SPS dominant lighting help. T5 experts

[Scorpius]

Ok, T5 stick heads help a brotha out. I currently use 3-Kessil 360we's and 4-24in T5 retrofits over a 36in long mixed Acropora dominant reef.

I only have 24in T5 retrofits because I was experimenting with T5's to see if they added anything that was missing.

My Acropora are slowly turning into mini colonies and I can already see issue with lack of light on some of my Acropora.

If you were in my boat what would you do? I need to do something, but I'm on the fence. I like the shimmer and color pop of the Kessils and I already have them, but the health of some of my corals are suffering from lack of light.

A. 36in 6-8 bulb ati sunpower/dimmable sunpower exclusively.
B. 36in 6 bulb ati powermodule exclusively.
C. 36in 6-8 bulb ati sunpower/dimmable sunpower with 2-Kessil 360we's on the end angled inwards to supplement.
D. Step up to 36in T5 retrofits to replace current 24in T5's and keep three Kessils in place.

 

[BoomCorals]

B

 

[ihavecrabs]

Option D isn't going to increase your light spread that much IMO.

If it were me, I'd do a 36" Powermodule 6/8 bulb depending on depth and add some kind of LED supplements for shimmer. Since you already have the Kessils, that would be an option. Otherwise if you can get a decent price on the used market to sell them, I'd go with a strip light mounted to the power module for a cleaner look. Dimmable in my mind is a hassle. I'd do regular sunpower

Option A or Option C

 

[ihavecrabs]

B

Only thing that keeps me from Option B is the price

However, everything built into one unit.. can't go wrong.

 

[Scorpius]

B

lol the most expensive option, but I do have the cash.

 

[BigJohnny]

Ok, T5 stick heads help a brotha out. I currently use 3-Kessil 360we's and 4-24in T5 retrofits over a 36in long mixed Acropora dominant reef.

I only have 24in T5 retrofits because I was experimenting with T5's to see if they added anything that was missing.

My Acropora are slowly turning into mini colonies and I can already see issue with lack of light on some of my Acropora.

If you were in my boat what would you do? I need to do something, but I'm on the fence. I like the shimmer and color pop of the Kessils and I already have them, but the health of some of my corals are suffering from lack of light.

A. 36in 6-8 bulb ati sunpower/dimmable sunpower exclusively.
B. 36in 6 bulb ati powermodule exclusively.
C. 36in 6-8 bulb ati sunpower/dimmable sunpower with 2-Kessil 360we's on the end angled inwards to supplement.
D. Step up to 36in T5 retrofits to replace current 24in T5's and keep three Kessils in place.

What are the actual dimensions of the tank and how do you have the lights set up (having trouble picturing 4 24" t5s on a 36" tank unless it's not standard dimensions)

Have you taken par measurements? How long is your photoperiod and how is it implemented? What symptoms are you seeing that make you believe you don't have enough light? That's a ton of light if it's a standard 36x18x17 40b. Shadowing could be an issue but 3 kessils over that span would minimize that for sure, and the t5s would definitely help.

 

[FarmerTy]

A) But add two actinic bars on either side. [emoji16]

Powermodules are nice but I think the design is backwards, should be LEDs on the outside with T5s towards the middle. [emoji1]

 

[jda]

Option A for me as well.

Once you see what they T5s can do, you will wonder why you waste electricity and your time with the Kessils and LEDs at all... they are just expensive supplements. I have no use for dimmable lights, but others will disagree.

IMO, "best of both worlds" is a bunch of garbage... it is the worst of both worlds. Figure out what you want and go in 100% instead of trying to ride two horses with one *** - this is what the best do in nearly all walks of life. If performance is your goal, then T5 all the way and never look back - sell the Kessils. If you want to dusk/dawn black lighting, to jack with thunderstorms on your couch and change the colors from a phone all to impress your friends who do not know what they are looking at, then just get a few more Kessils. You do not get everything in life... this is a hard choice to make, but think about it and make one... staying in the middle gets middling results.

 

[loz]

A

 

[Water Dog]

A - non dimmable Sunpower

 

[Bpb]

If you can afford it, B. If not, A. Are your kessils turned all the way up to 100?

 

[Scorpius]

What are the actual dimensions of the tank and how do you have the lights set up (having trouble picturing 4 24" t5s on a 36" tank unless it's not standard dimensions)

Have you taken par measurements? How long is your photoperiod and how is it implemented? What symptoms are you seeing that make you believe you don't have enough light? That's a ton of light if it's a standard 36x18x17 40b. Shadowing could be an issue but 3 kessils over that span would minimize that for sure, and the t5s would definitely help.

36x21x20

3 kessils down the middle. 2 t5's in front and in back of the kessils.
I don't have a par meter.
PP is from 9am-8pm
12-3 t5's are on. Kessils max intensity is at 45% any higher things bleach. Lights are approximately 9-10 inches off the water line.

 

[Scorpius]

Option A for me as well.

Once you see what they T5s can do, you will wonder why you waste electricity and your time with the Kessils and LEDs at all... they are just expensive supplements. I have no use for dimmable lights, but others will disagree.

IMO, "best of both worlds" is a bunch of garbage... it is the worst of both worlds. Figure out what you want and go in 100% instead of trying to ride two horses with one *** - this is what the best do in nearly all walks of life. If performance is your goal, then T5 all the way and never look back - sell the Kessils. If you want to dusk/dawn black lighting, to jack with thunderstorms on your couch and change the colors from a phone all to impress your friends who do not know what they are looking at, then just get a few more Kessils. You do not get everything in life... this is a hard choice to make, but think about it and make one... staying in the middle gets middling results.

I agree. I think I made a choice a long time ago it's just understanding/implementing the choice that's the hard part. lol

 

[FarmerTy]

I agree. I think I made a choice a long time ago it's just understanding/implementing the choice that's the hard part. lol

That's why I like my version of A with added actinic bars. The actinic bars are there to "wow" your friends that don't know any better and let you take fun actinic shots of "rainbow" tenuis and others that only look good in actinics and let you have dawn/dusk for your own viewing pleasure. But the driver is the T5s.

 

[Ryan Hunter]

As someone who recently made the switch myself I would say option B.

 

[Jimbo662]

D using the Aquatic Life Hybrid fixture. They're not that expensive. I've got the 48" version with 3 XR15s.

 

[hatfielj]

Ok, T5 stick heads help a brotha out. I currently use 3-Kessil 360we's and 4-24in T5 retrofits over a 36in long mixed Acropora dominant reef.

I only have 24in T5 retrofits because I was experimenting with T5's to see if they added anything that was missing.

My Acropora are slowly turning into mini colonies and I can already see issue with lack of light on some of my Acropora.

If you were in my boat what would you do? I need to do something, but I'm on the fence. I like the shimmer and color pop of the Kessils and I already have them, but the health of some of my corals are suffering from lack of light.

A. 36in 6-8 bulb ati sunpower/dimmable sunpower exclusively.
B. 36in 6 bulb ati powermodule exclusively.
C. 36in 6-8 bulb ati sunpower/dimmable sunpower with 2-Kessil 360we's on the end angled inwards to supplement.
D. Step up to 36in T5 retrofits to replace current 24in T5's and keep three Kessils in place.

What do you mean you can "already see issue with lack of light?" What width is your tank? IME 4 T5's plus LED supplement on a tank that size is plenty of light for SPS. What bulbs are you running? My personal preference for lighting is T5's with reefbrite blue XHO strips, but the kessils would be good too for that blue actinic pop.

 

[rtparty]

A regular old Sunpower will do the trick. No need for the LED Powermodule IME.

Something isn't adding up though. You say you can't turn the Kessils up any higher or stuff bleaches but then contradict it by saying you have a "lack of light."

 

[BoomCorals]

I’d do a 6bulb 36” ATI sunpower and that’s it.

 

[Scorpius]

A regular old Sunpower will do the trick. No need for the LED Powermodule IME.

Something isn't adding up though. You say you can't turn the Kessils up any higher or stuff bleaches but then contradict it by saying you have a "lack of light."

Ok, lack of spread/even coverage.