Awesome epiphany, had a hybrid setup in plain sight

[uhgster1]

I was starting to obsess over an ATI lighting when it hit me that I already had 2/3 of a hybrid setup already! I have an 18x36x25 inch aquarium (65gals) with two AI Primes over it. I started to go through some old equipment and lo and behold, I had a Coralife T5HO fixture gathering dust the whole time! I went and set it up on the aquarium and wouldn’t you know, it is a perfect fit in front and behind the AIs! I looked up on Amazon and they still sell them for $108! I already ordered the new one along with some ATI Blue Plus bulbs! I set the one I already had in the back to supplement the AI over my SPS and my allergies almost kick in. My Strawberry Shortcake started extending it’s polyps for the first time since I moved it over to the tank last Christmas! Before that I had both AIs on the right side over the SPS. I’m so elated it’s ridiculous. What kept me from the ATI hybrid was the mandatory hanging from something which is a look the wife despises. Once the other light fixture gets here it will look like it was meant to be all along. The LEDs shine through with zero obstruction. I figured there has to be more members out there with the same situation so there you go fellow reefers, just in case you oversaw the possibility like I did. Happy reefing!

 

[Peace River]

I was starting to obsess over an ATI lighting when it hit me that I already had 2/3 of a hybrid setup already! I have an 18x36x25 inch aquarium (65gals) with two AI Primes over it. I started to go through some old equipment and lo and behold, I had a Coralife T5HO fixture gathering dust the whole time! I went and set it up on the aquarium and wouldn’t you know, it is a perfect fit in front and behind the AIs! I looked up on Amazon and they still sell them for $108! I already ordered the new one along with some ATI Blue Plus bulbs! I set the one I already had in the back to supplement the AI over my SPS and my allergies almost kick in. My Strawberry Shortcake started extending it’s polyps for the first time since I moved it over to the tank last Christmas! Before that I had both AIs on the right side over the SPS. I’m so elated it’s ridiculous. What kept me from the ATI hybrid was the mandatory hanging from something which is a look the wife despises. Once the other light fixture gets here it will look like it was meant to be all along. The LEDs shine through with zero obstruction. I figured there has to be more members out there with the same situation so there you go fellow reefers, just in case you oversaw the possibility like I did. Happy reefing!

This sounds like an attractive and creative solution! It will be interesting to see how your corals react to the new lighting configuration!

 

[TheGreatWave]

That is an interesting aquascape. Makes you want to look around.

 

[uhgster1]

UPDATE!! Got the second Coralife T5 used for an awesome price from my LFS. I’m over the moon with the results. I’m going to let it run for a few months before I replace the Coralife bulbs with ATIs but honestly I can’t complain with the visuals so far. It is so balanced I wish I could take better pictures to show the difference.

So, if you shop around for some used two bulb T5 fixtures you can get the hybrid setup for less than $100!

 

[uhgster1]

I forgot, the first picture on this post is with an actinic T8 single bulb in the front and the first Coralife fixture in the back.

 

[Lor]

does the actinic light looks more white than blue?

 

[uhgster1]

does the actinic light looks more white than blue?

No, it’s actually more purple than anything. But it makes your coral fluoresce. My understanding is actinic as an actual visual source to us is actually dim, but coral absolutely use the heck out of it. It’s a perfect example of intensity as it relates to our eyes. Dim to us but depending on the source, led, t5, etc... packs a lot of par the coral use.