T5 main light w led highlight or reverse?

Cbones1979

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Hello

currently running a 45 gallon tall mixed reef. Running t5 hybrid w 2 black box led (30 watts each).
Currently running led longer than t5.
Should I be running t5 longer as they more than likely are stronger than the black box led?

here is my current photo period

led 1 11-9pm. Blue 100 w 0
Led 2 12-10pm Blue 100 w 0
T5 back 12-7 blue plus actinic bulbs
T5 front 1-8

so peak time is 1-7 all on

thanks for your help

A95385FD-82F9-4350-8548-B9D777DFB3B7.jpeg
 

Jekyl

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Hello

currently running a 45 gallon tall mixed reef. Running t5 hybrid w 2 black box led (30 watts each).
Currently running led longer than t5.
Should I be running t5 longer as they more than likely are stronger than the black box led?

here is my current photo period

led 1 11-9pm. Blue 100 w 0
Led 2 12-10pm Blue 100 w 0
T5 back 12-7 blue plus actinic bulbs
T5 front 1-8

so peak time is 1-7 all on

thanks for your help

A95385FD-82F9-4350-8548-B9D777DFB3B7.jpeg
That is probably waaaaaaayyyy too much light. I had just the black boxes and ran them at 20white 60 blue. Even then the par was probably at 400+ at the top of the tank.

Edit I'm probably wrong, just saw your LED are only 30w
 
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Cbones1979

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That is probably waaaaaaayyyy too much light. I had just the black boxes and ran them at 20white 60 blue. Even then the par was probably at 400+ at the top of the tank.

Edit I'm probably wrong, just saw your LED are only 30w
I had used a par meter and the top of my rocks only hit 280 par. Think my tank is 36 inches deep. It’s a weird size so lots of lost light on the way down
 
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Cbones1979

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That is probably waaaaaaayyyy too much light. I had just the black boxes and ran them at 20white 60 blue. Even then the par was probably at 400+ at the top of the tank.

Edit I'm probably wrong, just saw your LED are only 30w
I had used a pad meter and the top of my rocks only hit 280 par
That is probably waaaaaaayyyy too much light. I had just the black boxes and ran them at 20white 60 blue. Even then the par was probably at 400+ at the top of the tank.

Edit I'm probably wrong, just saw your LED are only 30w
all good, yeah leds I have are original from the first tank

I’ll upgrade someday but working w what I have
 

Jekyl

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I had used a pad meter and the top of my rocks only hit 280 par

all good, yeah leds I have are original from the first tank

I’ll upgrade someday but working w what I have
I just saw black box at 100% and thought of my marsaqua. Would have been 700par on their own
 

srobertb

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There is a lighting methodology that calls for a white and/or more intense spectrum mid day.

I have always heard of people running T5’s 8-8 and having the LEDS ramp up during the day. I don’t know why you couldn’t do it the other way if your T5’s were stronger than LEDS.

Ironically I’m having the best luck with just running my lights at a chosen intensity for 10 hours a day. No fancy ramps, spectrum changes, etc.
 
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Cbones1979

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There is a lighting methodology that calls for a white and/or more intense spectrum mid day.

I have always heard of people running T5’s 8-8 and having the LEDS ramp up during the day. I don’t know why you couldn’t do it the other way if your T5’s were stronger than LEDS.

Ironically I’m having the best luck with just running my lights at a chosen intensity for 10 hours a day. No fancy ramps, spectrum changes, etc.
I could do that too. Just like the blue light during the evening. May be able to keep 2 t5 blue bulbs on longer too.
Lighting is weird. Some people light a lot others don’t.
What a hobby
 

srobertb

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I could do that too. Just like the blue light during the evening. May be able to keep 2 t5 blue bulbs on longer too.
Lighting is weird. Some people light a lot others don’t.
What a hobby
Lights are a crap shoot for sure.

Look at the AB+ program from coral labs. It’s “made” for Radions but people have replicated it across other light fixtures too. The program calls for a set photoperiod with 30 minutes of viewing time before and after where it gets blue so corals pop.

we’re not supposed to say it but you can grow most soft corals and a lot of LPS under some basic lights with less than “ideal” spectrum.
 

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