Switching from Mh to T5

[bjledbetter]

I used to use T5's when I first started in sw and kept hearing that mh was the way to go. So last year I switched over to mh and dont care much for it. There hot and cost alot to keep running and to replace a bulb cost a small fortune. The last few days Ive been looking at some articles and disscussion post on T5 lighting and think i want to switch back to them. I currently have in my tank xenia, frogspawn, bubble coral, blastomusa merletti, toad stool leather and three gbta's and some zoas. I have a 48" and 36" t5 fixture already each hold 2 bulbs. My questions are
1.Would this be enought to keep my corals alive and growing or would I need to add more?
2. What t5 lighting combo would be good to use?
Im going to have to order them from the web as the only bulbs around here are the coral sun and I dont like them.

 

[FOO-CAT]

Those will work fine, ATI bulbs are the best IMO.
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[bjledbetter]

Those will work fine, ATI bulbs are the best IMO.
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Is the aquablue the one with the yellowish tint?

 

[Steven R]

Slightly yellow to it but not much. check out the coral plus great bulb great output.

 

[bjledbetter]

Anyone else have any ideas on this? I want something that will give me that darker blue look but will keep all mys corals and esp my bta's alive and growing

 

[Loki]

I ran all ATI blue plus and had good growth on everything. I couldn't take a picture of the tank though it was way to blue.

 

[numsie]

I understand most fixtures that include bulbs use sub standard bulbs and should be replaced after a few months. As far as the fixtures are concerned are some better then others? I am looking at a 36 " Finnex T5 w/15 LED combo, does not have a timer which is no big deal as I have timers or a AquaticLife 4 Lamp T5 HO & LED Light Fixture - 36" with 4lunar LEDS and a timer, both are priced almost the same. Any thoughts...thanks

 

[Reefing8EZ]

I understand most fixtures that include bulbs use sub standard bulbs and should be replaced after a few months. As far as the fixtures are concerned are some better then others? I am looking at a 36 " Finnex T5 w/15 LED combo, does not have a timer which is no big deal as I have timers or a AquaticLife 4 Lamp T5 HO & LED Light Fixture - 36" with 4lunar LEDS and a timer, both are priced almost the same. Any thoughts...thanks

Definitely some are better than others, with T5 fixtures and bulbs you get what you pay for..
I love my new ATI Sunpower, but TEKLight is very good too. And I stick to ATI and KZ bulbs..

 

[bjledbetter]

Those will work fine, ATI bulbs are the best IMO.
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Im thinking of using the 48" 54w fixture for the 2 blue plus bulbs and the smaller fixture for the purple and the aqua blue. Will this work?

 

[kmaintl]

Whatever you choose, you need minimum 4 bulbs for what you are keeping. I agree with FOO-CAT on front & back ATi Blue+ with Fiji Purple and ATi Aquablue Special in the middle. It's a great combination for color and growth.