Ideas to supplement T5s.

Crush Coral · 09/18/2014, 09:03 AM

Two scenarios here. I am helping a fellow reefer who is new to the hobby. He has a 90 which has a 4 bulb 36" T5 aquaticlife fixture inside a nice canapy . he definitely need more par. what would be an economical way tp add light. I am thinking LEDs but do not know which to go with. There is room on each end to mount a small fixture and point it lengthwise into the tank. Also could mount an additional 2 bulb fixture.

Now for me I have a 4 bulb 48" T5 powermodule over my 75. Are there any LED strips I could mount to the front and back of my PM to supplement it?
Thanks

RocketEngineer · 09/18/2014, 12:01 PM

How do you know he needs more PAR? Did you measure it? If not, then you need to be careful you don't kill off what is already there.

I would go with one BuildMyLED strip. Depending on what you are trying to supplement will determine which color temperature you should go with.

Crush Coral · 09/18/2014, 01:39 PM

Looking at the tank it is obvious that 4 36" tubes are not doing it. Thanks for the link I will check it out.

Mark426 · 09/18/2014, 03:52 PM

reefbrite leds are my suggestion

RocketEngineer · 09/18/2014, 06:49 PM

AH, sometimes it really shows but sometimes it's hard to tell. Just remember to make changes slowly.

I would say add two more bulbs or go to a 48" fixture. On the 75g I did a 4X54W light for several years with good growth the whole time. If I had been smart I would have stayed with that system instead of changing things. Now I run a BML fixture between two pairs of T5s in a DIY fixture.

Good luck.

Crush Coral · 09/18/2014, 07:52 PM

Rocket, the 4 bulb powermodule has been sufficient but I think there may be room for improvement as I add more Montipora and Pavona. I am hoping I can find a narrow LED strip that I can affix to both the front and back of the PM.

Crush Coral · 09/18/2014, 08:40 PM

reefbrite strips look like a good option. Thanks for the tip.

09/18/2014, 09:03 AM	#1
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	Ideas to supplement T5s. Two scenarios here. I am helping a fellow reefer who is new to the hobby. He has a 90 which has a 4 bulb 36" T5 aquaticlife fixture inside a nice canapy . he definitely need more par. what would be an economical way tp add light. I am thinking LEDs but do not know which to go with. There is room on each end to mount a small fixture and point it lengthwise into the tank. Also could mount an additional 2 bulb fixture. Now for me I have a 4 bulb 48" T5 powermodule over my 75. Are there any LED strips I could mount to the front and back of my PM to supplement it? Thanks

09/18/2014, 12:01 PM	#2
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	How do you know he needs more PAR? Did you measure it? If not, then you need to be careful you don't kill off what is already there. I would go with one BuildMyLED strip. Depending on what you are trying to supplement will determine which color temperature you should go with. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

09/18/2014, 06:49 PM	#5
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	AH, sometimes it really shows but sometimes it's hard to tell. Just remember to make changes slowly. I would say add two more bulbs or go to a 48" fixture. On the 75g I did a 4X54W light for several years with good growth the whole time. If I had been smart I would have stayed with that system instead of changing things. Now I run a BML fixture between two pairs of T5s in a DIY fixture. Good luck. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

09/18/2014, 01:39 PM	#3
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	Looking at the tank it is obvious that 4 36" tubes are not doing it. Thanks for the link I will check it out.

09/18/2014, 03:52 PM	#4
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	reefbrite leds are my suggestion

09/18/2014, 07:52 PM	#6
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	Rocket, the 4 bulb powermodule has been sufficient but I think there may be room for improvement as I add more Montipora and Pavona. I am hoping I can find a narrow LED strip that I can affix to both the front and back of the PM.

09/18/2014, 08:40 PM	#7
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	reefbrite strips look like a good option. Thanks for the tip.