Lighting

[reef addicted]

Ok so i have a basic t5 4 bulb fixture with mh. That a friend has loan me, But for some reason im just not satisfied with color. Is there a better t5 fixture out there? Do i need better bulbs? I want to grow everything and i wanna do sps. I use to use mars aqua led i notice growth on it but it was pretty slow. What would you use? Or what would you do if it was your tank? Thanks.

 

[reef addicted]

 

[jenreefer]

Few questions,
What size is your tank?
how old are the bulbs?
have you kept SPS before successfully?

 

[reef addicted]

No i havent keept them successfully. My tank is 47 long 23 1/2 deep 23 tall

 

[reef addicted]

Bulbs are fairly new

 

[jenreefer]

Just one mh in middle may not be adequate, but keeping T5's new, like every 6 months is optimal for sps I think, I have gone to led, so done with changing out bulbs. MH and T5 combos are prolly best for SPS in general and most are very successful with them. You need a PAR meter to see if light is sufficient. Cannot tell with just a picture.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Do you know what brand and wattage the mh bulb is and the t5 bulbs. Also the color combo of the bulbs.

 

[reef addicted]

Im not sure its just all actinic. And i know its a cheaper model i believe it runs about $150

 

[reef addicted]

I dont wanna spend to much kinda at a budget right now

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I dont wanna spend to much kinda at a budget right now

I totally get it.
It's probably plenty of intensity
but poor spectrum. If you can read the bulbs I can Id it a bit more and suggest a color combo on the cheap.

One option is to not run the metal halide and add ine ati coral plus bulb. That's probably good enough light to get you going with most all med light corals.
Add a cheap LED strip and it's a lot of bang for the buck. Used orbit marines ramp and are pretty cool for coral pop.

Or add a coral plus to change the spectrum and only run halide for four hours a day. That will give you much higher light.

True high light sps and acro are a little more involved than it sounds. But that's a fine light to get going with.

 

[reef addicted]

I totally get it.
It's probably plenty of intensity
but poor spectrum. If you can read the bulbs I can Id it a bit more and suggest a color combo on the cheap.

One option is to not run the metal halide and add ine ati coral plus bulb. That's probably good enough light to get you going with most all med light corals.
Add a cheap LED strip and it's a lot of bang for the buck. Used orbit marines ramp and are pretty cool for coral pop.

Or add a coral plus to change the spectrum and only run halide for four hours a day. That will give you much higher light.

True high light sps and acro are a little more involved than it sounds. But that's a fine light to get going with.

So i have 4 blubs in the fixture how would you have the bulb placement?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So i have 4 blubs in the fixture how would you have the bulb placement?

If they are theee blue in c+. I'd go bb c b

 

[|sCRIBe|]

Leds are great I would hate buying new bulbs every 6 months

 

[Dragonreef202]

I have been using t-5 in my aquariums. I have a cheap t-5 Mh combo fixture I believe it's a reef odyssey I was only keeping corals like Zoas and hammer corals. I just purchased a maxspect 320w for my 75 gallon so I'll see how it goes with corals. I'll have a tank with leds and a tank with t-5 Mh combo I'll see what looks better to me . A reason to get some corals in my tank

 

[reef addicted]

I have been using t-5 in my aquariums. I have a cheap t-5 Mh combo fixture I believe it's a reef odyssey I was only keeping corals like Zoas and hammer corals. I just purchased a maxspect 320w for my 75 gallon so I'll see how it goes with corals. I'll have a tank with leds and a tank with t-5 Mh combo I'll see what looks better to me . A reason to get some corals in my tank

What kind of blub combo were you using?

 

[Dragonreef202]

What kind of blub combo were you using?

I was using just 2 actinic bulbs I believe the other bulbs were uv a actinic white 12000k I may try coral plus along with purple plus when I order some new bulbs