Help with lighting

[skiergd011013]

I work at an aquarium and I have just been approved to buy a new light fixture for our 245 gallon reef. I want an ATI t5 fixture. I have decided on the 36" 8 bulb fixture. The light will be replacing 3 AI hydras that have been on the tank for a few years. With the hydras, I have noticed a steady decline in the coral, colors, and coralline algae. I have tried adjusting the settings, but I just cannot get happy with the tank with these lights. They have also given us breakdowns and problems. I like reef lighting to be heavy on the blue side. What combos for an 8 bulb fixture would look good? At home, I have a four bulb fixture with 3 blue plus, and one purple.

 

[Cory]

I keep seeing more and more posts about led lighting giving people problems.

T5 is a proven lighting. But you gotta change those bulbs regularily.

While im not an expert on t5s id say 2 coral plus, 4 blue plus and 2 others of your choice. Change them out every 6 months to a year. Glennf has a great tank with t5s. Search him.

 

[skiergd011013]

I keep seeing more and more posts about led lighting giving people problems.

T5 is a proven lighting. But you gotta change those bulbs regularily.

While im not an expert on t5s id say 2 coral plus, 4 blue plus and 2 others of your choice. Change them out every 6 months to a year. Glennf has a great tank with t5s. Search him.

i am 100 % unimpressed with these hydras. My old boss got them because they were the latest and greatest, and did the weather effects etc. My first order of business being in charge is to ditch them. No exaggeration, you couldn't give these lights to me.

 

[Cory]

i am 100 % unimpressed with these hydras. My old boss got them because they were the latest and greatest, and did the weather effects etc. My first order of business being in charge is to ditch them. No exaggeration, you couldn't give these lights to me.

I believe there is a flaw somewhere in leds. I dont know what but its there. Lol. And when its found and corrected leds will be a game changer.

 

[Reefnewb]

My setup is
4 blue+
2 Coral+
1 purple +
1 aqua blue special

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

IMO. If it's a public aquarium I'd keep a few of the leds of the shimmer shine thing kids love.

I'd look closely at the color temps of the tube selection you're using as well for the same reason. A windex tank might not be the most appealing for the public.

Reefnewbs set up it pretty spot on for the common home , but brining the color temp down to include a bit more red might be a serious consideration for public enjoyment.
And yea. It'll grow corals just fine , prob better.
It's he difference between a 20k raduim a 14k Phoenix , and an Iwasaki 5.6. All of em grow coral.


As far as leds not growing coral, I'd look at the par level, the color settings , the our considerations for the coral housed in it and the DLI in the tank before I blaming the light really.
I've seen a lot of hydra tanks out there doing great and a lot of $88 black boxes doing just fine.

I have only one led that I can't make grow anything after a few years of experiments. (I'm saving up for a better spectrometer ) and I've grown coral under a 48k Phillips led.