LED to T5
- Thread starter Riddler05
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Riddler05
Community Member
Hey thanks everyone for the comments. Just to clarify, I am not switch because I am worried about growth. I started in this hobby just a few years ago and have had LEDs the whole time. When I first started and was researching it looked like LEDs where the best options and most of the tanks I had seen were LEDs or metal halides. Recently I went to a LFS who was running T5s and I realized I liked the look of the light much better then LEDs. Im just worried I am taking a step back by going from LEDs to T5s.
I went from a Reef Breeders 48 Photon to a 6 bulb ATI with LED supplements and couldn't be happier. The disco effect was crazy with LED, taking pictures was harder, lots of shadowing, but the big kicker was that I saw a friend's SPS tank with T5 + LED and loved the look.
As an added bonus, my alk and Ca dropped faster meaning that I have as getting more growth. Well, til the dinos hit, but that is another story.
As an added bonus, my alk and Ca dropped faster meaning that I have as getting more growth. Well, til the dinos hit, but that is another story.
kevinsmixed90
Active Member
I don't know, fish store display tanks always look great at the store, but I have bought some equipment corals fish etc. that looked great at the store but different at home even though IMO my lights were better than theirs. I like my radion, T5. mix that I have and if I switch back and forth between the two which I sometimes do
, I cant say with any certainty that one outdoes the other. I do think that one drawback of my T5's is twice a year I replace the bulbs again, this is strictly IMO and it boils down to preference.
, I cant say with any certainty that one outdoes the other. I do think that one drawback of my T5's is twice a year I replace the bulbs again, this is strictly IMO and it boils down to preference.
James Miller
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OK the hamilton fiji sun may e a nice light but for 300+ and no timer, dont think so. The light i mentioned in a earlier post in here was like 60 bucks and has a timer. the 4 bulb setup like the hamilton is just like mine, plus mine has leds also. http://www.aquatraders.com/24-inch-4x24W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Digi-Timer-Fixture-p/52323.htm even has a cooling fan too. So for new ppl looking into lighting shop around. Look on ebay for this same light i have and can get it cheaper and free shipping
jeremy
Well-Known Member
If you do go with t5 don't skimp on you fixture. If you buy a cheap one you will be spending more to upgrade or buy part to fix that fixture like ballasts and better bulbs. If you can find an ATI used you will be happy. For a 75 gallon tank I would do a 6 bulb. Or if you want to keep your led try adding a 2 bulb t5 retro kit. I have bought a few cheap fixtures one of those being the aqua traders light. They are cheap for a reason. I would not recommend buying.
James Miller
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I got mine off ebay and haven't had a issue with it yet. I did come with 4 6500w bulbs so i did buy 1 blue atinic and 2 10k watt bulbs. I posted the timing of the lights earlier in this thread. and have a question there also that if anyone could answer it would be sweet.
jeremy
Well-Known Member
Set it up just like you have now. There is 3 plugs on a non dimmable sunpower. So 3 separate timers or plug in on controller. 1 plug runs position 1 and 3 another plug runs 2 and 4 positions and the other plug runs the variable speed fans. You can adjust fan speed. I set mine on 9 volts.
The dimmable version sunpower has built in timer and can dim each channel and I think fans are automatically controled. I am unsure about that. I have never owner dimmable.
Another good to is an Aquatic Life. They have built in timer and cooling fan.
Hope that helps.
The dimmable version sunpower has built in timer and can dim each channel and I think fans are automatically controled. I am unsure about that. I have never owner dimmable.
Another good to is an Aquatic Life. They have built in timer and cooling fan.
Hope that helps.
Akida17th
Well-Known Member
Nice however I didn't see any fixtures over a 4 bulb. I truly debated going with a horitculture fixture and just adding a fan. So much cheaper and comes stock with the same ballasts. Unfortunately I went the other route and purchased an expensive ATI 24" 8 bulb fixture but I'm happy with it. The quality is superior to almost all T5 fixtures I have come across. I'm more of a quality over quantity kind of guy though. Others are different
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Riddler05
Community Member
Thanks everyone for the comments. I think I have decided to go with a 6 bulb T5 ATI fixture. I may end up regretting it but I just like the even spread of light on the T5. Im not a big fan of the shimmer of LEDs (I know most people are) and I am hoping that I will have less shading. I will let everyone know how it goes.
Akida17th
Well-Known Member
You made the right choice! Winner winner winner chicken dinner! Do yourself a favor and add a Reefbrite to your fixture to supplement for actinic and "pop" and you'll be in the ALPHA club.
NoStRaThOmAs
Active Member
NoStRaThOmAs
Active Member
Is it better to go with the ATI dimmable fixture or just the Sunpower? Which reefbrite fixture for a 48x24x18?
luke33
2500 Club Member
I was running two ocean revive 32" led fixture's over my 180g, the colors were great as well as the intensity. Most of my sps were colored up nicely but the growth was not there. I decided to go back to t5's and am extremely happy I did. My growth picked up, alk and calc are being absorbed much quicker as well. I did brown out quite a few sps but almost all of them are showing great colors now, some that were brown with the LED are now looking fantastic. But after running t5's for 6yrs, then mh's for 2yrs and led's exclusively for the last 5yrs I will stick with what works best for me. On a side note I have a few led blue strips to get the shimmer and crazy coral glow, just can't beat led blue! I think you made a great choice.
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Riddler05
Community Member
So I installed the new ATI fixture this weekend and I love the look and color of the light. Its funny because just after a day my BTAs are already starting to bubble back up after a year of no bubbles. So far I am liking the switch but I know it is too early to say for sure.
NoStRaThOmAs
Active Member
NoStRaThOmAs
Active Member
What bulb combo did you go with?
