2 single T5 to Supplement 3 Kessil A160W

Tonii · May 13, 2019

Good morning guys,

I currently have 3 kessil 160 on my reef tank which is 48” long and 24” wide. I mostly have LPS and mushrooms but I recently started adding a few Acros. I was thinking of a adding two t5s one on each side of the kessils to supplement my LEDs. So my question is by just adding two t5s, will that make a difference?

Ron Reefman · May 13, 2019

IMHO, you already have more than enough PAR for branching sps corals. But t5's will make a difference in the removal of many shadows since you have 'spotlight' pucks as leds. I tried t5's with my leds and ended up removing them from my 120g mostly sps tank as I didn't like the loss of color control and they really didn't do much for the PAR either. So it's kind of a hit or miss thing depending on what you want.

Tonii · May 13, 2019

Ron Reefman said:
IMHO, you already have more than enough PAR for branching sps corals. But t5's will make a difference in the removal of many shadows since you have 'spotlight' pucks as leds. I tried t5's with my leds and ended up removing them from my 120g mostly sps tank as I didn't like the loss of color control and they really didn't do much for the PAR either. So it's kind of a hit or miss thing depending on what you want.

Oh ok. I keep seeing that T5’s LED hybrids are the newest thing. I just thought it would be an improvement. Thanks for the info

jda · May 13, 2019

Most people who keep acropora do not typically like Kessils alone. They are usually weak and underpowered (even the 300 series) and the T5s have been a blessing to most of them. This it not true with other types of LED which are more powerful. The 160s are totally fine for most softies and LPS that you have, but cannot really get much above 250 PAR where people like their acropora to be. Those acros that you got from me are more like 450+ PAR, but they were under MH.

On a good ballast with a good reflector, each T5 can add 100 PAR at 6" under the water. This is ATI quality. Retro kits vary from blah to great, so choose well if you get some. There are numbers out there for the prepackaged stuff like AquaticLife.

Tonii · May 13, 2019

I’m in between two single T5’s Sunblasters with different bulbs. One on each side of the leds. Or a dual Coralife T5. jda which one would you recommend?

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904298-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B074F3M2NR
https://www.amazon.com/Coralife-Aqualight-Output-Fixture-48-Inch/dp/B0030YFEP4

Midrats · May 13, 2019

It's always a sure bet that jda will show up if Kessils are the topic of discussion.

dwest · May 13, 2019

Tonii said:
Good morning guys,

I currently have 3 kessil 160 on my reef tank which is 48” long and 24” wide. I mostly have LPS and mushrooms but I recently started adding a few Acros. I was thinking of a adding two t5s one on each side of the kessils to supplement my LEDs. So my question is by just adding two t5s, will that make a difference?

I am a kessil user. I have 360’s on my 180 gallon tank. I first started all kessils, then added a 2 t5 let kit from brs. Then went to the 4 bulb aquaticlife hybrid. If I were to do it all over again, I would have skipped the 2 bulbs and went straight to the 4.

Tonii · May 13, 2019

dwest said:
I am a kessil user. I have 360’s on my 180 gallon tank. I first started all kessils, then added a 2 t5 let kit from brs. Then went to the 4 bulb aquaticlife hybrid. If I were to do it all over again, I would have skipped the 2 bulbs and went straight to the 4.

I plan on building a floating canopy for my rimless tank. So I was looking to diy the lights. I could add 4 of the Sunblasters.

jda · May 13, 2019

I don't know. Much depends on what you want to keep. If you are going to get into acropora, then what dwest has posted is very important and just go for the 4 bulb now - this is a common and recurring theme with Kessils and SPS/acropora, so ignore the clowning. If you are going to stay mixed, then two of either of those would probably be fine. IMO, the Giesemann or AquaticLife is better, but also at a cost... probably worth it if you are going more to acropora.

If you have access to a PAR meter, then that can really help you decide between two or four. Do you have a local club who can lend/rent one?

Tonii · May 13, 2019

jda said:
I don't know. Much depends on what you want to keep. If you are going to get into acropora, then what dwest has posted is very important and just go for the 4 bulb now - this is a common and recurring theme with Kessils and SPS/acropora, so ignore the clowning. If you are going to stay mixed, then two of either of those would probably be fine. IMO, the Giesemann or AquaticLife is better, but also at a cost... probably worth it if you are going more to acropora.

If you have access to a PAR meter, then that can really help you decide between two or four. Do you have a local club who can lend/rent one?

Unfortunately we don’t have a local club in my area. But I do plan on staying with a mixed reef. Just a few acros and the rest LPS and softies.

Tonii · May 13, 2019

Sorry to keep bugging you guys but is there a difference between these two besides the price tag.

dwest · May 13, 2019

Tonii said:
Sorry to keep bugging you guys but is there a difference between these two besides the price tag.

The first one doesn’t make sense. t5 HO bulbs are 54 watts each. A total of 108 watts for 2 bulbs. The description says 56 watt. Don’t think you want that unless there is a typo. That one must not be high output? Don’t know about the other.

jda · May 13, 2019

Probably normal output T5, not High Output. Avoid this. The best reef bulbs at High Output.

Tonii · May 13, 2019

jda said:
Probably normal output T5, not High Output. Avoid this. The best reef bulbs at High Output.

I think I’m going to start with a dual Coralife high output T5. The one for sale on marinedepot come with a 10,0000K Daylight and Actinic Blue Lamps. Would those lamps be ok or are different ones needed?