How much spread with T5

[coral49]

Updating lighting on my 300 gallon. It's 96" long. Just added 3 Kessil ap700. I want to add T5 lighting to help with shade and even the light. I don't want a bunch of more cords and light for retro fit. Trying hard to keep it simple

Looking to add a the following fixture for fill and moonlight but only 1 at 60 inche in center. If i hang it about 10 inches above the water do you think it will cover the 96" tank.

Hamilton Aruba Sun T5 Retrofit with LEDs - 2 x 80 Watt T5 HO – V Series

 

[Greybeard]

You're looking to cover 18" either side of the bulbs. I have a 48" T5 fixture over a 60" tank, which leaves 6" on each side. It's fine, plenty of light, but it doesn't carry much past that. The outside 8" or so of your 96" long tank is likely to be low light... but that's not necessarily a problem. Just stock the ends with low light corals

 

[ihavecrabs]

If the Kessils are in the center facing down, I would opt for one bulb in front and one in back angled inward.

BTW, does this 300g tank happen to reside in a Chicago suburb beginning with "B"?

 

[coral49]

You're looking to cover 18" either side of the bulbs. I have a 48" T5 fixture over a 60" tank, which leaves 6" on each side. It's fine, plenty of light, but it doesn't carry much past that. The outside 8" or so of your 96" long tank is likely to be low light... but that's not necessarily a problem. Just stock the ends with low light corals

thanks, that helps give me guidance, the AP reaches the end quite well so not worried about enough light to grow softies. I'm really looking blend the whole tank better and minimize the shaded area. Plus the only annoying aspect of AP 700 is no moon lights. The only moon light option is way to bright. I read somewhere that is done to help longevity and drive more power which i will take over moon light.

If the Kessils are in the center facing down, I would opt for one bulb in front and one in back angled inward.

Totally agree that is the best approach but want to have a single fixture with a clean look vs. the retro fit with lots of wires and plugs on each side of AP, plus wanted a integrated moon lights. I've been trying real hard to clean up and declutter, I walk by the Apex and my blood pressure rises as I look at the mess of wires.

I think the plan is use that fixture right behind the AP and angle inward toward center of the tank with 60 inches. Hope it fills in well. I can do that for $200. I am open to other options in that price range.

BTW, does this 300g tank happen to reside in a Chicago suburb beginning with "B"?

Yes indeed, feel free to stop by i have another BTA that is ready for a home (Their all moving since i change lights). He's all yours. Did you pick that ballast from me as well.. I found the other one when cleaning, you can grab it too.

Side note.. Clearly i hang at the local forum, but bumped into R2R a few months ago from the box out of BRS. Not sure how i missed this site after all these years. But glad to be here and see new and familiar faces.

 

[Daniel Waters]

It's 96" long. Just added 3 Kessil ap700. I want to add T5 lighting to help with shade and even the light...

If i hang it about 10 inches above the water do you think it will cover the 96" tank.

It will "light" it in that it will give you that diffuse look that T5s provide, but the edges may not be illuminated quite as much. When you say you want to help with "shading", this means different things to different people. If you're referring to shaded areas in the tank or shadows that get cast from your rockwork then the T5s will definitely help with that. If you're referring to shading where you are concerned about getting adequate light intensity to the inner parts of a larger coral colony, then you might run into issues depending on how many bulbs you are using and how far from the center the colony is positioned.

 

[oreo54]

I read somewhere that is done to help longevity and drive more power

Hmm sounds like marketing BS to me..

Note did you know that if you type {Bee Sss} it comes out as .. see above..

 

[jda]

Sounds like BS to me too.

I would do a pair of 48" fixtures in a 96" tank. I had a 6 foot light on a 7 foot tank and I hated it and bought lights for each end... and you will have a lot more room on each side than I did.

 

[oreo54]

o/p's looking at 5' lights.. even worse.. Except they are just supplemental to the 3 AP 700's Guess it all depends how much end imbalance they want to deal w/ it..

ONLY reason I'd lean to 6' or greater LED light bars is for more even coverage AND less "wires" which they want..

 

[coral49]

Finally closing the loop on this topic. Everyone is correct the T5 spread lengthwise is quite minimal about 6 inches each side. Using the 60 inches on 96 inches does not look right so I broke down and bought a 24 inches Hamilton Aruba Sun. I'll deal with all wires and mess to makes sure the tank is looking good. I haven't hung the 24 inche yet, when done i will share picture.

Regarding the Ap700.. I'm still on fence if it's as great as people say.. 1st it really bothers me there is no lunar light or moon version. The programming is very easy and i really like the color ranges but it leave lots of shadowing. I meant around the tank and under the cliff of live rock but i can see it will clearly do the same within the inner parts of coral.

My old LEDs were Reed breeders 48 inches 1st version had them about 5 years and they worked great. Great spread and color, only complaint was time would slowly move faster on 1 and not the other and when power went out i lost all my programming, I only switched because i had a line on 3 AP700s at a good price and figured time to change it up.

Corals grew awesome

Now i will be one of those LEDs with T5 combo.. hope it works out even better.

I don't have a PAR meter to compare