Thoughts on adding a T5HO fixture to current setup

[jda]

I have used cheap grow setups over my fuges for a long time. They are fine. They are not the quaility of ATI, but also not the price tag. I actually had a ballast go out on a AgroSomething last week after more than 5 years... not bad.

Get a unit with polished reflectors instead of white or black - it helps with output that even a handheld Apogee 510 can notice. Otherwise, if you understand the build quality, then they won't let you down.

 

[bluecheese]

I have used cheap grow setups over my fuges for a long time. They are fine. They are not the quaility of ATI, but also not the price tag. I actually had a ballast go out on a AgroSomething last week after more than 5 years... not bad.

Get a unit with polished reflectors instead of white or black - it helps with output that even a handheld Apogee 510 can notice. Otherwise, if you understand the build quality, then they won't let you down.

The HTG unit I'm looking at says it "Features polished aluminum premium reflector"

 

[Ken101Ward]

The HTG unit I'm looking at says it "Features polished aluminum premium reflector"

The reflector description is accurate, "polished aluminum"

 

[bluecheese]

The LFS had 48” ATI bulbs in stock. So I grabbed a Blue+ and a Coral+. Which means I pulled the trigger on ordering the HTG fixture. I’ll update when I get it installed.

 

[bluecheese]

So the Current USA LED fixtures have just a blue channel and a white channel. When I get the new t5 fixture, and with the 4 total bulbs being 2 blue+, 1 coral+, and 1 actinic, would it be safe to just zero out the white channel on the LEDs if the tank loos too white from the coral+ bulb?

I currently have the white channel at 15%, and it balances out the blues from the blue channel and the current t5s.

I guess I’m asking g if the coral+ bulb had enough of a white spectrum that the LED whites are unnecessary.

 

[bluecheese]

Got the new fixture in yesterday. Hung it today

So now I’m running 2 Blue+ bulbs, 1 True Actinic and 1 Coral+

The tank is now a blueish white color. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. It may have to grow on me. If I wind up not liking it, I’ll pick up another Blue+ bulb and see how that looks.

I’m going to do like I did with the other fixture and increase the photo period by one hour a day until it matches the 7 hour photo period of the other fixture.

One thing I've noticed since I installed the first T5 fixture is that a birdsnest coral that was browning is now starting to fluoresce green again.

 

[Reefering1]

Got the new fixture in yesterday. Hung it today

So now I’m running 2 Blue+ bulbs, 1 True Actinic and 1 Coral+

The tank is now a blueish white color. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. It may have to grow on me. If I wind up not liking it, I’ll pick up another Blue+ bulb and see how that looks.

I’m going to do like I did with the other fixture and increase the photo period by one hour a day until it matches the 7 hour photo period of the other fixture.

One thing I've noticed since I installed the first T5 fixture is that a birdsnest coral that was browning is now starting to fluoresce green again.

Looks good. Remember white(er) light is not a bad thing. Give things a few months to start showing their colors

 

[DCR]

Another Blue+ is not going to make it whiter. You would probably want another C+ or AB Special

 

[bluecheese]

Another Blue+ is not going to make it whiter. You would probably want another C+ or AB Special

Right now I think its too white. But it may grow on me. If not, then I'll try switching out the Coral+ for a Blue+.

 

[bluecheese]

Looks good. Remember white(er) light is not a bad thing. Give things a few months to start showing their colors

Right now I have the LED blue channel at 85% and the white channel at 15%. I may turn up the blue channel and zero out the white channel to see how things look.

 

[DCR]

OK. My misunderstanding. I generally do not like a lot of Blue+ but I prefer a whiter look.

 

[Reefering1]

Right now I think its too white. But it may grow on me. If not, then I'll try switching out the Coral+ for a Blue+.

I think it looks nice as it is. I would probably turn up the white some more. Appreciate yellows/pink/orange/ whites that you lose in the extreme blues

 

[bluecheese]

A year and some odd months later, and the tank is doing great under the T5 lights.

As an example, this Acan that had been in the tank for a year before installing the new lights went from this

to this

And a birdsnest coral has gone from this

to this

I'm still running the 36" fixture that I had along with the 48" fixture that I bought last year. I'm thinking of replacing the 36" with another 48" for better light coverage. But I won't have to make up my mind on that until December or January when I do the yearly bulb replacement.