Changing from Blackbox to T5

[Asl4all]

I have been setting up my 90G. It is almost done cycling. I tried out the Chinese black box led lights and I'm not too confident of using it. I picked up some T5 HO 8 bulb (48") and I plan to rewire it. It's separated into 4 bulbs each. I want to rewire it to allow two bulbs to come on at a time via a timer.

For those who use t5 - what do you have yours set up for? Type of bulbs? This is a mixed reef setup. My profile picture is showing it There's nothing in there now as for any livestock or lps or sps. I cycled it with Dr. Tim's and Seed bacteria with a couple of damsels in the 75G sump.

Your advice is much appreciated.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I have an 80 shallow and ran an 8bulb t5 as well after switching from LED only. I have adapted mine as of now and added 2 orphek bars and pulled the center 2 t5. I run 4 ati blue+, 2 ati purple+, an or120 orphek sky blue, and an orphek or120 UV.
My LED bars cut on at 12:00 off at 11:00
4 blue+ on at 12:30 off at 10:00
2 purple plus on at 1:00 off at 8:00
So far, great results. Attached a few pics for reference.
Photos taken with iPhone and TruVue clip on lens. Some Led only, some with t5 added

.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I did have to add a fan to blow across top of water to help cool once switched to t5. Lights are 13-14” above water line.

 

[Asl4all]

[QUOTE="ReeferMaddness843, [/QUOTE]

Thank you - Your tank is nice

 

[A. grandis]

What is YOUR preference?
With T5s you can have whatever you want in the combo.
Best would be to get 4 "blue" and 4 "white" bulbs, so it's not too white nor too blue.
But it's up to you.

 

[Asl4all]

What is YOUR preference?
With T5s you can have whatever you want in the combo.
Best would be to get 4 "blue" and 4 "white" bulbs, so it's not too white nor too blue.
But it's up to you.

That's something I have been wondering since I have been told not to do half white and half blues. Was told to go like 4 blues to 1 or 2 white.

With my AI prime on my nano tank, I run more blue less white due to algae outbreaks. I have the max number of red leg, blue leg crabs as well as 3 various types of snails. Oh, also sand stiffing starfish. My algae don't break out that bad with less white. My sps , lps and softies are doing well I guess.

So I'm exploring my options and since I'm new here, I'd like to see what other reefers are doing as for their setups. I just don't want to reinvent the wheel that somebody has started or done already.

By the way, I've already watched 52 weeks of reefing via BRS. Lots of great information but still...I'm just feeling R2R members pulses. Most of you are "Experienced" since you have already been and done that once or twice.

 

[A. grandis]

That's something I have been wondering since I have been told not to do half white and half blues. Was told to go like 4 blues to 1 or 2 white.

With my AI prime on my nano tank, I run more blue less white due to algae outbreaks. I have the max number of red leg, blue leg crabs as well as 3 various types of snails. Oh, also sand stiffing starfish. My algae don't break out that bad with less white. My sps , lps and softies are doing well I guess.

So I'm exploring my options and since I'm new here, I'd like to see what other reefers are doing as for their setups. I just don't want to reinvent the wheel that somebody has started or done already.

By the way, I've already watched 52 weeks of reefing via BRS. Lots of great information but still...I'm just feeling R2R members pulses. Most of you are "Experienced" since you have already been and done that once or twice.

Yes, half blue and half whites is the max of whites I would do. Better for growth and when you keep your nutrients in check that won't give you too much algae. That would depend on the "white" bulbs you choose too.
You can go with 6 blues and 2 whites in a 8 bulb fixture without any problem.
Edit:
I would get a combination of ATI Blue Plus and ATI Pure actinic for blues, and ATI Coral Plus for the "whites".

 

[Bpb]

Algae will thrive in similar condition to corals. Bad constant algae outbreaks are more a result of too few herbivores, Rather than excess nutrients or white light. Put a pincushion urchin or two in there and you’ll worry a lot less and can run whatever spectrum you want. On my 90 gallon at the end of my t5 days I was running
3-6500k
1- coral+
1-purple+
2-blue+
1 actinic.

Or in simple terms 5 white-3 blue. Let my phosphate and nitrate climb over 0.2 and 20 ppm respectively, for an extended period of time. Not a spec of algae to be seen. Courtesy of an urchin and a foxface.

 

[A. grandis]

Algae will thrive in similar condition to corals. Bad constant algae outbreaks are more a result of too few herbivores, Rather than excess nutrients or white light. Put a pincushion urchin or two in there and you’ll worry a lot less and can run whatever spectrum you want. On my 90 gallon at the end of my t5 days I was running
3-6500k
1- coral+
1-purple+
2-blue+
1 actinic.

Or in simple terms 5 white-3 blue. Let my phosphate and nitrate climb over 0.2 and 20 ppm respectively, for an extended period of time. Not a spec of algae to be seen. Courtesy of an urchin and a foxface.

The urchins will eat all coralline algae though.
I do keep 3 tangs and a bunch of snails and they do a wonderful job.

 

[Asl4all]

Do you all recommend more snails than the blue or red leg crabs? I notice the crabs are killing the snails even there's plenty of small shells they could use.

 

[A. grandis]

Some friends prefer snails other hermit crabs.
They just can't coexist in most cases.
I prefer snails.
Just remember that the snails can eat from the walls and the hermit crabs can't.