T5 retrofit questions

[Cthulukelele]

So I am running 2 MarsAqua 165w above a 120g tank, and I want to retrofit my canopy with t5s to supplement. I don't like all the shading (most corals seem to be doing fine I have a mix of SPS LPS and a few zoas)

A few questions!

What kit should I use?
2 48" or 4 48"?
I plan to use ATI bulbs. Which bulbs?
Should I mix and match?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If you want to cure shading probaly just two.
To boost par and let the t5 donthe heavy lifting 4.

Fwiw , each tube is about 150-180 par at 12in.
So four tubes would add 700 ish par to the top of the tank.

Mix and match. No guess is wrong. Blue + or coral plus or a purple plus in ati.
You can rebalance the color with the led.

 

[Cthulukelele]

If you want to cure shading probaly just two.
To boost par and let the t5 donthe heavy lifting 4.

Fwiw , each tube is about 150-180 par at 12in.
So four tubes would add 700 ish par to the top of the tank.

Mix and match. No guess is wrong. Blue + or coral plus or a purple plus in ati.
You can rebalance the color with the led.

Thanks! Seems legit! I will probably go with the 2 bulbs then. The leds get super bright so I am not too worried about the T5s doing the heavy lifting.

I am thinking maybe a true actinic and a coral plus. These seem to have the most of the spectrums I lack on the Chinese black boxes, but maybe actinic and blue+. Hmmmm decisions decisions.

Any flavor combinations you really like?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks! Seems legit! I will probably go with the 2 bulbs then. The leds get super bright so I am not too worried about the T5s doing the heavy lifting.

I am thinking maybe a true actinic and a coral plus. These seem to have the most of the spectrums I lack on the Chinese black boxes, but maybe actinic and blue+. Hmmmm decisions decisions.

Any flavor combinations you really like?

Actually, the actinic might not be a good Choice as it’s the lowest par (and brightness ) unless the B.B. doesn’t s have the pop you want. It’s basically a black light. (Yea I’ll tske that back. )

So much is personal choice though. I run my SBreeflight at 1:1 ratio. Warm for most folks so I’d b+ c+ for that.

If you run a blue look maybe b+ b+. And balance with the led whites to taste.
That might be the safe bet. Especially if the tubes are close to the water, it’ll blend better.

Myself , on a full ati w b+x4 and p+x2 and TAx2 , (at my lfs display ) I wanna Ralph. Some like it though.
Lol.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Actually, the actinic might not be a good Choice as it’s the lowest par (and brightness ) unless the B.B. doesn’t s have the pop you want. It’s basically a black light. (Yea I’ll tske that back. )

So much is personal choice though. I run my SBreeflight at 1:1 ratio. Warm for most folks so I’d b+ c+ for that.

If you run a blue look maybe b+ b+. And balance with the led whites to taste.
That might be the safe bet. Especially if the tubes are close to the water, it’ll blend better.

Myself , on a full ati w b+x4 and p+x2 and TAx2 , (at my lfs display ) I wanna Ralph. Some like it though.
Lol.

B+ and C+ it is! I actually run my tank very warm, but that is mainly because of my current PAR options. If I want to grow sps with these lights, I have to jack up the whites more than I'd like to get the PAR there.

I think tuning down the led whites and adding a c+ and b+ will give me a nice faint blue glow with a little more pop and very little shadowing which I am looking for (based on the YouTube videos I've been neurotically watching all evening lol).

You have been incredibly helpful! I also agree about the super blue "the drugs are just starting to kick in" candyland coral colors floating in windex. Not for me :p

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hahahaha
Glad to help!

 

[babyjess210]

I have the LET retro kit from BRS and they use the same ballast at ATI fixtures

 

[Cthulukelele]

I have the LET retro kit from BRS and they use the same ballast at ATI fixtures

Do you know if they use the same reflectors?

 

[babyjess210]

Do you know if they use the same reflectors?

IMO the reflectors in the kit bigger and more parabolic kinda reminds me of the old ICE CAP reflectors.

 

[Cthulukelele]

IMO the reflectors in the kit bigger and more parabolic kinda reminds me of the old ICE CAP reflectors.

I wish I had a controller so I could use the dimmable retrofit! My coral don't love the first 5-10 minutes after the lights kick on lol

 

[pecan2phat]

I don't think you will have enough room to go 4 bulbs and not shade over the LED fixtures on a 24" wide tank.
I run a 2 bulb retrofit on the outer ends of my 4 Radions on a 180g and I need to turn the reflectors inward so that the front and rear glass panels are not blasted with light. I ended up using ATI AB Special and while it took a little time to get use to the 12k output, I like it. I only run the T5s for 4 hours a day during the peak of the LEDs.