T-5 bulbs, PAR rating, what bulbs to use, etc....

[PhelpsTanks]

Yeah, I know many people with a similar setup running sps with no issues. You should have plenty of light with the 6 bulb.

Thanks,

Sonny

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Larsen]

I have
Blue plus
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
Aqua blue special
Blue plus
Blue plus

Fixture is about 10 inches from water
Photo period 7 hours
Cal 425 DKH 9
But my color in sps is not the best just looks dull
LPS looks great
Sps is growing but no color
Any recommendations?

 

[switaki]

Question..

I need suggestions from the T5 gurus...

Tank: 36x30x22 SPS

I'm going to purchase either an ATI 36" 6x39W Powermodule or ATI 36" 8x39W Powermodule...

Of these two choices.. which would you suggest?

Thanks..

 

[robsreefs]

yea me too i have 8 t5s 3 150w mh combo i need new bulbs but im stuck on what to do im looking for nice growth and color if you guys and girls could please give me some advice on witch way to go that would be great

 

[endy0430]

Hello I just replace my MH PC fixture with a 36" ATI Sunpower 6x39 fixture
bulbs are as follows
front
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
ATI Fiji Purple
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +

My tank is a 57g 36"L X 18"w X 21"H is a mixed reef is this a good combination?
Also I'm new to T5's are the T5's good for sps and clams?
Thanks

 

[Fieroguy19]

I have
Blue plus
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
Aqua blue special
Blue plus
Blue plus

Fixture is about 10 inches from water
Photo period 7 hours
Cal 425 DKH 9
But my color in sps is not the best just looks dull
LPS looks great
Sps is growing but no color
Any recommendations?

Well if you are not getting good color with your SPS then it may be high nutrients or lack of flow, the bulbs you have should be fine as long as you change them every year.

 

[Fieroguy19]

Hello I just replace my MH PC fixture with a 36" ATI Sunpower 6x39 fixture
bulbs are as follows
front
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
ATI Fiji Purple
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +

My tank is a 57g 36"L X 18"w X 21"H is a mixed reef is this a good combination?
Also I'm new to T5's are the T5's good for sps and clams?
Thanks

You have a great fixture and bulbs so you should have plenty of light for SPS or clams. If you like the overall color of the tank with these bulbs then there is no reason to change them.

 

[adamfinke]

How do you have them comming on in the morning day and night.?

I use this combo personally it has give me great growth less then a year

kz new gen
Blue plus
Kz coral light
Fiji purple
Blue plus
kz coral light

 

[Stpatrick]

Hi Sunny,

I ordered a new light fixture for my 30 wide 24 deep 112 gallon reef. I have mostly SPS. My light is a 36" t5/led hybred. What do you think about this light set up and will it be enough for sps?

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
LED (9X3 watt cree royal Blue)
LED (9X3 watt cree cool white)
LED (9X3 watt cree royal Blue)
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[containerman1]

nice set up

 

[GregAW]

Ok, I'm sorry for this question but I could use the help. I had a minor stroke last year and for some reason all the reading has left me more confused than enlightened. So I need to ask, I have a 102 gallon bow front tank. It measures 48" long x 18" wide and 24" deep. I have a T5HO, 6 tube fixture rated at 324 watts total. I need to replace the lights. I am in the process of rebuilding my reef display, which I lost while recovering. What is the suggested replacement lights and the order, front to back? I want to eventually get back to the point where I can have SPS in the upper back portion of the tank. Thanks so much for any help given.

 

[SC reefer]

Hay I was wondering if anybody uses the True Actinic by ATI. Also is it a deeper blue than the blue plus? I was thinking this for my 6 bulb 36 inch

1.True Actinic
2.Blue +
3.Blue +
4. 12000 K aquablue special
5.Blue +
6.True Actinic

As you can see I want a blue light dominated tank. Open to any suggestions!

Thanks~ SC reefer

 

[ironworker]

i am thinking of changing my bulbs i currently have this

giesseman aquablue+
uvl actinic white
giesseman actinic+
giesseman pure actinic

was going to change the pure act with a act+. should i change the actinic white or maybe keep it. it is alot of red\purple in the tank.

i also thought of changing all bulbs. any suggestions.

 

[Reefing8EZ]

I have a shallow reef 24x24x12 and just got a new ATI sunpower 6x24 T5HO fixture.
How high should the light be above my tank?
And what's a good 6 bulb combo for LPS only tank? Thanks!

 

[Dre59]

This is a very helpful thread...

 

[Reefing8EZ]

Bump..

 

[ColaAddict]

I have an ATI Sunpower 8 bulb. How often should I change bulbs? I have a mostly SPS reef tank.

 

[Degener8]

General concensus on T5 is 9-12 month replacement between or shortly after this area the colors begin to shift. Keeping SPS i would probably go closer to the 9-10 month mark and I would replace them in a rotation over the coarse of a few months rather than all at once since some SPS are finicky about sudden shifts in lighting. Doing them in rotation will lessen this effect.

 

[SunnyX]

I have a shallow reef 24x24x12 and just got a new ATI sunpower 6x24 T5HO fixture.
How high should the light be above my tank?
And what's a good 6 bulb combo for LPS only tank? Thanks!

Hello,

When taking into factor the dimensions of your setup, and the corals being kept, I would hang the fixture 6-8" above the rim of the tank. T5's may be too strong for some of the corals in your setup, so you will have to keep an eye on things. If the corals lighten up, you should then scale back your photoperiod. Every setup is different, so your mileage may vary.

As for bulb combo, I like a heavy dose of blues when lighting up LPS:

FRONT
Blue+
ATI Purple+
Blue+
Blue+
Blue+
Blue+

I would grab an extra bulb, ATI Aquablue Special, in case the setup is too blue for your liking.

Good luck,

Sonny

 

[SunnyX]

Hello,

I would steer clear of the Actinic T5 bulbs. They really dont put out anywhere near the PAR of the BLue+, and are nowhere near as blue. The blue+ is a perfect blue, while actinics are more of a purple.

Hay I was wondering if anybody uses the True Actinic by ATI. Also is it a deeper blue than the blue plus? I was thinking this for my 6 bulb 36 inch

1.True Actinic
2.Blue +
3.Blue +
4. 12000 K aquablue special
5.Blue +
6.True Actinic

As you can see I want a blue light dominated tank. Open to any suggestions!

Thanks~ SC reefer