is it enough?

[GR808]

I was wondering if T5 lighting would be sufficient lighting for SPS corals?
I have 6-54W T5 lighting, 2 atitinics (13hrs/day), 1 12000K and 1 6500k full (10hrs/day), 1 12000K and 1 6500k full (8hrs/day). I have a 120G and 20 sump/refugium.

 

[inactive]

Throw some ATI bulbs in there and you'll be good to go IMO.

 

[Reefer831]

Throw some ATI bulbs in there and you'll be good to go IMO.

+1 on the ATI bulbs. Kraylens tank looks great with them. I think it gives way more color to the SPS then HQI's do and the light spreads through the tank better.

 

[GR808]

I am using Wave bulbs. ATI is better? Best priced retailers?

 

[whip1]

I am still using the stock bulbs that came with my light and they are too blue and dont bring out my corals colors so I am not sure what bulbs to buy either.
what is the differance between ATI and Korallen-Zucht T5 Fiji Purple Special Red/Blue besides price? I am looking for the best color for my corals.
GR808 have you looked at Premium Aquatics?

 

[GPhiAce]

I love Premium Aquatics. I have always had good experiences with them except one time. They did not have what I ordered in stock, and they did not tell me until the day after they were supposed to be shipped, but it worked out. The difference in the bulbs is the color, wavelength, and K. Inorder to best get an idea of what you are getting into, you should probably look through some old threads with the bulbs being used, and the person tells you what they are using. I use MH and VHO now, although I think the T5s are great. I just like the shimmer from the MH and the intensity of the VHO is amazing (don't have alot of space in my hood). +1 on using good bulbs, like ATI, KZ and Geissman. I loved the KZ fiji purple. That bulb brought out the pinks and reds. Unfortunately, I don't have a good number of actinics to whites for T5s to suggest. I think I would prefer 2 whites to 4 actinics, but that is me. GL

 

[whip1]

I just broke down and bought 2 14k whites and 2 KZ fiji purple from Premium Aquatics I already have the actinics(real dark blue) so hopefully I can get a good color I like but I'm not sure what it will look like with the HID's on.. hmm I will take a before and after pic's

 

[GPhiAce]

I just broke down and bought 2 14k whites and 2 KZ fiji purple from Premium Aquatics I already have the actinics(real dark blue) so hopefully I can get a good color I like but I'm not sure what it will look like with the HID's on.. hmm I will take a before and after pic's

That is basically what I did. Bought a few different bulbs, tried them until i got a color I liked, them sold the bulbs I didn't like, or kept the ones I was on the fence about as replacements.

 

[GR808]

I am still using the stock bulbs that came with my light and they are too blue and dont bring out my corals colors so I am not sure what bulbs to buy either.
what is the differance between ATI and Korallen-Zucht T5 Fiji Purple Special Red/Blue besides price? I am looking for the best color for my corals.
GR808 have you looked at Premium Aquatics?

I haven't seen PA yet. I'll take a look

 

[GR808]

i am running 4 whites and 2 atinics but will change to 3 and 3. I like the blue of the Wave atinics and if ATI, KZ, or Geissman will have better result, I will be a happy man. What's the difference with the atinics or true atinics?

 

[smokenax]

depending on the nm. actinics some times are blue 460nm depending on the company and true actinics are 420nm giving it that purple look.

 

[secretreefer]

+1 on ATI. they're proven and there's a thread on RC that even gives you par levels of most bulbs out there. check out THE GRIM REEFER 's posts. very informative!


The T5 Q&a Thread - Reef Central Online Community

 

[GR808]

thanks for all the info folks.. I'll be buying stock in ATI soon..lol