Thinking about switching to T5 for the first time...

[nautical_nathaniel]

Currently I'm rocking a Maxspect Ethereal on my Nuvo 20, and while it's a pretty good light it does have a few issues that I don't think fit my long term goals for coral growth.

Here's a list of some of the problems I have with the light currently:

- Light spread is pretty limited, sort of stays right around the area directly under the fixture in terms of good PAR. I'm sure this would be better if I got the light higher, but I'm not willing to use a hanging kit in my apartment.

- Color mixing is so-so, it works but I can definitely see different colors around the edges of shadows.

So with those things considered, would these issues be solved, more-or-less, by going to a 24" four bulb T5 fixture? I have a mixed reef with Acropora, Montipora, a few Favias, a Torch, and several varieties of Zoas.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Absolutely do it! A hybrid with both would be ideal. I was a hardcore led fan, but then switched from led only to led/t5 and it was night and day difference, my growth and coloration exploded. Got even better when I went to metal halide/t5. But my next build will be led/t5 again :)

 

[mich2599]

I changed from a Hydra 26 to a T5 and overall the tank looks better. I’ll see about growth as I made the change a week ago.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Absolutely do it! A hybrid with both would be ideal. I was a hardcore led fan, but then switched from led only to led/t5 and it was night and day difference, my growth and coloration exploded. Got even better when I went to metal halide/t5. But my next build will be led/t5 again :)

Ideally I would like to do a hybrid setup, but I'm worried it would overshoot the tank a bit if I went with something like the Aquatic Life Fixture and a Kessil 360.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I changed from a Hydra 26 to a T5 and overall the tank looks better. I’ll see about growth as I made the change a week ago.

What kind of fixture did you get? Are you using it on a small tank?

 

[mich2599]

50 gallon. ATI 24” 4 bulb

Top pic is with Hydra bottom with T5

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

50 gallon. ATI 24” 4 bulb

Top pic is with Hydra bottom with T5

Is that the ATI Sunpower? It definitely makes a difference in light spread!

 

[mich2599]

Is that the ATI Sunpower? It definitely makes a difference in light spread!

Yes

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

If anyone has any suggestions for a 24" fixture, I would be so grateful :)

 

[lancesmith1]

But my next build will be led/t5 again :)

why are you gong back to LED/T5?

 

[Crabs McJones]

why are you gong back to LED/T5?

Not going to lie, I'm a tech junkie, and I miss all the programming and stuff I could do with LED's
I've seen Primes and Hydras on alot of tanks and really like them, so I want to give them a try :)