Aquatic life T5 hybrid

[mraysberg]

Thinking about picking up one of these t5 hybrids. I have an AI prime hd that will work with it. Tank has lps, mushrooms, and zoas only. My question is what are some good bulbs for it? I see there are ati and geisemann.

 

[mraysberg]

Also what bulb colors?

 

[CheckeredPants]

I’m currently using 4 ATI Blue Plus in my Aquatic Life Hybrid and like the way it looks. I’d stick with either ATI or Geisemann for bulbs. Color combinations are endless. There’s a couple videos on YouTube that show the differences between the colors that could help you decide.

 

[UCF Alum]

I use ATI Blue Plus bulbs and one Purple. It’s the four bulb fixture with my Radions in the middle. Since you’re mainly a softy tank, I’d get the blues. You don’t want too much white light as so you dont melt your zoas/shrooms.

 

[mraysberg]

I use ATI Blue Plus bulbs and one Purple. It’s the four bulb fixture with my Radions in the middle. Since you’re mainly a softy tank, I’d get the blues. You don’t want too much white light as so you dont melt your zoas/shrooms.

what about the actinic bulbs?

 

[mraysberg]

I’m currently using 4 ATI Blue Plus in my Aquatic Life Hybrid and like the way it looks. I’d stick with either ATI or Geisemann for bulbs. Color combinations are endless. There’s a couple videos on YouTube that show the differences between the colors that could help you decide.

do you have a link for the YouTube vids you speak of?

 

[UCF Alum]

what about the actinic bulbs?

you can most definitely use those too!
Maybe 2 blue plus and two actinic

 

[SPSReeferMI]

My experience is that I have 3 Hydras with my Aquatic life. I originally went with two Blue+ and two Coral+ T5 bulbs. I felt that I wasn’t getting the deeper blue look that I wanted. I’m running my Hydras on their equivalent of AB+, which is bluer than 100% of all channels. I then switched to two actinic bulbs to replace my Coral+, but wasn’t happy. I’m thinking 4 Blue+ with Hydra is ideal for my viewing preferences. My hydras have a lot of extra white if I end up “too blue”. Hope this helps a bit!

 

[CheckeredPants]

do you have a link for the YouTube vids you speak of?

 

[CheckeredPants]

do you have a link for the YouTube vids you speak of?

Here’s Part 2:

 

[mraysberg]

Thank you. So I ended up going with 2 blue +, 1 purple + and 1 actinic

 

[mraysberg]

Does anyone have some recommendations for a wall bracket? I would hand it directly from my ceiling but since I have an angled ceiling not sure how that’s going to work. I was looking into those plant hangers but looking for something a little more modernish if possible.

 

[CheckeredPants]

I built a floating canopy, but Aquatic Life self mounting systems directly.

Aquatic Life Floating Suspension & Universal/Hybrid System Fixture Hangers, Mounting System Parts, Decorative Endcaps

Description Aquatic Life Floating Suspension Fixture Hanger. This hardware is designed to mount on the wall behind your aquarium and make it easy to hang your light fixture over the aquarium. Compatible light fixtures include the Aquatic Life Hybrid, G2 Hybrid and DX18 models. Light Fixtures NOT...

aquaticlife.com

 

[Kyl]

I used to run 2x blue+ 2x actinic, but I've slowly changed that over to 4x blue+. If starting fresh I'd go 4x blue+ and use that as your base line. Tank too blue, sub one for a coral+. Tank too bright, sub one for an actinic, etc.

 

[mraysberg]

Just installed the t5 with the ai prime hd. These things are amazing. Gets rid of all the shadows and tanks lite up. All the corals are super bright and brings out the fluorescent colors more. Now trying to figure out how to mount to wall. Got a shelf bracket but it’s only 8 inches. Don’t really want to spend a crazy amount for the floating suspension so back to Home Depot I guess to get a longer bracket. I’ll all else fails floating suspension it is

 

[Waters]

Those of you that are saying your 4 T5 bulbs aren't blue enough, are you supplementing the whiter T5s with the blues of the LEDs? My plan is to just run my two Radion's in the 18-20k range to add blues to the whiter T5s (I went with two Coral+ and two Blue+ bulbs). Also, those that switched to the white T5s after using LEDs, did you have any issues with SPS due to the spectrums color change?

 

[mraysberg]

Any of you can suggest a right distance the light should be above the tank? I was thinking like 8 inches

 

[djray77]

I started with 2 Xr15g4 2 blue+ and 2 Coral +, I have since changed the XR15's out for A360x's and 2 blue+ and 2 Actinic and really liking this setup so far.

 

[Kyl]

Those of you that are saying your 4 T5 bulbs aren't blue enough, are you supplementing the whiter T5s with the blues of the LEDs? My plan is to just run my two Radion's in the 18-20k range to add blues to the whiter T5s (I went with two Coral+ and two Blue+ bulbs). Also, those that switched to the white T5s after using LEDs, did you have any issues with SPS due to the spectrums color change?

Depends on the LED. Some are using 40w pucks, others are using 90w. My A160's are overpowered by the T5's, which is why I run all blues now and use the LED to kick the white into the tank. Others with LED that overpower the T5's can do the opposite and run a coral+, etc.

 

[Waters]

Depends on the LED. Some are using 40w pucks, others are using 90w. My A160's are overpowered by the T5's, which is why I run all blues now and use the LED to kick the white into the tank. Others with LED that overpower the T5's can do the opposite and run a coral+, etc.

Ok thanks. I am running two Radion XR30 Pros so I am guessing it will more than overpower the T5s......so using them strictly for blues should work good.