Need some help with a light change.

[scfurse77]

I got access to a dimmable ATI 6x24 T5 on my rimless 42g tank. Right now i am currently running 2 AI prime Hd's with a maximum setting on blues at 60% at peak hours. So i am in need of some advice on switching over to the T5's. I have a mixed reef tank but mostly SPS. And i am looking for better color and growth with the new fixture. But also don't want to fry everything.

Tank is 30x18x18

-What percentage should i run the light at?
-How high above the water level should the light be placed?
-What bulbs and pattern of bulbs are recommended for best color and growth? " i like blue but not too blue"
-Any other advice that i'm not thinking about would be greatly appreciated. Am i even making the right choice?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Maybe get a lux meter and measure at the water surface with your leds. then use your t5 and ramp up to that measurement.

@mcarroll or @saltyfilmfolks can explain lux better than me. I just know about stoopid par.

 

[Sabellafella]

I got access to a dimmable ATI 6x24 T5 on my rimless 42g tank. Right now i am currently running 2 AI prime Hd's with a maximum setting on blues at 60% at peak hours. So i am in need of some advice on switching over to the T5's. I have a mixed reef tank but mostly SPS. And i am looking for better color and growth with the new fixture. But also don't want to fry everything.

Tank is 30x18x18

-What percentage should i run the light at?
-How high above the water level should the light be placed?
-What bulbs and pattern of bulbs are recommended for best color and growth? " i like blue but not too blue"
-Any other advice that i'm not thinking about would be greatly appreciated. Am i even making the right choice?

Awesome man!, first off, dimming any type of bulb in considered a "bad" thing. Just use the dimming for dawndusk effect, i run mine for 9 hours total, 5 and 1/2 on full 100%. Keep the fixture atleast 30-38inches away from your sand bed, and i suggest atleast 20 inches down from your nearest coral depending on how you aquascaped your tank. Bulb combo is up to you, i found best to run atleast 2 full spectrum bulbs for growth, because some finicky sps tend to grow slow opposed to other types of lighting... Doesnt matter what brand, i run all ati blue+ with 1 coral and purple plus.

 

[scfurse77]

Thanks @Sabellafella Here is a picture of my tank. I do have some SPS up there pretty high. That is some good advice about the dimming, I really had no idea.

 

[scfurse77]

 

[scfurse77]

 

[Sabellafella]

Thanks @Sabellafella Here is a picture of my tank. I do have some SPS up there pretty high. That is some good advice about the dimming, I really had no idea.

Well i mean dimming a bulb cant be a good thing regardless if its aquarium equipment lolol

 

[scfurse77]

Yeah I knew what you meant. Makes sense that those bulbs are probably not made to be dimmed

 

[Sabellafella]

I would put it right where you have your primes now, maybe a tiny bit higher

 

[Sabellafella]

The only thing i dislike about the dimmable compared to all the powermodules, the reflectors bleed light. So i get blinded if i sit on my couch by my tank.

 

[scfurse77]

I would put it right where you have your primes now, maybe a tiny bit higher

Sounds good! i just measured and it 16" to my nearest coral as it sits now. But then again i'm only running at max of 60% for 4 hours right now.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would put it right where you have your primes now, maybe a tiny bit higher

Hey bud. Do you dim for acclimation? personally cuz I'm a chicken I would. I think t5 carry a lot more par.

 

[scfurse77]

The only thing i dislike about the dimmable compared to all the powermodules, the reflectors bleed light. So i get blinded if i sit on my couch by my tank.

Thought maybe you got rid of the light bleed with an LED strip

 

[Sabellafella]

Hey bud. Do you dim for acclimation? personally cuz I'm a chicken I would. I think t5 carry a lot more par.

Nope bulb par dies down about 10% after a month so 30-40 inches is good enuff. Now for changing bulbs is a different story, im chicken lol. Ive ben changing my bulbs out 1 every other week, but i got 1 left and havnt seen anything but good come from it so well see.

 

[Sabellafella]

Thought maybe you got rid of the light bleed with an LED strip

Lol yea but not really, i guess it depends because it doesnt bother anyone in my house but me. I think my eyes are sensitive to lighting because im a vampire

 

[reefwiser]

Once corals are growing good with T5's or MH they because more healthy and less troublesome. They don't react to light shock the same as they do with LED's.

 

[ksc]

Once corals are growing good with T5's or MH they because more healthy and less troublesome. They don't react to light shock the same as they do with LED's.

That's my experience as well. I always refer to LED as "dirty" light compared to the nice clean light of MH and Floro's. I have no problems moving a frag that has been on a rack @ 300par to a spot in the tank that has 500 par.
I think your goal with your ATI light would be to eventually get it mounted around 6" above the tank, going much higher would waste a lot of light on your size tank. You can always cut the run time down a bit if you're worried about bleaching. Remember 10 hours of 250 par = 5 hours of 500 par.

 

[Huy]

What's wrong with the primes? Not liking the color?

 

[scfurse77]

What's wrong with the primes? Not liking the color?

I like the AI Prime Hd's a lot actually, I like the color and the flexibility and the shimmer. But i'm not getting much growth and i really hate the shadowing. If your frag isn't placed perfectly you will get the underside to brown out. Depending on your Aquascape the Primes could be perfect. But with my Aquascape there is a lot of shadowing and variance in PAR.

 

[scfurse77]

[QUOTE="I think your goal with your ATI light would be to eventually get it mounted around 6" above the tank, going much higher would waste a lot of light on your size tank. You can always cut the run time down a bit if you're worried about bleaching. Remember 10 hours of 250 par = 5 hours of 500 par.[/QUOTE]

So do you think i should start with the lights higher, maybe 15" above the tank and then slowly move them down? Or just start with the lights closer to the tank and start with low hours of light? Now i am more confused than when i started lol @Sabellafella