Let's see your T5 SPS tanks!

[buddythelion]

Yes Darwin it's that red, but that's also what the right combo of T5s do. A lot of ligting will give you that rusty brick red flat look
instead of vivid popping reds. You gotta excite the pigments with the correct spectrum and intensity to
get good reds.

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T5s excel with all colors.
My current setup is 2 Coral+ and 2 Blue+

Simply stunning. I love how solid all of the colors are. You're only running 4 bulbs for your tank? I'm some what on the fence of switching out my Kessils for T5s. I'm just not a fan of the spread of Kessils.

 

[Reefltx]

Big E/rvela, that's amazing colors!

What are your tanks dimension and how high do you have the fixture above the water?


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[427HISS]

Lit by an ATI 36" Sunpower fixture.

One of the best tanks I've seen !
Great job !!!

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

Some very nice tanks in here

 

[flyingfish]

Watching, great info!

 

[kacrocorals581]

Nice nice nice!!

 

[Killer]

Lit by an ATI 36" Sunpower fixture.

Give us more detail about your tank please!

That is some serious sps colors!

Stunning!

 

[Big E]

Thanks.......yes only four bulbs on an 18" wide 75g, but I'm using a DIY set up. I think the ATI fixtures reflectors aren't quite as wide as mine are.

Each reflector I have is 2 1/2" wide.

What about trying to flank your Kessils with some T5's? That'll fill the gaps and give you some options on what bulbs to use to supplement. Personally I'd use Coral+ to supplement and run your Kessils more on the blue side. I'd also set the T5s up so that they are slightly angled in.

I keep my lights 7-9" from the surface.

 

[rvela]

Thanks for the compliments. Well it was setup in 2008 after having it in storage for about 8 yrs. I moved around a lot and finally put down my roots and always planned on setting it up again.

As for the equipment, I have two mp40w Vortechs (I like a lot of flow even for this 58 gal) + an additional nano stream powerhead, a SWC cone skimmer, Bubble Magus doser filled with BRS calcium and alk (I don't dose Mag-do water changes instead), & an ATI 36" 6 bulb Sunpower system. This is all hooked up thru a Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite. I also have a 20 gal sump underneath. I have a top off system that is plummed thru the wall directly behind the tank that hold about 12 gallons of freshwater.

For the lighting combo, from back to front is:

ATI BLUE +
ATI AQUA BLUE SPECIAL
KZ FIJI PURPLE
ATI BLUE +
ATI CORAL +
ATI BLUE +

I also have a 24" blue Reefbrite led strip in front of the existing fixture used as a supplement. I have tried many many combo configurations and always come back to this one. Its more of a 15-20k look to my eyes. I actually started this tank with a 250 MH with a mini Lumenarc reflector with two T5s for supplementation. I put the ATI fixture up in mid 2010 and have never looked back. The new ATI hybrid t5/led fixture has sparked my interest but its way out of my price range. I think they are about $1000-1500 depending on which one u buy. Nevertheless, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Thanks again,
Roy

 

[rvela]

Oops forgott to answer the question about height of the fixture...about 7-9 inches as well.

 

[Killer]

@ rvela

Thanks for the specs.

Can I ask what are your parameters, supplements (if some) and salt brand?

 

[rvela]

Parameters are as follows:

Nitrate 0...trying to feed more to get it up just a little. I've noticed when its slightly up colors are more vivid.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphates-?? don't have a test at the time.
PH +/- 8.4
Alk (currently) 8.5--- stuff is growing and I have to monitor it via a Hanna alk checker, because at times when the growth slows I've noticed it drops down to 6.5-7 (not good for my tank). When this happens I have to increase my 2 part accordingly. My current dosage of two part is 125 ml each. The alk is dosed every hour for 24hrs. The cal is dosed 8 times over 24hrs. I need to stay on top of it more to maintain stability...I get lazy at times. I could usually tell something is up with coral colors/growth.

I have 8 fish and a RBTA. I only do water changes(10 gal) 1 a month. Reason is, for my tank, at times I feel it's too clean meaning not enough nutrients. I've seen some tanks with higher nutrients look even better than mine. Sps need something to feed on...my opinion is that some nitrates/phosphates are good.

 

[rvela]

Usually Reef Crystals. I just finished a bucket and am going to try Instant Ocean (regular). I think it mixes better from my experience in the past. With RC I feel I always have this cloudiness to it no matter if I let it mix for two/three days.

The only supplements I use, when I remember is Brightwells Coral Amino. Not sure if it works but once it's finished I won't buy it again. I do try to feed regularly three times a day with flakes, mysis, reef caviar, & cyclopeez.

 

[rvela]

Usually Reef Crystals. I just finished a bucket and am going to try Instant Ocean (regular). I think it mixes better from my experience in the past. With RC I feel I always have this cloudiness to it no matter if I let it mix for two/three days.

The only supplements I use, when I remember is Brightwells Coral Amino. Not sure if it works but once it's finished I won't buy it again. I do try to feed regularly three times a day with flakes, mysis, reef caviar, & cyclopeez.

 

[shred5]

Yes Darwin it's that red, but that's also what the right combo of T5s do. A lot of ligting will give you that rusty brick red flat look
instead of vivid popping reds. You gotta excite the pigments with the correct spectrum and intensity to
get good reds.

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T5s excel with all colors.
My current setup is 2 Coral+ and 2 Blue+

Wow I have never tried the coral + I have used the purple plus with very good results. They seem to have close to the same spectrum... I am going to have to order a few next time and give them a try..

To those others why did you have to turn this into another led debate?.. The thread starter did not ask about leds.

 

[Dowtish]

I think the purple plus brings out the reds much better than the coral plus bulbs

 

[rvela]

BigE, now that's the red that I'm looking for. Simply awesome colors with just 4 bulbs!!! Can u tell me more about your vinegar dosing methods? How much for what size tank you have? What type of vinegar?

 

[Big E]

Wow I have never tried the coral + I have used the purple plus with very good results. They seem to have close to the same spectrum... I am going to have to order a few next time and give them a try..

To those others why did you have to turn this into another led debate?.. The thread starter did not ask about leds.

Actually, they have very different spectrums. The coral+ has more green it than the purple plus. The amount of green and red in the coral+ is what gives the bulb a white (approx 15k) look. The purple+ has twice a much red and gives off a purple type look.
The purple+ serves more as a supplement than as main light………… with that much red in it, it’s casting that purple color for an ambient look, but does little for pigment excitement. It also doesn’t have the high par that blue+ and coral+ bulbs have. It has too much red and not enough green, so it’s going to underperform compared to a coral+ for growth and color.

The blue+/coral+ combo hit all the required areas for pigment excitation and fluorescence as you can see in this graph. All the pigments are satisfied in their range with the required intensity.
Two bulbs will cover a 9” width and then the second two overlap that same spectrum, so I get the same full spectrum and intensity needed for any acro as well as any other coral or anemone.
This will give the tank a crisp white look with a tinge of blue. Some people use more blue+ for example to give a bluer look. Some of the other bulbs will do the same so then it comes down to a matter of taste.

Some people complain about the purple+ making the tank look pink or majenta. The reason this happens is that if you put it next to a blue bulb, when mixed they create that majenta color. See the color wheel below.
If your going to use them you’d probably have to sandwich them between two white bulbs or at least next to one. Or you could put two to the outside and angle them in a bit.

Another thing to note is when you look at the color wheel above you'll see the red,blue,green mix make it look white to our eyes. A coral+ is a bit heavier with the blue and what gives it that 15k look. The AB special is probably smack in the middle with that pure white look.

The big thing to remember is that no bulb is going to cover more and a 4-4 ½ width, so if you want a specific coral to receive what that light gives out you have to place it within the bulb’s range.

 

[Big E]

BigE, now that's the red that I'm looking for. Simply awesome colors with just 4 bulbs!!! Can u tell me more about your vinegar dosing methods? How much for what size tank you have? What type of vinegar?

The tank is a standard 75g 48x18x20

The vinegar is for nutrient export and I'd prefer not to use it.......... my current export setup needs the vinegar to produce more nutrent laden bacteria. I commonly use just a skimmer and water changes and have done this for 13+ years keeping Sps. I'll occasionally use some carbon in a mesh bag.

I dose a small amount.......8mls a day. It's common 5% acidity you can get at any grocery store. I don't think the vinegar does anything for color.