SPS under T5s???

[Elliott89]

Hiya

Im mainly an LPS keeper and have mastered keeping Acans,Chalice,Blastomussa etc and i would now like to try a few SPS colonies in the highest point of my tank...

Question is i have T5s..96 watts in all..2x 14k and 2x 10k and i want to know if this will be enough to maintain SPS in a 16 inch deep tank...

Many thanks

Elliott

[yeldarbj]

Yes. It's more than enough. I have 5 T5 bulbs on a 24" high tank and don't have a problem with sps even on the sand bed.

[Elliott89]

Awesome..what sorta colour u getting from your SPS?

[Elliott89]

Anyone on this forum got a tank with a similar lighting spec to me which they would show pics of???

im intreagued to see how SPS colours up under T5

Thanks

Elliott

[yeldarbj]

They color up just fine, but you may need to play with your bulb selection to get the colors right for you. There are plenty of threads with that information - like the T5 Q & A thread in the equipment forum.

[Shadowramy]

48x24x24 - 6 T5's

[Elliott89]

WOW what an awesome tank..and to think thats with T5s..the colour of the corals is amazing

Very inspirational

Thanks

Elliott

[Justin74]

324w is a big difference compared to 96. Watts aside a 4 bulb combination isnt going to be quite as versatile as a 6. However, 4 over a 16" deep though sounds just about right to experiment with most corals though. What kind of reflectors are you using? That'll make a big difference , as well as bulb brand. Some great combinations to be had with the big 3; ATI, Geismann, and UVL.

-Justin

[dv0920]

6 T5's ? I dont agree, I have an 8 bulb tek fixture, the fixture is older, and one of the ballast isnt working so well so now only 6 are working. I bought brand new bulbs, ULV, Pro color, ATI blue PLus, Geissman Actinics, etc... Corals look pale as S&*(T! I think the fixture sucks sans 2 bulbs is underpowered, now of course coloration has many factors, and Ive tweaked things in my tank to maximize paramters and stability to make the best of my lighting, but in the end Im switching to MH because I think it provides deeper richer coloration.

T5 tanks are better left to experts ihmo, just like dsb's its a great system if you can it to work for you.

Don't let me dissauge you entirely from T5, just take heed its not a magic pill.

cheers
D.

[shred5]

There are lots of threads that show t-5 sps tanks... The amount of bulbs has less to do with the depth (within reason) than the width... The individual reflectors are pretty directional with the light (being strait down) but you need enough to have proper coverage front to back. 4 lamps covers a 12� wide tank anything over that I like to see more lamps.

Dave

[Justin74]

Originally posted by shred5
There are lots of threads that show t-5 sps tanks... The amount of bulbs has less to do with the depth (within reason) than the width... The individual reflectors are pretty directional with the light (being strait down) but you need enough to have proper coverage front to back. 4 lamps covers a 12� wide tank anything over that I like to see more lamps.

Dave

Hunh? This sounds kinda more like wives tale I have a 15" wide tank and even when just the two actinics are on(which are in the back of the tank) I get coverage up to the front. That being said I have to disagree and feel that the coverage is pretty good and not so straight down as you suggest. I do agree that the amount of bulbs isnt relative to how deep it penetrates, but along with intensifying coverage more importantly is quality of light. Meaning youd be more inclined to get better colors visually and on your corals with a good mix of different bulbs than just a 50/50 split with 2 act. and 2 days....

dv0920 I agree, that T5's arent a magic pill but theres too many successfull reefs out there using them for it not to be a viable option opposed to MH.

As the saying goes, "Dont blame the arrow, blame the indian"
Even though Im not running a 4 bulb and doing six, I feel like I need to show my stuff so you guys dont think Im just talkin to talk





I havent found anything that I havent been able to keep from acros to clams, and anemones' I'd say that's pretty versatile

-Justin

[Justin74]

Another thing I wanted to add is I didnt just throw the lights over the corals and say "SEE!" Everything you see has started from 2" or less and has never seen anything but T5 light..

-Justin

[shred5]

Originally posted by Justin74
Hunh? This sounds kinda more like wives tale I have a 15" wide tank and even when just the two actinics are on(which are in the back of the tank) I get coverage up to the front. That being said I have to disagree and feel that the coverage is pretty good and not so straight down as you suggest. I do agree that the amount of bulbs isnt relative to how deep it penetrates, but along with intensifying coverage more importantly is quality of light. Meaning youd be more inclined to get better colors visually and on your corals with a good mix of different bulbs than just a 50/50 split with 2 act. and 2 days....

dv0920 I agree, that T5's arent a magic pill but theres too many successfull reefs out there using them for it not to be a viable option opposed to MH.

As the saying goes, "Dont blame the arrow, blame the indian"
Even though Im not running a 4 bulb and doing six, I feel like I need to show my stuff so you guys dont think Im just talkin to talk


-Justin

Ok take a tank with a width of 3' and put 4 lamps over it and see if you get coverage... I know that is extreme example but I am just trying to prove my point. In this situation yea you could cluster the lamps together in one spot lets say the middle and grow sps under the lamps but the front and back would have no light. Is it possible to go greater than 12� and 4 lamps? sure with diy you could space the lamps a little more but most prebuilt fixture are not set up that way. You could also just let the back and front be dim.


Now take a par reading or footcandle reading 16" under 4 t-5's right in the middle of them, now add 10 more lamps that spot will not go up in par/footcanldesor lumens very much... There is always a little spill ight from reflection and stuff. I know this is another extreeme example but trying to prove a point.



Good individual reflectors direct the light pretty straight down compared to anything else that is how t-5's can possibly compete with halides esp on deep tanks otherwise they would not. Why do you think it is so important to have individual reflector? It is also the reason allot of people think t-5 look dimmer than halides. The light on t-5s with individual reflectors does not light up the glass or wall and bounce around and hit your eye.

It is also the reason we spec them on aisle lighting on warehouse jobs with high ceilings. It will not waste light lighting up the racks. They will light up the aisle real nice and the front of the racks. I should see if I can find the photometrics from our ies files to post. Photometric files do not lie...

by the way yor tank is very nice...
Dave

[Justin74]

Do you use T5 shred5? With the some of the angles you take your points in, it doesnt seem like you've seen alot of T5 tanks. I could be wrong. But from my experience T5 tanks look alot brighter, and non T5 users are shocked every time they come over on how bright everything is. You say that's why alot of people think halide tanks are brighter. Who are these alot of people?

You go on to talk about PAR readings as if I disagreed, but never did I said it is advantageous(more or less) to intensify the coverage (not penetration, which sounds like you assumed I was going for).

The light on t-5s with individual reflectors does not light up the glass or wall and bounce around and hit your eye.

^^Now this is a complete faulicy. I even had one gentlemen sit and stair at the bottom of my tank, look under my tank in amazement thinking I had some advanced LED system lighting up the bottom of my tank! I laughed and explained that it's just the light traveling down my tank. And Im not even going to try and explain how my back wall gets lit up when the lights are on...

-Justin

[SHOmuchFUN]

I am planning a 75g tank and will be using the 48" CurrentUSA Sundial fixture.

I'm hoping to be able to keep SPS and be able to grow some frags. I had a 120g tank that had 4x54w T-5s over it and it looked great. My growth as slower, but it looked awesome. I'm hoping with having a shallower tank in the 75 and only 18" of width instead of the 24, I'll be able to grow SPS a bit faster with the 4x54w kit than I was able to on my 120.

[shred5]

Originally posted by Justin74
Do you use T5 shred5? With the some of the angles you take your points in, it doesnt seem like you've seen alot of T5 tanks. I could be wrong. But from my experience T5 tanks look alot brighter, and non T5 users are shocked every time they come over on how bright everything is. You say that's why alot of people think halide tanks are brighter. Who are these alot of people?

You go on to talk about PAR readings as if I disagreed, but never did I said it is advantageous(more or less) to intensify the coverage (not penetration, which sounds like you assumed I was going for).


^^Now this is a complete faulicy. I even had one gentlemen sit and stair at the bottom of my tank, look under my tank in amazement thinking I had some advanced LED system lighting up the bottom of my tank! I laughed and explained that it's just the light traveling down my tank. And Im not even going to try and explain how my back wall gets lit up when the lights are on...

-Justin

Yes I have two tanks with t-5 lighting. I also work in the lighting industry...

If you have light bouncing all over the place you have something reflecting it or you have inefficient reflectors or your fixture is too wide for your tanks. Might be possible you have the fixture too high and are seeing the bulbs directly and also getting reflection off the surface... . Or you have never seen how much light a halide throws around or at least side by side.. Yes there will always be some spill light or reflected light but I would bet all the t-5 experts in these forums will agree with me. A t-5 aint going to shoot a 2" beam of light though. .

Example: When I had my halides on the tank that now has T5’s I never had to use the room light in the room. With my t-5 I need to have the room lights and that is a fact.


Another thing is the human eye sees different colors as more intense even if they not. Basically the human eye can not really see intensity unless comapiring the exact same two type/colors of light
Dave

[Justin74]

Originally posted by shred5
Yes I have two tanks with t-5 lighting. I also work in the lighting industry...

If you have light bouncing all over the place you have something reflecting it or you have inefficient reflectors or your fixture is too wide for your tanks. Might be possible you have the fixture too high and are seeing the bulbs directly and also getting reflection off the surface... . Or you have never seen how much light a halide throws around or at least side by sideI actually had one as well and agree they spill more, but that's not what I disagreed with .. Yes there will always be some spill light or reflected light but I would bet all the t-5 experts in these forums will agree with me. A t-5 aint going to shoot a 2" beam of light though. . I dont follow what your referring to when you say 'A t-5 aint going to shoot a 2" beam of light though.'Where did this come from? Or do you mean 2' ? Which ya actually, but 24" is about there cut off regarding useable light, although overdriven I think there good for up to 30" depths

Example: When I had my halides on the tank that now has T5’s I never had to use the room light in the room. With my t-5 I need to have the room lights and that is a fact. I dont contest your fact, nor were we comparing MH and T5 in your innitial statement, your statement I disagreed with is it shooting the light straight down, the design of the reflector would have to be verticle on each side in order to do so, but the ends taper out more than 90%, and if were talking aquatninics there spread is even greater..


Another thing is the human eye sees different colors as more intense even if they not. Basically the human eye can not really see intensity unless comapiring the exact same two type/colors of light This is how Ive always understood it as well. But there was never any distinction between 'percieved' brightness and true intensity regarding PAR in your original statement that I disagreed with.
Dave

-Justin

[Shadowramy]

I am using 6 T5, 4 bulbs are overdriven by an Ice Cap 660. I am also using Tek 2 reflectors.

My bulbs are
Front
UVL - Super Actinic
ATI - Blue Plus
ATI - ProColor
ATI - AquaBlue Special
UVL - Aqua Sun
ATI - Blue Plus

The middle 4 are overdriven

[shred5]

Originally posted by BWilfong
I am using 6 T5, 4 bulbs are overdriven by an Ice Cap 660. I am also using Tek 2 reflectors.

My bulbs are
Front
ULV - Super Actinic
ATI - Blue Plus
ATI - ProColor
ATI - AquaBlue Special
ULV - Aqua Sun
ATI - Blue Plus

The middle 4 are overdriven

You run less blue than most.

How do you like the procolor? Do you like it better than the aquasun?

I really do not like the color of the aquasun too much. I accidentally ordered a blue special and replaced the aquasun with it. I lost allot of color in my corals that were green and a little in a few other colored corals after a few weeks. Picked up another aqausun and after a few weeks my colors were back.. I think the red spectrum really makes a difference with t-5 lighting in coral color.


Dave

[Shadowramy]

Yeah, I really dont like a 20K look, I just like a hint of blue.. want to keep it a clear as possible.

I like the Aquasun for growth mainly and the procolor for popping the "reds".

[shred5]

Originally posted by BWilfong
Yeah, I really dont like a 20K look, I just like a hint of blue.. want to keep it a clear as possible.

I like the Aquasun for growth mainly and the procolor for popping the "reds".

Thanks

I might try a procolor on one of my tanks...

Dave

[kurplunk]

Here are some of my sps under 8x geissman
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[photobret]

I'm sure its been mentioned but dont just use the bulbs you have and hope for the best. Get bulbs with max PAR and go from there. ATI Blue + are sick and easily replace your actinics, 1x Aquasun and maybe a 75/25 to complete the setup. T5 has blown me away and I have great growth on my 18" high tank.

Good Luck!!!!