Underestimated T5's

saltyliving · 07/19/2010, 04:44 PM

I have a 15 gallon tank its 12" tall but more like 11" from water line to BB. I have tek 24" fixture. Bulbs (front) blue plus, figi purple, aquablue, blue plus(back)

This is my first time using T5 and didnt expect the power. I have melted my share of corals from SPS to chalices.

The light was moved up to 10" above water and still I am bleach corals. I can only keep corals from about the middle down. My photo period is 9hrs.

I was thinking about adding a actinic to replace one of my blue+.

All params are good other than Cal is a little high. I have kept sucessful SPS tank but this one is my first T5 and has me scratching my head.

Any help/suggestion appreciated.

rtparty · 07/19/2010, 04:46 PM

Shorten your photo period to like 4 hours for at least a week. Then bump it up 30 minutes/week and see how things do.

T5's are way more powerful than people give credit for.

Jstdv8 · 07/19/2010, 04:52 PM

I smoked my monticap with mine but my birdsnest, stag horn and acro don't seem to mind

JNicho · 07/19/2010, 04:53 PM

Agreed, people don't give good T5's setups (IE. good bulbs and reflectors) enough credit...I recently moved a ton of SPS from under MH 250's to a shallow tank with only T5's and they have all seriously lightened until I reduced the photo period...they are starting to darken back up now since.

saltyliving · 07/19/2010, 06:14 PM

Thanks for the responses!!

I will shorten my photo period. Am gonna have to do this every time i get a new coral. I am constantly buying new frags. That gonna be annoying.

What do you think about the swap for actinic. Or would i want the better PAR in the long run.

mike_cmu04 · 07/19/2010, 06:23 PM

You will want the better par in the long run just shorten the period and you will be ok. As far as with every coral you should not have to just ask what they are under when you buy them.

saltyliving · 07/19/2010, 07:17 PM

I always do ask, but how knows how old there bulbs are. The is some variables there. Plus until recently i thought the MHs at the LFS would out perform my t5s anyway. WHOOPS

Jstdv8 · 07/19/2010, 09:00 PM

my bulbs are 7 months old that bleached the new moni I got. I think T-5 are good for about 1 year

07/19/2010, 04:44 PM	#1
saltyliving Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: west palm beach ,FL Posts: 182	Underestimated T5's I have a 15 gallon tank its 12" tall but more like 11" from water line to BB. I have tek 24" fixture. Bulbs (front) blue plus, figi purple, aquablue, blue plus(back) This is my first time using T5 and didnt expect the power. I have melted my share of corals from SPS to chalices. The light was moved up to 10" above water and still I am bleach corals. I can only keep corals from about the middle down. My photo period is 9hrs. I was thinking about adding a actinic to replace one of my blue+. All params are good other than Cal is a little high. I have kept sucessful SPS tank but this one is my first T5 and has me scratching my head. Any help/suggestion appreciated.

07/19/2010, 04:46 PM	#2
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	Shorten your photo period to like 4 hours for at least a week. Then bump it up 30 minutes/week and see how things do. T5's are way more powerful than people give credit for. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

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07/19/2010, 04:52 PM	#3
Jstdv8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 1,420	I smoked my monticap with mine but my birdsnest, stag horn and acro don't seem to mind

07/19/2010, 04:53 PM	#4
JNicho Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 180	Agreed, people don't give good T5's setups (IE. good bulbs and reflectors) enough credit...I recently moved a ton of SPS from under MH 250's to a shallow tank with only T5's and they have all seriously lightened until I reduced the photo period...they are starting to darken back up now since.

07/19/2010, 06:14 PM	#5
saltyliving Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: west palm beach ,FL Posts: 182	Thanks for the responses!! I will shorten my photo period. Am gonna have to do this every time i get a new coral. I am constantly buying new frags. That gonna be annoying. What do you think about the swap for actinic. Or would i want the better PAR in the long run.

07/19/2010, 06:23 PM	#6
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	You will want the better par in the long run just shorten the period and you will be ok. As far as with every coral you should not have to just ask what they are under when you buy them.

07/19/2010, 07:17 PM	#7
saltyliving Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: west palm beach ,FL Posts: 182	I always do ask, but how knows how old there bulbs are. The is some variables there. Plus until recently i thought the MHs at the LFS would out perform my t5s anyway. WHOOPS

07/19/2010, 09:00 PM	#8
Jstdv8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 1,420	my bulbs are 7 months old that bleached the new moni I got. I think T-5 are good for about 1 year