T5 bulb recomondations with Kessil a360WE's

ctmgardea · 11/03/2014, 12:45 AM

Hello,
I have 3 Kessil a360WE's over my 185 gl. 6x2x2, I have 2x6 ft.
80 watt T5's over the tank right now as well, I am going to add 2 more 80 watt T5's.
What ATI bulbs or combos do people recommend. mainly SPS in tank.
Kessil's look great and I'm getting nice growth, just filling in some shadowing in back of tank.
Thanks for any input, or advice.

Zacktosterone · 11/03/2014, 07:08 AM

So how many t5s in total do you have with the kessils then?

DDon · 11/03/2014, 10:04 AM

I run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and 1 Coral Plus (ATI) as supplements to my kessils in this configuration
Front:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Kessils
Coral Plus
Blue Plus

ctmgardea · 11/03/2014, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacktosterone

So how many t5s in total do you have with the kessils then?

I will have a total of 4 bulbs and 3 Kessil 360WE's

ctmgardea · 11/03/2014, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDon

I run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and 1 Coral Plus (ATI) as supplements to my kessils in this configuration
Front:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Kessils
Coral Plus
Blue Plus

Thanks DDon,
how do you like that mix and have you seen improvement and or growth on the corals?

DDon · 11/03/2014, 10:20 AM

I'm happy with the combo and adding the t5s really opened up the shadows. Also am seeing improved growth (from what I can tell). If you PM me your email address I can forward some pictures to you if that would help.

ctmgardea · 11/03/2014, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDon

I'm happy with the combo and adding the t5s really opened up the shadows. Also am seeing improved growth (from what I can tell). If you PM me your email address I can forward some pictures to you if that would help.

you got PM, Thanks DDon!

guric1van · 11/03/2014, 03:05 PM

Could you post them up so that we can all see?

Zacktosterone · 11/03/2014, 04:02 PM

_20140413_165728.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDon

I run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and 1 Coral Plus (ATI) as supplements to my kessils in this configuration
Front:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Kessils
Coral Plus
Blue Plus

When I did a kessil a360 t5 combo this is what I did as well. You can also take out the coral plus and add another blue+..... The color balance will be made using your kessils because they're strong enough.

I can also second the explosion in growth by going with the original combo b+,p+,kessils,c+b+

DDon · 11/03/2014, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guric1van

Could you post them up so that we can all see?

I will post them this evening as I need to downsize...too large to upload here, I tried.

DDon · 11/03/2014, 07:33 PM

Here are the pics which are about a month old now. Tank still has a lot of maturing to do.

ctmgardea · 11/04/2014, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacktosterone

Attachment 296206

When I did a kessil a360 t5 combo this is what I did as well. You can also take out the coral plus and add another blue+..... The color balance will be made using your kessils because they're strong enough.

I can also second the explosion in growth by going with the original combo b+,p+,kessils,c+b+

Zacktosterone, nice set up, very clean looking!

Zacktosterone · 11/04/2014, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctmgardea

Zacktosterone, nice set up, very clean looking!

Thanks! I actually have an ati led powermodule right now haha. If someone would buy it from me I wouldn't hesitate to go back

s2nhle · 11/05/2014, 03:40 PM

Nice. Thank for sharing.

ctmgardea · 12/08/2014, 12:25 AM

DDon & Zacktosterone, what photo periods were or are you running with the T5 / Kessil combos?
I just added another Kessil A360WE (total of 4 now) and 2 more 80 watt T5's (total of 4 bulbs now)

Front:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Kessil's
Coral Plus
Blue Plus

Thanks for your input!

ReefMonkey13 · 12/08/2014, 01:09 AM

Also with the addition of the T5s did you lose the shimmer??

ctmgardea · 12/08/2014, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefMonkey13

Also with the addition of the T5s did you lose the shimmer??

Shimmer is still there, it's a little less due to having more light, but I still get shadowing from the fish on the substrate. The additional T5 lighting seems to give the tank a warmer richer look, I love the HD look of just the Kessil's I just wanted to fill in some of the shadows in the tank.
The addition of the 4 x 80 watt ATI bulbs
Front:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Kessil's
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
seems to bring out a bit more color in some of my SPS.
I just remounted all the Kessil's with some great looking mounts that will allow me to direct the lights anyway I want or need to, and the back T5's in my canopy today, so Ill let you know more as time goes by.
I am trying to figure out my lighting schedule at this point, to get the most bang for my buck.
Thanks for the interest!

Zacktosterone · 12/08/2014, 08:15 AM

For lighting schedule I had the kessils start on full blue 40% for 60 minutes ramping up to 80% so that would be from 8:30 - 9:30, then from 9:30-1:30 it would be blue, the from 1:30-2:30 it would turn white and be white for 3 hours then change again to blue for an hour and slowly ramp down.
T5s would turn on around 1:30 and be on for 8 hours.

Basically have your LEDs on for 12 hours with a lot of blue during the majority of the day, and have the t5, on for 8-10 hours

ctmgardea · 12/08/2014, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacktosterone

For lighting schedule I had the kessils start on full blue 40% for 60 minutes ramping up to 80% so that would be from 8:30 - 9:30, then from 9:30-1:30 it would be blue, the from 1:30-2:30 it would turn white and be white for 3 hours then change again to blue for an hour and slowly ramp down.
T5s would turn on around 1:30 and be on for 8 hours.

Basically have your LEDs on for 12 hours with a lot of blue during the majority of the day, and have the t5, on for 8-10 hours

Thanks Zacktosterone!

Zacktosterone · 12/08/2014, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctmgardea

Thanks Zacktosterone!

Any time!!

JWags911SC · 12/08/2014, 11:17 AM

Not intending to de-rail the thread, but where do you guys source your T-5 fixtures that you use in your canopies? Are they DIY or do you have a fav fixture/supplier that works well in a canopy?

DDon · 12/08/2014, 11:26 AM

I used the LET Miro-4 reto kits. Got mine from reefgeeks but since they are no longer around BRS is a good source.

ReefMonkey13 · 12/08/2014, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctmgardea

Shimmer is still there, it's a little less due to having more light, but I still get shadowing from the fish on the substrate. The additional T5 lighting seems to give the tank a warmer richer look, I love the HD look of just the Kessil's I just wanted to fill in some of the shadows in the tank.
The addition of the 4 x 80 watt ATI bulbs
Front:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Kessil's
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
seems to bring out a bit more color in some of my SPS.
I just remounted all the Kessil's with some great looking mounts that will allow me to direct the lights anyway I want or need to, and the back T5's in my canopy today, so Ill let you know more as time goes by.
I am trying to figure out my lighting schedule at this point, to get the most bang for my buck.
Thanks for the interest!

Thanks for the response. That makes total sense.

Zacktosterone · 12/23/2014, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDon

I used the LET Miro-4 reto kits. Got mine from reefgeeks but since they are no longer around BRS is a good source.

+1 I got mine from reef geek as well, BRS uses a fullham workhorse ballast which will not run the bulbs properly. to give you an idea of quality, the LET ballast is the exact ballast that ATI uses exclusively in all of their fixtures. I would never buy anything else.

GrampaDon · 12/27/2014, 04:30 PM

Zack BRS also has a LET Does the ballast look correct.?

Just ordered 3 A360WEs to replace my MH.
And was wondering if and how many T5s were needed.
Looks like Aquacave also has a LET 2X54 T5 that is 20$ cheaper.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-ft-l...rofit-kit.html

11/03/2014, 12:45 AM	#1
ctmgardea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: East Whittier Posts: 546	T5 bulb recomondations with Kessil a360WE's Hello, I have 3 Kessil a360WE's over my 185 gl. 6x2x2, I have 2x6 ft. 80 watt T5's over the tank right now as well, I am going to add 2 more 80 watt T5's. What ATI bulbs or combos do people recommend. mainly SPS in tank. Kessil's look great and I'm getting nice growth, just filling in some shadowing in back of tank. Thanks for any input, or advice. __________________ 180 gl. SPS dominant reef, 4 MP40's, Rio HF32 return, Apex controller, Vertex 280 skimmer, BRS dual media reactor, Tunze ATO, 4 x Kessil A360We LED's, 4 x 80 watt T5's. 132 gl. cube, 2 MP40's, Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef tank, 132 gal cube

12/08/2014, 12:25 AM	#15
ctmgardea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: East Whittier Posts: 546	DDon & Zacktosterone, what photo periods were or are you running with the T5 / Kessil combos? I just added another Kessil A360WE (total of 4 now) and 2 more 80 watt T5's (total of 4 bulbs now) Front: Blue Plus Purple Plus Kessil's Coral Plus Blue Plus Thanks for your input! __________________ 180 gl. SPS dominant reef, 4 MP40's, Rio HF32 return, Apex controller, Vertex 280 skimmer, BRS dual media reactor, Tunze ATO, 4 x Kessil A360We LED's, 4 x 80 watt T5's. 132 gl. cube, 2 MP40's, Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef tank, 132 gal cube

12/27/2014, 04:30 PM	#25
GrampaDon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Wayne ,IN Posts: 636	Zack BRS also has a LET Does the ballast look correct.? Just ordered 3 A360WEs to replace my MH. And was wondering if and how many T5s were needed. Looks like Aquacave also has a LET 2X54 T5 that is 20$ cheaper. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-ft-l...rofit-kit.html __________________ 165+29 Sticks N Zoas / Kessil + t5 / Ecotech 260 in the works. 84X30X25 Last edited by GrampaDon; 12/27/2014 at 04:33 PM. Reason: Link didnt show up.

11/03/2014, 07:08 AM	#2
Zacktosterone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sault Ste Marie Ont Posts: 2,475	So how many t5s in total do you have with the kessils then?

11/03/2014, 10:04 AM	#3
DDon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Brentwood,CA Posts: 776	I run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and 1 Coral Plus (ATI) as supplements to my kessils in this configuration Front: Blue Plus Purple Plus Kessils Coral Plus Blue Plus

11/03/2014, 10:20 AM	#6
DDon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Brentwood,CA Posts: 776	I'm happy with the combo and adding the t5s really opened up the shadows. Also am seeing improved growth (from what I can tell). If you PM me your email address I can forward some pictures to you if that would help.

11/03/2014, 03:05 PM	#8
guric1van Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 23	Could you post them up so that we can all see?

11/05/2014, 03:40 PM	#14
s2nhle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 298	Nice. Thank for sharing.

12/08/2014, 01:09 AM	#16
ReefMonkey13 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 109	Also with the addition of the T5s did you lose the shimmer??

12/08/2014, 08:15 AM	#18
Zacktosterone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sault Ste Marie Ont Posts: 2,475	For lighting schedule I had the kessils start on full blue 40% for 60 minutes ramping up to 80% so that would be from 8:30 - 9:30, then from 9:30-1:30 it would be blue, the from 1:30-2:30 it would turn white and be white for 3 hours then change again to blue for an hour and slowly ramp down. T5s would turn on around 1:30 and be on for 8 hours. Basically have your LEDs on for 12 hours with a lot of blue during the majority of the day, and have the t5, on for 8-10 hours

12/08/2014, 11:17 AM	#21
JWags911SC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 63	Not intending to de-rail the thread, but where do you guys source your T-5 fixtures that you use in your canopies? Are they DIY or do you have a fav fixture/supplier that works well in a canopy?

12/08/2014, 11:26 AM	#22
DDon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Brentwood,CA Posts: 776	I used the LET Miro-4 reto kits. Got mine from reefgeeks but since they are no longer around BRS is a good source.