T5s in 2025 (almost 2026)

[ThisIsTheWay]

I haven't set it up yet, but I was able to get a great deal on a 24 inch, dimmable, 6-bulb ATI fixture. My plan is to try it over my Innovative Marine 25 gal lagoon tank that I've got set up as a softie growout tank. I know LED's are what's "in" right now and most likely the future of reef lights, but I feel like I have to try T5 at least once.

Following along for good LED recommendations as well.

For anyone looking for inexpensive T5 bulbs, CoralVue currently has an additional 30% off their Giesmann bulb pack closeout . https://store.coralvue.com/giesemann-powerchrome-t5-bulb-pick-and-choose-10-pack?

 

[Jarob]

How is the heat ouput on that bad boy? Chiller needed? Is it the 4"?

Heat isn't bad at all. On my new setup I have an enclosed canopy so I threw in an AC Infinity Airplate S9 fan and it's dead silent and keeps it cool the heaters kick on.

$800 is too much although they are hard to find. I picked up my 48" for $250, searched the entire nation on Facebook marketplace to find it and covered shipping. My fans went bad but those are such an easy swap. The coverage is incredible, no shading, great colors and flexibility with the bulbs, and adding the Quanta meso Blue bars recently really made it perfect as I run a whiter tank. It's heavy AF though so will need a proper mount for it. I use 8020

 

[Rcfiftyone]

A pair of meridians will rock that thing!

Really nice clean setup! Love the floating canopy. Mine is a full canopy and I kinda miss the open rimless look

 

[Rcfiftyone]

I run T5's and I love them. There's just something about a full spectrum of light. You see all kinds of different colors appear with them. I run a Reefbrite XHO actinic bar for color pop. I desperately want to switch that out for two Quanta Helix bars and a pair of Kessil A360's though. I live in Wisconsin where the founder of Quanta lives and hear/see nothing but amazing things from Quanta. Eventually, I'll probably switch out my T5 for the quanta Atlas which more mimic Metal Halide lights.

I pick up the T5 light, though to be honest I've got a guy around me selling 60" 8 bulbs for $200, $800 seems a bit high unless there are all brand new bulbs. Either way, $800 is going to be the best bang for your buck you can light that tank for SPS. I'd throw that up along with your 4 kessils for a stunning shimmer look and then eventually add a few LED bars from Quanta for some added pop.

Ive been hearing a lot about the Quanta Helix bars lately. Both here and in talking to people locally. Might have to give them some serious consideration.

The Powermodule does come with a fresh set of 8 bulbs so theres some value there. Still, I feel like he could come down off that price some. Id probably be in around $5-600

 

[Rcfiftyone]

Powermodule is a great light but they’re high asking for $800 based on how slowly they move.

Offer them $500 cash and you’re in good shape vs upfront cost of new LEDs ubless you’re adding Quantas.

Kinda what I was thinking, $5-600 tops. Comes with a fresh set of bulbs so thats worth somthing

 

[Rcfiftyone]

The reflectors in T5 and reef brite XHO make all the difference in shading. I pulled down my T5 and replaced them with Orphek bars and my Pink Lemonade and Cliff’s acro deteriorated until I put the T5 back up last week. They started improving in a couple days, but both are in bad shape.

The top colonies below are under the tank brace and next to the overflow, so it’s about the worse spot in the tank for shading.

Thats actually crazy how bad they deteriorated! My tank is braced just like yours so thats definitely a concern. I have a 4 bulb aquaticlife t5 hybrid on my 57 figi cube with two radion xr15 pros in the middle. Ballasts went out on the t5 and in a short time it became apparent that the T5s were doing the heavy lifting PAR wise. Once those corals get a taste of the T5 juice nothing else will do! Lol

 

[Rcfiftyone]

Heat isn't bad at all. On my new setup I have an enclosed canopy so I threw in an AC Infinity Airplate S9 fan and it's dead silent and keeps it cool the heaters kick on.

$800 is too much although they are hard to find. I picked up my 48" for $250, searched the entire nation on Facebook marketplace to find it and covered shipping. My fans went bad but those are such an easy swap. The coverage is incredible, no shading, great colors and flexibility with the bulbs, and adding the Quanta meso Blue bars recently really made it perfect as I run a whiter tank. It's heavy AF though so will need a proper mount for it. I use 8020

Yeah weight is a consideration. My canopy is open at the top so ventilation shouldn't be an issue. Its supported on the far end of the tank by sitting on the top eurobrace with some small 1"x4" legs. I think I would have to support it from the ceiling to add the powermodule

 

[386reeftrader]

T5s are going to be the best bang for your buck. There's not another artificial light source that can top T5 for both growth and color. That said, LEDs can work really well if there's proper coverage. You could run BB LEDs with T5 supplement and get the same results as the really expensive LED brands.

 

[skyrne_isk]

T5s are going to be the best bang for your buck…..You could run BB LEDs with T5 supplement and get the same results as the really expensive LED brands.

I couldn’t agree with this more. My tank has T5 and VHOs supplementing Reefis and I couldn’t be happier. My theory is something like fluorescent tubes protect you from shading and incomplete color mixing LEDs can give you. Sure the LEDs can be hung high to mitigate this but then the fixture is too far off water to run tubes - and you need a lot more of them. So LEDs for me give me hotspots where I need them and the tubes give me good fill so new pieces can be light acclimated and/or grown in lower intensity conditions.

 

[rtparty]

To generalize and blanket statement all LEDs as the same is crazy

Some LEDs are laser beams, others are super wide and amazing for coverage

 

[SeaDweller]

we all know t5 is dying/dead technology. however... I'm currently running a modded 8 bulb 48" ATI Sunpower, and will never turn back to running solely LED unless I absolutely had to. I did recently add an OR4 bar for some more UV punch, but I was doing OK without it.

You mentioned ATI Actinics, and it's true they're getting difficult (if not impossible to get) right now. However, I bought like 5 years worth of the true 03, and recently picked up about 15 years worth of Giesemann's Super Actinics (True 03 comparable) from Coralvue's outlet sale. 10 bulbs for 90$! I encourage you to get all the bulbs you need now, and extra ballasts, just in case. The growth I had from running 4, 48" reefbreeders over my old 8' tank (I've downsized to a 4' 120 gallon now) was insane, but the colors I'm pulling now, I attribute to the T5s, and the growth is there too.

The coral health and corals are unmatched with my current tank and the T5s.

 

[2Flash1]

I run 2 Quanta’s Mesos and an ATI NanoBox (Led and 6 T-5 bulb fixture)

I stick with ATI bulbs. I did purchase 10 of the Coralvue bulbs last yr for 75$ for 10 and I was not happy with them at all.

 

[spsick]

I run 2 Quanta’s Mesos and an ATI NanoBox (Led and 6 T-5 bulb fixture)

Wow what a testament to that Nanobox mod! It’s been what, 7 years since he quit making them?

 

[2Flash1]

Yes about that maybe longer. I have all new LED pucks thanks to @braaap. I love the fixture and can’t get rid of it just yet.

 

[Rcfiftyone]

T5s are going to be the best bang for your buck. There's not another artificial light source that can top T5 for both growth and color. That said, LEDs can work really well if there's proper coverage. You could run BB LEDs with T5 supplement and get the same results as the really expensive LED brands.

This is my feeling as well. On my previous 180 gal I had at one time as many as 6 Hydra52s and Still had shading under some large colonys. Even with the current advancements of the best LEDs there seems to be a void that T5s fill with ease.

 

[Yazannreef]

Here is my 2 cents,

I would definitely consider having t5 but in a firm of a hybrid fixture. They are super cheap now on brs.
I have all 3 technologies over my tank ( Metal halide/ t5/ led and I love it)

You can still fine t5 bulbs ( giesmann bulbs ) via coral vue for dirt cheap) i got 12 60" bulbs for $112.

I have quanta bars and orphek bars as well for that blue pop to offset my halide.

Halides are still available ( reefbrite fixtures) and I stocked up on bulbs that will run me for the next 20 years lol.

 

[Yazannreef]

So the take away is get your self a hybrid set up( t5 and Leds) if you dont want to go Metal halide route. Your tank will love you for it. And if and when t5 is done with( I doubt it) then you have your led running.

And yeah. Do not get orphek atlantik icons or natura . They will die on you in 2 years( personal experience)

Radions or Dalua are good light but get t5 with them

 

[Yazannreef]

$680 for a 60" hybrid giesman t5:
https://store.coralvue.com/giesemann-stellar-t5-hybrid-led-retro-fixture

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have an ATI LED Hybrid Powermodule over my 270. Great light, have a stash of bulbs for next 8-10 years.

Many refer to it as PAR monster with 8 x 80w T5s and 4 x 75W LED cluster.

Currently running it with only 4xT5s.

 

[legendhua]

I replaced the T5(ATI Actinic & Blue+) with AI Blade.
reduced power consmption

The corals in the tank showed no signs of deterioration.
The overall visual effect has a touch more purple.

燈架 AI Blade Glow AI52HD by legendhua, 於 Flickr

The status of my tank