T5 height

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

I’m running a 4 bulb fixture over my 75g mixed reef.. I’m also running a 48inch tech 50/50 and a lumilite actinic.. I’m running 3 ati blue plus and 1 Giesemann Super Purple.. I’m running the fixture height around 9 inches off the water.. do u think it’s too low? I’ve read anywhere around 10-12...also I’m debating on changing the 3
Ati BP to Giesemann actinic blue.. do u guys think there’s a huge difference in the two bulbs?

Veetz89 · May 10, 2019

prfishgirl said:
I’m running a 4 bulb fixture over my 75g mixed reef.. I’m also running a 48inch tech 50/50 and a lumilite actinic.. I’m running 3 ati blue plus and 1 Giesemann Super Purple.. I’m running the fixture height around 9 inches off the water.. do u think it’s too low? I’ve read anywhere around 10-12...also I’m debating on changing the 3
Ati BP to Giesemann actinic blue.. do u guys think there’s a huge difference in the two bulbs?

Mine is 10 inches. I also use 2 kessil led bulbs. I'd say start at 9 or 10 and see how your corals react. If this is a new tank and you're set on running t5s strictly I'd say start with the 10 but just have the length of wire to raise them if you have to

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

Veetz89 said:
Mine is 10 inches. I also use 2 kessil led bulbs. I'd say start at 9 or 10 and see how your corals react. If this is a new tank and you're set on running t5s strictly I'd say start with the 10 but just have the length of wire to raise them if you have to

Switches from black box LEDs to T5s... do u think any difference in ati and Giesemann bulbs?

jda · May 10, 2019

9 inches is fine. Both of those bulbs are good.

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

I’ll see how things look where I’m currently at I guess If it’s too much for the new batch of corals I’m getting I might have to move it up.. I wasn’t sure if there was much of a difference I know it’s personal preference and all but figure I still ask

jda · May 10, 2019

All preference unless you wanted to really jump start some growth and then more daylight might be good, at the expense of a more yellow look.

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

jda said:
All preference unless you wanted to really jump start some growth and then more daylight might be good, at the expense of a more yellow look.

U think Blueplus gives off a more yellow look?

jda · May 10, 2019

No. Something like AquaSun, 6500k or Tropic does... which are totally different and only really needed if pure growth was your only concern.

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

Gotcha cause I was going to say it’s looks pretty clear to me lol

Steve Erekson · May 10, 2019

I ran both 4-bulb and a 6-bulb T5s about 4 inches above my water for years on a 75g mixed. You definitely are not too low.

As far as Blue Plus vs Actinic Blue, I've used both and they're close enough to not worry about it. If you like the color of your tank that's all that matters.

Reefpuck · May 10, 2019

I run mine about 12" off the water. Plenty of light.

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

Steve Erekson said:
I ran both 4-bulb and a 6-bulb T5s about 4 inches above my water for years on a 75g mixed. You definitely are not too low.

As far as Blue Plus vs Actinic Blue, I've used both and they're close enough to not worry about it. If you like the color of your tank that's all that matters.

Oh wow I'm assuming everything enjoyed the extra light... yeah I heard they’re almost the same just wasn’t sure
If there was a difference in spectrum or what not..I know some people just love the German bulbs and some love ati ..

prfishgirl · May 10, 2019

Reefpuck said:
I run mine about 12" off the water. Plenty of light.

Do u also have a 4 bulb or something stronger like a 6

Wiskey · May 11, 2019

I have a 75g mixed with 4x54 Tek t5 with the wrap around reflectors. When it was SPS only I had LEDs to supplement, or 6x54w depending on when, but now that it's mixed the 4 bulbs without LED is great.

The whole time I've had the lights about 6" off the water.

When it was an SPS tank:

FTS1-2-17 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

The lights at that time:

IMG_8391 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

This pic is old, but picture this only more grown in:

IMG_0471 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

The lights now:

IMG_2992 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

Right now I use Coral Plus, and True Atinic 50/50. I used to use a purple plus,, three Blue Plus, and couple of Coral Plus.

Whiskey

prfishgirl · May 11, 2019

Wow great looking tank! 4 inches off the water the sps must’ve loved that all that light.. So what are u running bulb wise on the fixture now? Blue plus?’actinic?

Hemmdog · May 11, 2019

Wiskey said:
I have a 75g mixed with 4x54 Tek t5 with the wrap around reflectors. When it was SPS only I had LEDs to supplement, or 6x54w depending on when, but now that it's mixed the 4 bulbs without LED is great.

The whole time I've had the lights about 6" off the water.

When it was an SPS tank:
FTS1-2-17 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

The lights at that time:
IMG_8391 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

This pic is old, but picture this only more grown in:
IMG_0471 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

The lights now:
IMG_2992 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

Right now I use Coral Plus, and True Atinic 50/50. I used to use a purple plus,, three Blue Plus, and couple of Coral Plus.

Whiskey

Very nice. What bulbs? I just made the switch from blue+& actinic to blue+&coral+. Hopefully I’ll see a little more growth.

Wiskey · May 11, 2019

prfishgirl said:
Wow great looking tank! 4 inches off the water the sps must’ve loved that all that light.. So what are u running bulb wise on the fixture now? Blue plus?’actinic?

Thank you! 6" up, actually. I've gone back and forth bulb wise. With the SPS I liked 3x Blue+ 2x coral+ and 1 Purple+, now I'm running Coral+ and True Atinic 50/50.

Whiskey

Wiskey · May 11, 2019

Hemmdog said:
Very nice. What bulbs? I just made the switch from blue+& actinic to blue+&coral+. Hopefully I’ll see a little more growth.

I would really love to like the Blue+ and Coral+ combo. It would give me a touch more light, but I find it to be a little blue. I'm from the 10K MH and Atinic days. With the SPS I liked 3x Blue+ 2x coral+ and 1 Purple+, now I'm running Coral+ and True Atinic 50/50. In the LED supplement days I had the LED's 50/50 and 2 Blue+ 1 Coral Plus and 1 Purple +.

Whiskey

Steve Erekson · May 11, 2019

prfishgirl said:
If there was a difference in spectrum or what not..I know some people just love the German bulbs and some love ati ..

FWIW ATI bulbs are German also.

VR28man · May 11, 2019

jda said:
No. Something like AquaSun, 6500k or Tropic does... which are totally different and only really needed if pure growth was your only concern.

Interesting. Roughly how much does a 6500K bulb speed up growth, versus a blue bulb, do you think?