going back to t5/led combo need advice

[jmp21677]

I have a red sea 170 and want to look at a t5/led combo. Sps/lps tank. Anyone have exp. With these?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I have a t5/led combo fixture for my sps tank. there are some nice ones from ati, reefbrite, giesemann, but they aren't cheap that's for sure.

 

[jmp21677]

Which do you have? This tank is 24"x24". I'm assuming that 4 bulbs with the LEDs are enough?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I made my own from an old tek t5 fixture. switched out the ballasts to the same ones ati uses, removed the middle two bulbs and install a strip of leds.

Yes I would think a 4x with leds would work well. most of my leds are royal blue with a few neutral whites. t5 bulbs are ati blue plus and coral plus.

 

[Broadfield]

I have a Giesemann Aurora on my Red Sea Reefer 450 and think it's absolutely AMAZING! Of course the price reflects that it better be amazing lol.

 

[Christopher Davis]

I am currently running a current marine 32 inch programmable fixture with a 4 bulb t5HO, my 75 gallon has never been happier.

 

[mcarroll]

I have a red sea 170 and want to look at a t5/led combo. Sps/lps tank. Anyone have exp. With these?

After a short bit of scouting to see what you had and why you are switching....makes sense after I found this post
#3 from an old thread: need suggestions: lighting red sea 170

"I want to use a t5....the issue is hanging the light. Was thinking AI prime. Not sure on the spread though"​

You defined what you wanted (t5 = area light)...that's good!!

But then you picked one of the lights that is about as opposite as it could be...that's bad. (But look at the guidance you got.)

Radeons, AI's, Kessils, et al are spot lights.

This seems like a pretty common occurance.

Ideally, you should have selected an LED system that's similar to what you wanted – a strip format/area light.

If you're still in the mood for an all-LED system, the CurrentUSA Orbit Marine Pro is one good example. I think I saw that your tank is 24" wide, so a DUAL kit would be needed, but they aren't too expensive....your size is $584 at drfoster. Great for hanging, but can rest on the tank on its feet as well. Full sunrise/sunset dimming, etc....

It's a thought!

 

[mcarroll]

Cancel that last part....somehow I thought your tank was a 120 gal....you tank's surface area is 24"L x 20"W though, right?

A single 24" Orbit Marine Pro would do it....$233.

If you need more complete front-to-back coverage, a DUAL kit might still be a good idea ($449). But I'm pretty sure I'd start with one and add if needed unless I had plenty of budget.

 

[jmp21677]

I have the xr15 pro right now. I just don't like how corals just seem to fade away after a few months. If MH weren't such a pain I'd go back to those. The benefit I see in these combo set ups is the color/growth of the T5 with the pop of the led! I just need to figure out if buYing a standard set up and adding a few led is an option vs. Cost of an aio

 

[Gpettit721]

Why are mh such a pain?

 

[reefwiser]

Metal Halides will heat up a tank and may require the use of a chiller. An of coarse the bulb needs to be replaced after a number of month's. An they require a hood on the tank or a good fixture to work properly. They draw a lot of power so the electrical cost is higher.
They grow coral thou and many people that like to see visible growth will go with them.

 

[Broadfield]

Hey Joe, here's a picture you requested:

IMG_4278 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

 

[mcarroll]

I have the xr15 pro right now. I just don't like how corals just seem to fade away after a few months.

I'm not sure color/growth and pop are useful aspects of lighting....lots more than light figure in to those things, such that they exist.

What you have are two problems

1. A "spot light" over too large a tank. One bright spot on the tank that falls off to nearly no-light at the edges.
2. Your tastes are for the nice, even light of a T5 bulb. T5's are "area lighting"

For problem #1, use a lux meter to assess the light levels you'r getting from the Prime at the water surface and I bet levels are low. You can use a free app (like galactica luxmeter for IOS) or $15 handheld unit – they are cheap.

Increase the light and make your corals happier.

You can do this by

• lowering the Prime - half the distance to the water = double the intensity.
• adding to your Prime....two Primes would be nicer. T5's also accomplish this.
• switching to a strip format LED to satisfy your taste for a nice, even light field AND get more intensity.

You can always do whatever you want, but the third option is probably the most sensible. I'm sure T5/LED combos are nice, but the cost is definitely not called for.

Again, I'd consider the advice you got before.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Metal Halides will heat up a tank and may require the use of a chiller. An of coarse the bulb needs to be replaced after a number of month's. An they require a hood on the tank or a good fixture to work properly. They draw a lot of power so the electrical cost is higher.
They grow coral thou and many people that like to see visible growth will go with them.

Well the part of this I will agree with is that they will heat up the tank. I replace the bulbs once a year. I do not have nor do I need a chiller. Household AC is enough. I run an open top tank with mesh lids and use fans to control heat. They don't require a hood or an expensive fixture. I have 2x250 hqi along with 4x54watt t-5 bulbs total draw is 4 amps. They grow coral and are proven to work.... No one will dispute that. [emoji4]

 

[Broadfield]

If you do the Prime, you will want 1 unit per 12" of tank length. I had five of them on the very tank I posted above. Even with 5 Primes on 60" tank, it wasn't even close to the even coverage that my new fixture provides... but obviously the cost was much less.

 

[lennyd19]

I have the xr15 pro right now. I just don't like how corals just seem to fade away after a few months. If MH weren't such a pain I'd go back to those. The benefit I see in these combo set ups is the color/growth of the T5 with the pop of the led! I just need to figure out if buYing a standard set up and adding a few led is an option vs. Cost of an aio

I also have XR15 PRO. My corals love it and color is amazing? What size tank do you have also what setting is it on and amount of light period? I will say if anything I just do not like the shadowing but that can be fixed with t5 supplement. Which I will do some day.

 

[rchraska]

Following along to get some ideas for my next lighting upgrade

 

[jmp21677]

It's a red sea 170 reefer. I believe it's 24x24". The xr15 is set on 45% max as I was bleaching out corals at 60%. Light is typically at 20k ish. Only real parameter issue is keeping alk in the sweet spot

 

[lennyd19]

Very nice setup. Google Ecotech Coral Lab. I have 2 XR15 PRO over 36x18x18. I started mine at 60% and worked up to 93% right now. My lighting schedule is from 630am to 800pm and 2 hours of moon lights. The lights are about 8 inches from the water and is at 93% for 6 hours. My total goal is 7 hours at 95%. And the lights are on coral lab's AB+ settings. I am extremely happy with growth and color. I also have found that starting all corals on bottom and working them up, if done to fast they will bleach or RTN. Patience pays off with it though. I hope this helps you out.

 

[jmp21677]

I'll try the coral lab site. I know several people that have had great success with LEDs. I just haven't been one so far. The best fixture I ever bought was a reef koI 120 watt fixture with one watt leds! Great color and growth.