Added T5’s to led setup

fishkeeprian · 05/23/2020, 03:01 PM

Hello,

I have a 50 gallon breeder and was currently running two Hydra 26HD’s. I’ve now added 4 T5 bulbs, 3 blue plus and a purple plus, these are 39w bulbs.

On my 2 x Hydra 26HD’s I run the brs ab+.

My light leds are on for 12 hours per day and my t5s are currently being run 5 hours aday, coming in through the mid cycle of my leds.

Do I need to turn my leds down? Having the T5 and leds running together is this a disaster?

Help would be good on what to do. Thanks

Michael Hoaster · 05/23/2020, 11:16 PM

Lots of folks use LED and T5 together, so you should be fine. You may need to make adjustments. Adding more light would seem to suggest turning down the LEDs for awhile, so any photosynthetic organisms can adjust.

wildman926 · 05/25/2020, 07:51 AM

I run my led's 10 hours a day, and add my T5's together with the led's for 3 hours during my viewing pleasure time in the evening.

cody6766 · 05/25/2020, 09:42 AM

Dialing them back couldn't hurt. It may not be required, but there's a small chance your coral will need a little time to adjust. I'd probably do it out of an abundance of caution. Knock the LEDs back about 25% of their current setting, then work it back up over two weeks or so.

As for LEDs and T5s, it's a great combo. LEDs are awesome for color and good for growth. They often cause intense shadows, causing the underside of SPS branches to not grow. Adding T5s can help tweak the color and add a more even look to the lighting. I've done primary LED with T5 support and primary T5 with LED support on different tanks. I ran 2 Kessils and 4 T5s over my 120 a few years back. Now, on my 60g cube, I run an ATI fixture with a few LEDs to boost the color. Both have been very successful tanks

05/23/2020, 03:01 PM	#1
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	Added T5’s to led setup Hello, I have a 50 gallon breeder and was currently running two Hydra 26HD’s. I’ve now added 4 T5 bulbs, 3 blue plus and a purple plus, these are 39w bulbs. On my 2 x Hydra 26HD’s I run the brs ab+. My light leds are on for 12 hours per day and my t5s are currently being run 5 hours aday, coming in through the mid cycle of my leds. Do I need to turn my leds down? Having the T5 and leds running together is this a disaster? Help would be good on what to do. Thanks __________________ If in doubt ask!

05/23/2020, 11:16 PM	#2
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Lots of folks use LED and T5 together, so you should be fine. You may need to make adjustments. Adding more light would seem to suggest turning down the LEDs for awhile, so any photosynthetic organisms can adjust. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

05/25/2020, 07:51 AM	#3
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	I run my led's 10 hours a day, and add my T5's together with the led's for 3 hours during my viewing pleasure time in the evening. __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

05/25/2020, 09:42 AM	#4
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	Dialing them back couldn't hurt. It may not be required, but there's a small chance your coral will need a little time to adjust. I'd probably do it out of an abundance of caution. Knock the LEDs back about 25% of their current setting, then work it back up over two weeks or so. As for LEDs and T5s, it's a great combo. LEDs are awesome for color and good for growth. They often cause intense shadows, causing the underside of SPS branches to not grow. Adding T5s can help tweak the color and add a more even look to the lighting. I've done primary LED with T5 support and primary T5 with LED support on different tanks. I ran 2 Kessils and 4 T5s over my 120 a few years back. Now, on my 60g cube, I run an ATI fixture with a few LEDs to boost the color. Both have been very successful tanks __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI