Adding T5s to a 4 AI Sol blue setup...which bulbs?

curthendrix · 09/26/2011, 08:41 PM

Looking for a little more of the red and yellow spectrum to make those reds, pinks and purples pop. Will add either 2 or 4 60" T5 lamps. What would you add to get a more full spectrum effect?

rehype · 09/26/2011, 09:15 PM

Definitely add a purple plus or Fiji purple bulb. Ive seen these added as supplemental bulbs to another AI setup and it looked great.

curthendrix · 09/26/2011, 09:20 PM

That was my thought too. Tank is a STD 225g with 4 AIs lying parallel in a hanging light box. Would two 60" bulbs mounted at a slight angle in the front of the hood be sufficient? Hood is 64" by 20" hanging 8" above tank with AIs at 12" above water surface.

rehype · 09/26/2011, 09:26 PM

Im sure that will be fine especially if your tank is viewed mainly from the front but if possible one bulb in the front and one in the back would be ideal.

jimrawr · 09/26/2011, 09:44 PM

I am doing the same thing right now to my LED setup. Adding 4x24" T5 bulbs. I went with all Geisman.. 2 mid day, 1 aqua flora, 1 aqua blue.

Those seem to cover the violet/red spectrums we are badly missing

curthendrix · 09/26/2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimrawr

I am doing the same thing right now to my LED setup. Adding 4x24" T5 bulbs. I went with all Geisman.. 2 mid day, 1 aqua flora, 1 aqua blue.

Those seem to cover the violet/red spectrums we are badly missing

Do the bulbs make a noticeable visible difference with the reds, pinks and purples?

Jamesus · 09/26/2011, 09:51 PM

I have a blue + and a purple + with my 72 LED set up, 48 royal blues and 25 xpg whites. The T5s just barely make a visible difference. You can switch the T5s on and off and you can hardly tell, but my corals seem to be a lot happier overall so I know its making a difference.

I for sure want the purple + but I want to replace the blue + bulb. Can't decide what to go with tho. What t5 bulb will bring be the spectrum that i'm laking?

Jamesus · 09/26/2011, 09:52 PM

vmacisback · 09/26/2011, 09:56 PM

I added a Fiji purp, 2 super blue and a 14k actinic to my 2 ai's on my 90g

jimrawr · 09/26/2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curthendrix

Do the bulbs make a noticeable visible difference with the reds, pinks and purples?

Well I havent done the setup yet everything has been ordered but thats it

curthendrix · 09/26/2011, 10:07 PM

Curious as to why some of you are adding more blue actinic light to your LED setups. My AI Sol
Blue seem to have more than enough in the blue wavelengths but appears to be missing the warmer colors.

Jamesus · 09/26/2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curthendrix

Curious as to why some of you are adding more blue actinic light to your LED setups. My AI Sol
Blue seem to have more than enough in the blue wavelengths but appears to be missing the warmer colors.

Id say my LEDs look like more of a 14k look at full blast, and I like a little bluer look.

rtparty · 09/26/2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesus

I have a blue + and a purple + with my 72 LED set up, 48 royal blues and 25 xpg whites. The T5s just barely make a visible difference. You can switch the T5s on and off and you can hardly tell, but my corals seem to be a lot happier overall so I know its making a difference.

I for sure want the purple + but I want to replace the blue + bulb. Can't decide what to go with tho. What t5 bulb will bring be the spectrum that i'm laking?

I think the Blue Plus is a great bulb to use but if you want to change it I would go with another Purple or a true actinic. That covers the spectrum you are missing.

Mj75 · 09/27/2011, 04:00 PM

Tagging along. I have a 48X22X20 mainly sps with 2 ai mounted sideways. I was thinking of adding 2 t5 front and back. What bulb combo with give me a 14k look?

curthendrix · 09/27/2011, 04:13 PM

Just order two 80W fiji purple so I'll let you guys know in a few days how they work.

fishsuse29 · 09/27/2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mj75

Tagging along. I have a 48X22X20 mainly sps with 2 ai mounted sideways. I was thinking of adding 2 t5 front and back. What bulb combo with give me a 14k look?

How is the coverage with two units? I am looking at AI's for my tank which is 48x24x20

Mj75 · 09/28/2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishsuse29

How is the coverage with two units? I am looking at AI's for my tank which is 48x24x20

Coverage is good. I swapped to 70 deg optics all around. No spotlighting. I have it 8 inches up. Its up to 65 %.Thinking of adding 2 t5s.

kmu · 09/28/2011, 12:03 PM

Im really interested...

I got 4 AI Sol Blues on a 48x48x24 cube and seem to be missing the reds/orange/yellows/purple colors compared to my previous ATI fixtures.

Are there any LED colors that can be added to a retrofit fixture to supplement the Sol Blues to keep it to an all LED set up?

I was thinking of adding a Red led from Cree or maybe the magenta ones from ecoxotic but would rather DIY

Would an all LED set up give us that colors we are lacking or is the T5 supplement a must have?

THX in advance

curthendrix · 09/28/2011, 03:39 PM

I'll let you know in a few days if 160W of T5 red makes a visible difference. Going to have to wait a few months to tell how corals will respond.

yaridong · 09/29/2011, 02:06 AM

im considering buying 2 Ai Sol Blues for my current tank (mostly LPS)...but i am seeing that people are trying to add T5 for more pop?

i am wondering if it is even worth it to shell out the ton of cash for the Ai Sols (i would need to get two of these as my tank is 48 inches long)....and just go with a 6 bulb T5 fixture ...

anybody go from T5s to Ai Sol Blues?

curthendrix · 10/07/2011, 06:04 PM

Just installed my T5 fixture today using 2 60" Fiji Purple T5s. Initial thoughts...2 bulbs were too much. I removed one so I'm only running 1 Fiji purple. Really like the color and look. Tank is much brighter and warmer in color. Reds, oranges and and pinks are much more pronounced. Even the greens, blues and purples are brighter...possibly because the tank itself is brighter.

The look actually now reminds me of my old radiums.

kmu · 10/07/2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curthendrix

Just installed my T5 fixture today using 2 60" Fiji Purple T5s. Initial thoughts...2 bulbs were too much. I removed one so I'm only running 1 Fiji purple. Really like the color and look. Tank is much brighter and warmer in color. Reds, oranges and and pinks are much more pronounced. Even the greens, blues and purples are brighter...possibly because the tank itself is brighter.

The look actually now reminds me of my old radiums.

Great news... We need before and after pics now!!!!

jedidog1 · 10/07/2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curthendrix

Just installed my T5 fixture today using 2 60" Fiji Purple T5s. Initial thoughts...2 bulbs were too much. I removed one so I'm only running 1 Fiji purple. Really like the color and look. Tank is much brighter and warmer in color. Reds, oranges and and pinks are much more pronounced. Even the greens, blues and purples are brighter...possibly because the tank itself is brighter.

The look actually now reminds me of my old radiums.

can we see pics of this

rtparty · 10/07/2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curthendrix

Just installed my T5 fixture today using 2 60" Fiji Purple T5s. Initial thoughts...2 bulbs were too much. I removed one so I'm only running 1 Fiji purple. Really like the color and look. Tank is much brighter and warmer in color. Reds, oranges and and pinks are much more pronounced. Even the greens, blues and purples are brighter...possibly because the tank itself is brighter.

The look actually now reminds me of my old radiums.

Try throwing an actinic in the other slot and see what you think. It will add in spectrum below the blues used in the AI fixtures. I feel this is the spectrum that will vastly improve LED setups along with the small portion of red found in the purple T5 bulbs.

curthendrix · 10/07/2011, 06:41 PM

I'll do my best to post some pics. I find it difficult to take a pic which accurately represents these AIs. I am very surprised by how much visibly brighter the tank appears with just 1 Fiji Purple. I assume this makes considering the bulb's spectrum is weighed heavily in the light most visible to our eyes.

09/26/2011, 08:41 PM	#1
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	Adding T5s to a 4 AI Sol blue setup...which bulbs? Looking for a little more of the red and yellow spectrum to make those reds, pinks and purples pop. Will add either 2 or 4 60" T5 lamps. What would you add to get a more full spectrum effect? __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

09/26/2011, 09:20 PM	#3
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	That was my thought too. Tank is a STD 225g with 4 AIs lying parallel in a hanging light box. Would two 60" bulbs mounted at a slight angle in the front of the hood be sufficient? Hood is 64" by 20" hanging 8" above tank with AIs at 12" above water surface. __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

09/26/2011, 09:44 PM	#5
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	I am doing the same thing right now to my LED setup. Adding 4x24" T5 bulbs. I went with all Geisman.. 2 mid day, 1 aqua flora, 1 aqua blue. Those seem to cover the violet/red spectrums we are badly missing __________________ Tank Info: 75g, 40g Sump, AquaMaxx Skimmer, Two Tunze 6095, ATI 8x52", Bubble Magus Dosing Pump, Apex Controller, Tunze ATO.

09/26/2011, 10:07 PM	#11
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	Curious as to why some of you are adding more blue actinic light to your LED setups. My AI Sol Blue seem to have more than enough in the blue wavelengths but appears to be missing the warmer colors. __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

09/27/2011, 04:13 PM	#15
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	Just order two 80W fiji purple so I'll let you guys know in a few days how they work. __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

09/26/2011, 09:15 PM	#2
rehype Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Somerset, New Jersey Posts: 835	Definitely add a purple plus or Fiji purple bulb. Ive seen these added as supplemental bulbs to another AI setup and it looked great.

09/26/2011, 09:26 PM	#4
rehype Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Somerset, New Jersey Posts: 835	Im sure that will be fine especially if your tank is viewed mainly from the front but if possible one bulb in the front and one in the back would be ideal.

09/26/2011, 09:51 PM	#7
Jamesus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 168	I have a blue + and a purple + with my 72 LED set up, 48 royal blues and 25 xpg whites. The T5s just barely make a visible difference. You can switch the T5s on and off and you can hardly tell, but my corals seem to be a lot happier overall so I know its making a difference. I for sure want the purple + but I want to replace the blue + bulb. Can't decide what to go with tho. What t5 bulb will bring be the spectrum that i'm laking?

09/26/2011, 09:52 PM	#8
Jamesus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 168

09/26/2011, 09:56 PM	#9
vmacisback Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: SF, Bay Area Posts: 140	I added a Fiji purp, 2 super blue and a 14k actinic to my 2 ai's on my 90g

09/27/2011, 04:00 PM	#14
Mj75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 75	Tagging along. I have a 48X22X20 mainly sps with 2 ai mounted sideways. I was thinking of adding 2 t5 front and back. What bulb combo with give me a 14k look?

09/28/2011, 12:03 PM	#18
kmu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In the DESERT Posts: 3,306	Im really interested... I got 4 AI Sol Blues on a 48x48x24 cube and seem to be missing the reds/orange/yellows/purple colors compared to my previous ATI fixtures. Are there any LED colors that can be added to a retrofit fixture to supplement the Sol Blues to keep it to an all LED set up? I was thinking of adding a Red led from Cree or maybe the magenta ones from ecoxotic but would rather DIY Would an all LED set up give us that colors we are lacking or is the T5 supplement a must have? THX in advance __________________ Current Reef tanks In Wall 400g 1" acrylic 72x36x36 (Hydras, Marco rocks,Tunze osmolator, Vertex Alpha cone 250)

09/28/2011, 03:39 PM	#19
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	I'll let you know in a few days if 160W of T5 red makes a visible difference. Going to have to wait a few months to tell how corals will respond. __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

09/29/2011, 02:06 AM	#20
yaridong Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern OC! Posts: 129	im considering buying 2 Ai Sol Blues for my current tank (mostly LPS)...but i am seeing that people are trying to add T5 for more pop? i am wondering if it is even worth it to shell out the ton of cash for the Ai Sols (i would need to get two of these as my tank is 48 inches long)....and just go with a 6 bulb T5 fixture ... anybody go from T5s to Ai Sol Blues?

10/07/2011, 06:04 PM	#21
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	Just installed my T5 fixture today using 2 60" Fiji Purple T5s. Initial thoughts...2 bulbs were too much. I removed one so I'm only running 1 Fiji purple. Really like the color and look. Tank is much brighter and warmer in color. Reds, oranges and and pinks are much more pronounced. Even the greens, blues and purples are brighter...possibly because the tank itself is brighter. The look actually now reminds me of my old radiums. __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

10/07/2011, 06:41 PM	#25
curthendrix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tulsa Posts: 758	I'll do my best to post some pics. I find it difficult to take a pic which accurately represents these AIs. I am very surprised by how much visibly brighter the tank appears with just 1 Fiji Purple. I assume this makes considering the bulb's spectrum is weighed heavily in the light most visible to our eyes. __________________ Curt Current Tank Info: 500g inwall

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