Which 2x T5 supplementing Radion XR15W

tc2007 · 06/22/2017, 05:59 PM

I have a single XR15W over my cube. Don't have any SPS at this moment and not planning to put any high light demanding ones in this tank.

Have 3-4 acan pieces, a couple of euphyllia, goniopora, chalice etc frags at the bottom area. Got a 24" 2X T5 retro kit with 1 Blue Plus and 1 Coral Plus bulbs at this moment. Haven't attached it yet. I don't have room for more.

Question is, is this combo of BP and CP bulbs good enough for growth? I am running the AB labs LPS template at about 35% and can crank it higher.

Trick is to get good colors and growth for LPS with 1 XR15W + 2T5s.

paal · 06/23/2017, 12:18 AM

B+/C+ is a very popular T5 combination. My guess is that most people would suggest you run that exact combo. A lot of people run only these two even in 6 and 8 bulb setups.

I don't think you can do much wrong regardless of which bulbs you choose though.
If I were you I would just get the ones that you feel creates the best look. Having the LEDs to fine tune the overall color makes it much easier to find a T5 mix you are happy with.

One small note:
Let’s say you think the C+/B+ setup is way too blue (I doubt it) and it requires you to crank up the non-blue colors in your LED fixture (White/red/amber/green etc….)

In this case, think it would make more sense to just run two C+ bulbs and adjust the LEDs more to the blue side.
(So generally, I would prefer to have the T5’s on the whiter side and the LEDs on the bluer side rather than vice versa)

ktownhero · 06/23/2017, 07:25 AM

Blue+ and Coral+ is an amazing combo. Try those while using the deeper blue colors on your Radion and you get some pretty awesome coloration.

Zacktosterone · 06/23/2017, 08:42 AM

you should so a 4 t5 combo and go with blue plus and coral plus. super awesome combo... if not then at least one of each

tc2007 · 06/23/2017, 02:15 PM

So I just put up the light with B+/C+ and it looks nice no doubt. Running the LED at 45% but I think I need to crank it up a bit. The overall combination right now is on a more "milky white with tinge of blue" rather than complete blue. Some part of it is because of my Tropic eden sand reflecting the light as such.

drtrash · 06/25/2017, 12:11 PM

Good combo but Assad above 2 c+ easier to blend going to add a c+ and try

06/22/2017, 05:59 PM	#1
tc2007 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Midwest Posts: 867	Which 2x T5 supplementing Radion XR15W I have a single XR15W over my cube. Don't have any SPS at this moment and not planning to put any high light demanding ones in this tank. Have 3-4 acan pieces, a couple of euphyllia, goniopora, chalice etc frags at the bottom area. Got a 24" 2X T5 retro kit with 1 Blue Plus and 1 Coral Plus bulbs at this moment. Haven't attached it yet. I don't have room for more. Question is, is this combo of BP and CP bulbs good enough for growth? I am running the AB labs LPS template at about 35% and can crank it higher. Trick is to get good colors and growth for LPS with 1 XR15W + 2T5s. __________________ 80G Rimless + 2X AI Prime 26 HD + MP40QD + MP10QD

06/23/2017, 02:15 PM	#5
tc2007 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Midwest Posts: 867	So I just put up the light with B+/C+ and it looks nice no doubt. Running the LED at 45% but I think I need to crank it up a bit. The overall combination right now is on a more "milky white with tinge of blue" rather than complete blue. Some part of it is because of my Tropic eden sand reflecting the light as such. __________________ 80G Rimless + 2X AI Prime 26 HD + MP40QD + MP10QD

06/23/2017, 12:18 AM	#2
paal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 368	B+/C+ is a very popular T5 combination. My guess is that most people would suggest you run that exact combo. A lot of people run only these two even in 6 and 8 bulb setups. I don't think you can do much wrong regardless of which bulbs you choose though. If I were you I would just get the ones that you feel creates the best look. Having the LEDs to fine tune the overall color makes it much easier to find a T5 mix you are happy with. One small note: Let’s say you think the C+/B+ setup is way too blue (I doubt it) and it requires you to crank up the non-blue colors in your LED fixture (White/red/amber/green etc….) In this case, think it would make more sense to just run two C+ bulbs and adjust the LEDs more to the blue side. (So generally, I would prefer to have the T5’s on the whiter side and the LEDs on the bluer side rather than vice versa)

06/23/2017, 07:25 AM	#3
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	Blue+ and Coral+ is an amazing combo. Try those while using the deeper blue colors on your Radion and you get some pretty awesome coloration.

06/23/2017, 08:42 AM	#4
Zacktosterone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sault Ste Marie Ont Posts: 2,475	you should so a 4 t5 combo and go with blue plus and coral plus. super awesome combo... if not then at least one of each

06/25/2017, 12:11 PM	#6
drtrash Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S. Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,178	Good combo but Assad above 2 c+ easier to blend going to add a c+ and try