T5 Supplement For my LEDs

Reefpilot11 · 04/15/2015, 08:06 PM

So its seeming like ALOT of people with LEDs are trying out T5 supplementation. Im testing the waters to see if anyone has a fixture with two bulbs and reflectors (I will include a pic of what I am thinking of doing). Im curious to try it out because I think it will really benefit my coral coloration. Open to any ideas or all of your thoughts because that will surely sway my decision! Oh and I am running two 16" photon reef breeders.

photo 9720D4D1-2AAF-4E39-B44C-E135B086F26C_zpsiiq2fjlu.jpg

LiquidCache · 04/15/2015, 08:12 PM

Yep, that's how most of ours are sat up.

BryanS4 · 04/15/2015, 08:16 PM

Following. I've been thinking about doing the same. Any ideas on a decent one or two bulb fixture?

Reefpilot11 · 04/15/2015, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanS4

Following. I've been thinking about doing the same. Any ideas on a decent one or two bulb fixture?

Bryan, I was trying to get some input as well.

rogergolf66 · 04/15/2015, 09:31 PM

LET miro 4 t5 retro kits.

Roger

Reefpilot11 · 04/15/2015, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogergolf66

LET miro 4 t5 retro kits.

Roger

Thanks Roger, I'm new to this T5 stuff what color bulbs would you recommend if I do not like a really bright white look?

LiquidCache · 04/15/2015, 11:30 PM

Try one ati coral plus and one blue plus or purple plus in combination.

snake1 · 04/16/2015, 04:13 AM

I'm running LEDs with 4 t5s two on each side ....and I run from front to back all ati bulbs purple plus.blue plus.blue plus.blue plus.....by putting the purple plus in the front it helps shine on the face of the reef and all the corals and has brought out some new colors in some of my corals I used to have the purple plus over the rocks and it neglected to cover the whole tank as it does now.....the actinic in my opinion is a waste of bulb space the blue plus will give you way more pop IMO ....and if you use UV LEDs you really don't need the actinic your corals will pop

Reefpilot11 · 04/16/2015, 05:57 AM

Awesome guys thanks for the recommendation!

janes_mw · 04/16/2015, 07:16 AM

In both my 120 and 300 I run Photon 48 with T5s. The pic below is 1 of the 2 photons in the 300 (I run 2 Photon 48s and 4 54w T5s) showing placement of the T5s. I have room for 4 more T5s in the 300, but not sure if I will add them... time will tell

Mester320 · 04/16/2015, 07:19 AM

Snake said it all and I have been looking into this as well to add to my 3 radions. From the research I have done the Miro kit is going to be the best bang for your buck. I believe the best price I found them for was on aquacave.com and they always have a 5% coupon

This is what I considered doing. But I might try the wide angle lenses on the radions first and see how that goes. I just don't want the added cost again of the t5's.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1429190249.462299.jpg

Tryder · 04/16/2015, 08:01 AM

So what's the point of running T5s with LEDs?

Is it for a look or supplementing a light spectrum the led unit is missing?

Cubed Reefer · 04/16/2015, 08:10 AM

Adds a lot of PAR as well as color. But Corals react differently to bulbs vs LED's especially SPS I run T5 LED for my SPS only tank and easily best for color and growth combo without the heat power consumption of MH. Also far more customizeable. Easy to make your own fixture like I did but ATI and Pac Sun make some killer hybrid units.

macdaddynick1 · 04/16/2015, 11:09 AM

And here I was contemplating if I should add t5 to my tank . SOLD

macdaddynick1 · 04/16/2015, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janes_mw

In both my 120 and 300 I run Photon 48 with T5s. The pic below is 1 of the 2 photons in the 300 (I run 2 Photon 48s and 4 54w T5s) showing placement of the T5s. I have room for 4 more T5s in the 300, but not sure if I will add them... time will tell

What are those 1 bulb t5 fixtures?

janes_mw · 04/16/2015, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdaddynick1

What are those 1 bulb t5 fixtures?

Sunblaster NanoTech T5. Got mine from Amazon.

carmexx · 04/16/2015, 01:59 PM

I did something along the lines of that with a 5 bulb t5 fixture from aquatinics. It seemed no one was interested in buying it so i decided to remove the center 3 bulbs and mount my 2 AI hydra's there. I kept the outside 2 bulbs. Fixture is 36" over a 57 gal rimless.

oblio · 04/16/2015, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janes_mw

Sunblaster NanoTech T5. Got mine from Amazon.

I have been looking at those fixtures for a couple of months now, no issues with those? Any comment on them? seems those are a very efficient way to add a t5 light.

Anyone running t5's with Kessils? was wondering if adding 2 t5's would remove the shimmer, I hope it doesn't, wife will be grumpy if I remove all the shimmer.

cmcoker · 04/16/2015, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janes_mw

Sunblaster NanoTech T5. Got mine from Amazon.

How long have you been running that fixture? Debating between the let and this. This seems like less work and neater appearance, but how is the fixture holding up above saltwater?
Still debating if I need to supplement or not..

janes_mw · 04/16/2015, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmcoker

How long have you been running that fixture? Debating between the let and this. This seems like less work and neater appearance, but how is the fixture holding up above saltwater?
Still debating if I need to supplement or not..

On the 300, only a few months because new build. But I have a year on the 120. Great fixture and super reflector. Linkable and 5 min install. I love them. Mind you they are 8 inches above water so I don't get much saltwater on them (just humidity from tank). So far, just fine.

mike

Bluesun · 04/17/2015, 03:22 PM

Why the T5 if you have quality full spectrum led lights?

janes_mw · 04/17/2015, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesun

Why the T5 if you have quality full spectrum led lights?

"quality" open to interpretation. Even the best well known and proven MH lights were usually supplemented with Actinic or what ever. One of the best manufactures out there of aquarium lighting, even sells an LED with T5 supplements.

Will LED lighting get there? sure, but right now it is an easy way to supplement for color, or a specific spectrum you may want to enhance.

Curious to know what you think "quality" is.

mike

cmcoker · 04/19/2015, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janes_mw

On the 300, only a few months because new build. But I have a year on the 120. Great fixture and super reflector. Linkable and 5 min install. I love them. Mind you they are 8 inches above water so I don't get much saltwater on them (just humidity from tank). So far, just fine.

mike

Thanks, what is everyone running bulb color wise?

I have a diy full spectrum build on a storm controller. I have some violets, "ocean coral white" clusters, and a 2:1 rb:white (can't remember off hand which white)

I like whiter light with a blueish tint, don't prefer the windex look all day. I have only ever used the cf that came on my first tank a biocube14, got rid of those before my second bulb change. I ran a white and an actinic bulb.. From there went to leds no I have no idea on the t5 bulbs...

Bluesun · 04/20/2015, 12:39 AM

A led progamable with a high par value that has several channels that inculdes one the can customize actinic levels to deliver a 12k to a blue 20k hue.
My question is what exactly are the T5 giving you? Color, grow, vigor?

rogergolf66 · 04/20/2015, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesun

A led progamable with a high par value that has several channels that inculdes one the can customize actinic levels to deliver a 12k to a blue 20k hue.
My question is what exactly are the T5 giving you? Color, grow, vigor?

Well it's not my setup but to answer that question it would depend on ur choice of t5 bulbs. The thing about led is the light it puts out is simply a very narrow range of light in spectrum. Even if u have 6 different channels of led u literally hit 6 nm of light spectrum. That's nothing for range. A t5 or mH either single bulb will hit a wide range of spectrum. That giving any of the above that u asked about from color to growth as a benefit depending on the bulbs u choose.

Roger

04/15/2015, 09:31 PM	#5
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	LET miro 4 t5 retro kits. Roger __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

04/16/2015, 04:13 AM	#8
snake1 Premium Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 2,044	I'm running LEDs with 4 t5s two on each side ....and I run from front to back all ati bulbs purple plus.blue plus.blue plus.blue plus.....by putting the purple plus in the front it helps shine on the face of the reef and all the corals and has brought out some new colors in some of my corals I used to have the purple plus over the rocks and it neglected to cover the whole tank as it does now.....the actinic in my opinion is a waste of bulb space the blue plus will give you way more pop IMO ....and if you use UV LEDs you really don't need the actinic your corals will pop __________________ Snake1 Current Tank Info: Future build 60 Cube/45 gallon sump, Ecotech XR30 Radion Gen 4 Pro, 2)mp40 , 2)mp10, Full Apex, I-Tech100 Skimmer, JBJ Auto Top Off, custom I-Tech one off calcium reactor.

04/16/2015, 05:57 AM	#9
Reefpilot11 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Indian rocks beach Posts: 926	Awesome guys thanks for the recommendation! __________________ 75g Mixed Reef - ATI 36" Sunpower / x2 MP10s / SWC 120 Skimmer / Tsunami Sump / MR1 Reactor / Apex

04/16/2015, 07:16 AM	#10
janes_mw Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,526	In both my 120 and 300 I run Photon 48 with T5s. The pic below is 1 of the 2 photons in the 300 (I run 2 Photon 48s and 4 54w T5s) showing placement of the T5s. I have room for 4 more T5s in the 300, but not sure if I will add them... time will tell __________________ 300G 96x24x30, BK250 Skimmer with Avast Swabbie, LED/T5, Geo CaRx with Masterflex effluent cntl, Zeovite User - Avast Marine Tumbler, Archon control, Vortech MP60,Tunze 6125, & Jebao RW20 making waves

04/15/2015, 08:12 PM	#2
LiquidCache Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Carrollwood Posts: 727	Yep, that's how most of ours are sat up.

04/15/2015, 08:16 PM	#3
BryanS4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Hernando Beach, FL Posts: 944	Following. I've been thinking about doing the same. Any ideas on a decent one or two bulb fixture?

04/15/2015, 11:30 PM	#7
LiquidCache Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Carrollwood Posts: 727	Try one ati coral plus and one blue plus or purple plus in combination.

04/16/2015, 07:19 AM	#11
Mester320 Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 67	Snake said it all and I have been looking into this as well to add to my 3 radions. From the research I have done the Miro kit is going to be the best bang for your buck. I believe the best price I found them for was on aquacave.com and they always have a 5% coupon This is what I considered doing. But I might try the wide angle lenses on the radions first and see how that goes. I just don't want the added cost again of the t5's. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1429190249.462299.jpg

04/16/2015, 08:01 AM	#12
Tryder Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 90	So what's the point of running T5s with LEDs? Is it for a look or supplementing a light spectrum the led unit is missing?

04/16/2015, 08:10 AM	#13
Cubed Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fort Myers,FL Posts: 358	Adds a lot of PAR as well as color. But Corals react differently to bulbs vs LED's especially SPS I run T5 LED for my SPS only tank and easily best for color and growth combo without the heat power consumption of MH. Also far more customizeable. Easy to make your own fixture like I did but ATI and Pac Sun make some killer hybrid units.

04/16/2015, 11:09 AM	#14
macdaddynick1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 537	And here I was contemplating if I should add t5 to my tank . SOLD

04/16/2015, 01:59 PM	#17
carmexx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Norristown, PA Posts: 113	I did something along the lines of that with a 5 bulb t5 fixture from aquatinics. It seemed no one was interested in buying it so i decided to remove the center 3 bulbs and mount my 2 AI hydra's there. I kept the outside 2 bulbs. Fixture is 36" over a 57 gal rimless.

04/17/2015, 03:22 PM	#21
Bluesun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 13	Why the T5 if you have quality full spectrum led lights?

04/20/2015, 12:39 AM	#24
Bluesun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 13	A led progamable with a high par value that has several channels that inculdes one the can customize actinic levels to deliver a 12k to a blue 20k hue. My question is what exactly are the T5 giving you? Color, grow, vigor?