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

[kmu]

Originally Posted by rtparty

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.

So basically if you where to supplement an AI set up with some T5s the best bulbs would be the Purple plus because of the reds and the Actinic 03 because of the violet light?

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by kmu

So basically if you where to supplement an AI set up with some T5s the best bulbs would be the Purple plus because of the reds and the Actinic 03 because of the violet light?

IMO, yes. The Purple Plus will pick up some blues and reds that are missed by AIs and the Actinic will definitely fill in the huge void below the 450nm area.

[jedidog1]

Thats what i have been debating for 3 months now with my diy led build i went with neutral white ,royal blue and blue and just was not happy with sps colors.
my pink mill frag turned brown my tort frag looked awful.
so i am going to throw some t5 into the mix to help out that missing spectrum 1 actinic and 1 Purple plus .
Imo it would be better then trying to throw different leds in the mix to try and fill the color gaps and end up just getting bad color banding.
only thing is my tank is 48 inches long and i build a hood 36 inches long for my leds so instead of rebuilding a new hood ill just use 36 inch t5 inside the hood. I think it would be ok with 60 leds and two 36 inch t5 over a 75 gal tank should be plenty of light for sps when it all done.

[curthendrix]

I'm running a 60" T5 supp over a 72" tank and it's looks just fine.

[cassklar]

Just wondering if by putting your t5s have your red corals look better I have a red arco that just don't look red when it is under my ai sol blues I have 2 over a 72 gallon bowfront 9 inches above water hanging lenth wise I was going to build a canopy and add a couple of t5s to it but I just wanted to check and see how your colors are under the t5s and ai thanks

[curthendrix]

The Fiji purple T5 certainly gives the reds more depth and punch. My red planet now appears a deep red. I've never ran anything like my old 10k XMs with VHO actinics for bringing out reds, pinks and oranges. My current setup resembles a radium look. I'm running 70-55-65 currently at midday.

[cassklar]

So out of curiosity when do you run your t5s and do you recommend I add 2 or 4 bulbs I have mine at midday 70 75 80 and during my viewing time which is at 8 to 9:30 I have them at 0 15 25 what do you think of that and would I run t5s at viewing only? Thanks

[curthendrix]

2 Fiji purple T5s were too much for my tastes and overpowered my AIs. I'm planning on trying a Geismen actinic 420nm in the other slot next week to see how I like that look. My tank is in my office. My lights come on at 7:30am and ramp up to full intensity by 10:30am and start ramping down at 4:30pm. My T5 comes on at 10:45am and turns off at 4:15pm.

[kmu]

Originally Posted by curthendrix

2 Fiji purple T5s were too much for my tastes and overpowered my AIs. I'm planning on trying a Geismen actinic 420nm in the other slot next week to see how I like that look. My tank is in my office. My lights come on at 7:30am and ramp up to full intensity by 10:30am and start ramping down at 4:30pm. My T5 comes on at 10:45am and turns off at 4:15pm.

Can you share some pics of your tank with and without the t5s?


Thx

[kc350twin]

Bumping this thread up and would love to see some pics as well. If and how people added T5 Supplements and if they made it look clean?

Would it be easier to add LED or T5 supplement? Stunner strips maybe?

Would love to hear some ideas

Kc3

[96gts]

I would love to see some pics of how the T5s are mounted.

[NatureNerd]

Originally Posted by rtparty

IMO, yes. The Purple Plus will pick up some blues and reds that are missed by AIs and the Actinic will definitely fill in the huge void below the 450nm area.

Perhaps you mean the huge void below 425nm? The Cree Royal Blue LED does pretty good from about 430nm to 470nm. This is important as there are something like 6 or 7 photosynthesis absorption lines between 425 and 460nm. I would love to see a test on the efficacy of adding an actinic to add some energy to the region below 425nm.

[dieselgrk]

I'm responding based on the title, not the responses given already so sorry if this is repeat information....

if you were to adopt the notion that ALL t5's is the best lighting strictly from a color and growth perspective and NOT from an energy efficiency perspective and you considere a usually 8 bulb setup of 2 fiji purple, 2 aquablue special and 4 blue+, then go ahead and view the spectral graphs for the t5 bulbs just mentioned. then compare that the the spectral graphs for the individual led bulbs used in ur ai blues (cool white, blue, royal blue, all Cree). what's missing? the heavy spike in the 660 is missing from the LEDs.... with that said I would set the white intensity at 25-50% and 100% on blue an royal blue and add 2 Gigi purple bulbs to the mix. there u have it, a full spectrum lighting system that your corals should love.

[cassklar]

Just got my hood back I had made to fit 4 t5 with my two ai sol blues over my 72 gallon just wondering what bulbs you were using with the t5 to pop the colors that ai were lacking I know by searching alot of people were saying Fiji purple so I was just wondering now what bulbs I could use to help I have my ai mounted sideways with 2 t5 slots on the back and on the front your advice is appreciated

[Donniegnzls]

I started this thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2115309 with the same question pretty much but after reading this thread I feel my question is answered. Im going to add T5's. Seems these LED fixtures just dont have the spread that the T5's throw out and every tank with good color and growth with LEDs also have T5 lights Thanks guys.