Supplementing LED with T5, what bulbs?

[Viking_Reefing]

I used to run MH fixtures + T5s back in the day but since I started up again I’ve ran LEDs.
Ive always felt like something was missing lightning wise and thought I would try retrofit a couple of T5s on my 160w razor 16k.

The problem is that I have no idea of what two ATI bulbs will provide the most visual pleasing (subjective of course) and beneficial light in combination with my current fixture.

Could a coral plus combined with a blue plus be a good option or would you go with something else?

Thanks!

 

[Reef Bazaar]

I think it depends on how the light looks from your LEDs, and what exactly you're trying to achieve. When you say, "something was missing" --- you mean to your eyes or to the corals?

I personally like a bluer look so I'd go with either 2 Blue Plus or 1 Blue Plus and 1 Actinic ..

 

[oceanrider]

Does your LED allow you to control the light wavelength parameters ? If yes. Then add some more blue and less white lights.

For the T5 I would so as above. Blue plus and super actinic.


When you scuba down to 10 or 15 feet the colors wash out by being filtered by water. You see mostly blues down there and that is what most corals get. More blues Tho I would at least turn on the whites LED for about 3 to 4 hrs a day

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I think it depends on how the light looks from your LEDs, and what exactly you're trying to achieve. When you say, "something was missing" --- you mean to your eyes or to the corals?

I personally like a bluer look so I'd go with either 2 Blue Plus or 1 Blue Plus and 1 Actinic ..

Sorry for being vague. Both actually, I don’t think I get the same pop from just LEDs and (right or wrong) I suspect that something is missing in the lighting spectrum of the LEDs...or it could just be that the light is much less diffused compared to mh+T5s.

I don’t like to blued out tanks. To give some frame of reference I think this is a pleasant light

 

[Reef Bazaar]

Which LEDs are you using? Also please do note -- that crisp look in that particular picture is due to the corals being super healthy, bright, and colorful -- which might not necessarily be entirely lighting related.

To answer your question though, try ATI AquaBlue Special -- that'll give you a whiter look that you're looking for. So maybe do 1 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI AquaBlue Special ... not sure if you've a LFS close by that might let you try em out?

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Does your LED allow you to control the light wavelength parameters ? If yes. Then add some more blue and less white lights.

For the T5 I would so as above. Blue plus and super actinic.


When you scuba down to 10 or 15 feet the colors wash out by being filtered by water. You see mostly blues down there and that is what most corals get. More blues Tho I would at least turn on the whites LED for about 3 to 4 hrs a day

Yeah, I can. I’m currently running the blue channel at 100% for most of the day and the whites ramp up to a peak of 60% and then back down.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Which LEDs are you using? Also please do note -- that crisp look in that particular picture is due to the corals being super healthy, bright, and colorful -- which might not necessarily be entirely lighting related.

To answer your question though, try ATI AquaBlue Special -- that'll give you a whiter look that you're looking for. So maybe do 1 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI AquaBlue Special ... not sure if you've a LFS close by that might let you try em out?

Currently running a maxspect razor 160w 16k.
I’m fully aware of that coral health plays a huge role in coloration but I’ve been able to achieve something decently close to that in the past with my old school lighting but not even close with what I’m running now

Sounds like a start, the bulbs aren’t terribly expensive so might as well just try that.

Thanks!

 

[Reef Bazaar]

Currently running a maxspect razor 160w 16k.
I’m fully aware of that coral health plays a huge role in coloration but I’ve been able to achieve something decently close to that in the past with my old school lighting but not even close with what I’m running now

Sounds like a start, the bulbs aren’t terribly expensive so might as well just try that.

Thanks!

I apologize if I sounded negative -- wasn't my intention!

Def keep us updated though on which route you go!

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I apologize if I sounded negative -- wasn't my intention!

Def keep us updated though on which route you go!

Oh no, didn’t come of negative at all. You had a very fair point in my opinion.

I will! Going to mull it over for a couple of hours and place an order later today. Hopefully I can upload a picture of the finished result over the weekend!

 

[oceanrider]

Sounds like a plan.

FWIW , Some hobbyist thst I spoke to agree that metal halides sometimes have the full spectrum that gives growth and showy pop when used with T5. But not all LEDs encompass the wavelengths thst MH has. And thus may need more changes in adjustments of the LED

I think you re on right track.

I think LED lighting saves enormous amts of energy compared to MH

 

[Daniel Waters]

I used to run MH fixtures + T5s back in the day but since I started up again I’ve ran LEDs.
Ive always felt like something was missing lightning wise and thought I would try retrofit a couple of T5s on my 160w razor 16k.

The problem is that I have no idea of what two ATI bulbs will provide the most visual pleasing (subjective of course) and beneficial light in combination with my current fixture.

Could a coral plus combined with a blue plus be a good option or would you go with something else?

Thanks!

I'd go with two ATI coral plus bulbs since you said you don't like a very blue tank. The T5s will give you the diffuse light look you may be wanting and should not be overly blue. The coral plus bulb will give you full spectrum but isn't nearly as white as the aquablue special bulbs (which I personally have never liked). If the two coral plus bulbs give your tank too white of a color, you can turn down your white channel on your LEDs to help compensate.

Note, the picture you posted of the tank color you like is using a light combination that is probably on the whiter side than what 2 coral plus bulbs will produce. Pictures, though, tend to look more blue in my experience than what they look like in person. Thus, I think the coral plus bulb should work well for you.

 

[Asonitez]

I honestly had the same exact question. I was running 8 Blue+ Bulbs with my Radion Xr30'w @ 45% on the Ecotech Labs SPS + color scheme.

The first thing I tried was replacing just ONE of the Blue+ with a Purple+ which looked great. Very crisp but not overly blue.
The only other thing I will probably try is replacing the Purple+ with a True Actinic also from ATI.

The last thing I will try if im not super happy is repalce 2 blue+ with a purple+ and a True Actinic. Thankfully my aquatic life hybrid fixtures makes things a little easier.

 

[madweazl]

The Coral+ and Purple+ both added a purple/lavender hue to the tank that I didnt care for. I do however like the AquaBlue Special but I prefer a much whiter look than most these days it seems (12k ish).

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Sounds like a plan.

FWIW , Some hobbyist thst I spoke to agree that metal halides sometimes have the full spectrum that gives growth and showy pop when used with T5. But not all LEDs encompass the wavelengths thst MH has. And thus may need more changes in adjustments of the LED

I think you re on right track.

I think LED lighting saves enormous amts of energy compared to MH

Yeah, I’m not going back to MH fixtures due to the energy consumption and the enormous amounts of heat they produce.

I ended up going with a blue plus and an aqua blue special for my first trial.
The retrofit and bulbs will arrive in a couple of days so I’ll hopefully be able to put it together over the weekend

 

[dwest]

I used to run MH fixtures + T5s back in the day but since I started up again I’ve ran LEDs.
Ive always felt like something was missing lightning wise and thought I would try retrofit a couple of T5s on my 160w razor 16k.

The problem is that I have no idea of what two ATI bulbs will provide the most visual pleasing (subjective of course) and beneficial light in combination with my current fixture.

Could a coral plus combined with a blue plus be a good option or would you go with something else?

Thanks!

Id go with one cp for each bp.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Here are a few very helpful links to help you determine what’s right for you.

 

[Janci]

Yeah, I’m not going back to MH fixtures due to the energy consumption and the enormous amounts of heat they produce.

I ended up going with a blue plus and an aqua blue special for my first trial.
The retrofit and bulbs will arrive in a couple of days so I’ll hopefully be able to put it together over the weekend

I hope you find the look you are looking for.
Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I hope you find the look you are looking for.
Please let us know how it turns out.

Was supposed to work on this today but the darn delivery company messed up and didn’t receive my stuff this week. Fingers crossed that it arrives tomorrow [emoji1303]

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Just put the whole thing together! I posted the update in my tank thread to keep everything gathered in one place
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/michael’s-reef.374583/