for 8 hours. Then a final blue led only ramp down for one hour.

So the blue leds will be on 10 hrs total. White leds and t5 for 8 hours total. Add an hour or 2 of moonlight if you like.

Watch your corals, you can up the leds slowly over time a bit if you feel they need it.

If you want to be extra cautious, use acclimation mode on your leds for the first couple of weeks.

 

[ScottB]

I think you've got the par testing covered. Really the t5 are key. They are gentle and have superior coverage and spectrum. Your corals are safe unless you crank up the leds too high.

I would ramp up the led blue to 30% for 1 hour. Then turn on t5 and your led whites for 8 hours. Then a final blue led only ramp down for one hour.

So the blue leds will be on 10 hrs total. White leds and t5 for 8 hours total. Add an hour or 2 of moonlight if you like.

Watch your corals, you can up the leds slowly over time a bit if you feel they need it.

If you want to be extra cautious, use acclimation mode on your leds for the first couple of weeks.

+1

 

[Jackooze]

Thank you guys for all your help.

 

[becon776]

Wait I didn't realize there was a pnp option for t5 w rs90,'s?