I gave in and added T5s to my Kessils. Advice on photoperiod/spectrum?

Coelli · 12/12/2015, 06:29 PM

First, let me say that I really love my Kessils. It's not about that.

I've been running them over this tank since I filled it a year ago and out of all the LED fixtures out there, I still think they're one of the best options out there.

BUT! The shadowing is really real. The undersides of some of my coral are pale and bleached. On a couple that are closer to the bottom of the tank, the tissue receded completely.

If money were no object I'd just add more Kessils, but I haven't won the lottery yet so T5 it is. I picked up a used 2-bulb fixture today (39w actinic bulbs), popped it on the very front edge of my tank, and the difference is very evident. Black pockets of shadow are gone. I can see the pale, bleached undersides the shadows were hiding. I'm going to angle the light a bit by raising the back to help hit the SPS that's really high on my rock wall close to the waterline.

Is there a preferred spectrum to run when supplementing, and any ideas on the photoperiod? Currently I run a 14 hour period with a couple of hours of very low and blue at either side (so I can see the tank in the morning and evening).

Any suggestions on bulbs and photoperiod would be welcome. Thanks!!

Esage · 12/13/2015, 09:04 AM

What bulbs are you going to run in the T5 fixture?

Coelli · 12/13/2015, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esage

What bulbs are you going to run in the T5 fixture?

Well, that's kind of what I'm asking. Right now there's an ATI Super Blue+ and Giesemann actinic (IIRC - I'm not able to look right now). The bulbs came with the fixture. I can swap either or both of them out.

With the way my tank is built, the majority of my SPS is high up on a rock wall close to the Kessils which are 9" over the water and centered 9" into the 18" width of the tank. The T5s are at the very front edge of the tank.

Edit: I should add that my Kessil outlets are powered on at 8am and off at 10pm, the graph doesn't really show that.

lhm nole · 12/13/2015, 02:22 PM

Im running 4 blue plus 2 purple plus and 2 coral plus ati to supplement my kessils.. Tank has a really nice 12k look had to adjust my kessil color to get that and no shadowing at all left..

MrCaveman · 12/13/2015, 05:47 PM

I just bought 2 39w Geisemann Actinic blue and love them. For me it's really between ATI blue plus or Geisemann actinic blue. I read somewhere when I was researching bulbs that stated on a different forum that ATI blue plus are slightly brighter but Geisemann actinic blue produced better colors (in the eye of the beholder).

DocHogan · 12/16/2015, 09:05 AM

I did this same exact thing... You want a coral+ bulb and a blue+ bulb. They match the led lighting very well. I originally tried a 10k and actinic but when the fish swam under them they looked awful. The coral+ bulb keeps things bright and shows off the true colors with just a hint of blue.

12/12/2015, 06:29 PM	#1
Coelli Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Tujunga, CA Posts: 1,443	I gave in and added T5s to my Kessils. Advice on photoperiod/spectrum? First, let me say that I really love my Kessils. It's not about that. I've been running them over this tank since I filled it a year ago and out of all the LED fixtures out there, I still think they're one of the best options out there. BUT! The shadowing is really real. The undersides of some of my coral are pale and bleached. On a couple that are closer to the bottom of the tank, the tissue receded completely. If money were no object I'd just add more Kessils, but I haven't won the lottery yet so T5 it is. I picked up a used 2-bulb fixture today (39w actinic bulbs), popped it on the very front edge of my tank, and the difference is very evident. Black pockets of shadow are gone. I can see the pale, bleached undersides the shadows were hiding. I'm going to angle the light a bit by raising the back to help hit the SPS that's really high on my rock wall close to the waterline. Is there a preferred spectrum to run when supplementing, and any ideas on the photoperiod? Currently I run a 14 hour period with a couple of hours of very low and blue at either side (so I can see the tank in the morning and evening). Any suggestions on bulbs and photoperiod would be welcome. Thanks!! __________________ "Get a reef tank!" they said. "It'll be relaxing!" they said. 65g mixed reef, 30g display fuge, 20L sump/pod fuge, ATI 4x24 + 2 Kessil A360NEs, Aquamaxx EM100, Gyre 130

12/13/2015, 09:04 AM	#2
Esage Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Knoxville Posts: 526	What bulbs are you going to run in the T5 fixture? __________________ Deep Blue 34 Gallon Shallow /AquaMaxx ConeS CO-1 Skimmer/ 2 Kessil A350w / Vortech MP10 / Sicce Syncra Silent 1.5 return pump /JBJ ATO / Eshopps RS-100 Sump /

12/16/2015, 09:05 AM	#6
DocHogan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 119	I did this same exact thing... You want a coral+ bulb and a blue+ bulb. They match the led lighting very well. I originally tried a 10k and actinic but when the fish swam under them they looked awful. The coral+ bulb keeps things bright and shows off the true colors with just a hint of blue. __________________ 125 gallon reef ready with 25 gallon sump. Aqua illumination led, Mp-40 and mp-10 quiet drives. 30 Nuvo AIO SPS focus tank with Hydra Prime HD fixtures MP-10 (No skimmer)

12/13/2015, 02:22 PM	#4
lhm nole Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,199	Im running 4 blue plus 2 purple plus and 2 coral plus ati to supplement my kessils.. Tank has a really nice 12k look had to adjust my kessil color to get that and no shadowing at all left..

12/13/2015, 05:47 PM	#5
MrCaveman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: West Covina, CA Posts: 201	I just bought 2 39w Geisemann Actinic blue and love them. For me it's really between ATI blue plus or Geisemann actinic blue. I read somewhere when I was researching bulbs that stated on a different forum that ATI blue plus are slightly brighter but Geisemann actinic blue produced better colors (in the eye of the beholder).