I’ve searched through the forums here looking for the answer I need, but I couldn’t find anything for this particular question.
I had a reef tank years ago and am now setting up a new 120. My old tank was a 55 gallon with a 6 bulb T5 fixture that I saved and will be reusing for this set up. I love the shimmer of the LED’s so I plan on initially adding a Reef Brite Actinic Blue Lumi strip to it. I may add a second strip down the road.
I plan to do mostly LPS and softies this first year and possibly get into SPS next year which by that time I will need new bulbs again so I will cross that path when the time comes. For this first year I want a blue look but also want to make sure I get the correct bulbs that won’t limit my coral selection. I’d like to go with ATI bulbs, but throwing in an actinic LED (possibly 2) is confusing me on what T5 Bulbs to get. Taking the LED out of the equation I was thinking the following:
Blue +
Blue +
Aquablue special
Coral +
Purple +
True Actinic
Do you guys think that is still a good combo with an actinic LED strip?
My second question is, with having 2 fixtures what kind of lighting schedule would be good on my DT? I will have a sump with a refugium that will run an opposite light schedule. Should I run my LED all night long on my DT? Only use it for sunrise/sunset and have by DT dark at night? Thanks in advance for the help!
I had a reef tank years ago and am now setting up a new 120. My old tank was a 55 gallon with a 6 bulb T5 fixture that I saved and will be reusing for this set up. I love the shimmer of the LED’s so I plan on initially adding a Reef Brite Actinic Blue Lumi strip to it. I may add a second strip down the road.
I plan to do mostly LPS and softies this first year and possibly get into SPS next year which by that time I will need new bulbs again so I will cross that path when the time comes. For this first year I want a blue look but also want to make sure I get the correct bulbs that won’t limit my coral selection. I’d like to go with ATI bulbs, but throwing in an actinic LED (possibly 2) is confusing me on what T5 Bulbs to get. Taking the LED out of the equation I was thinking the following:
Blue +
Blue +
Aquablue special
Coral +
Purple +
True Actinic
Do you guys think that is still a good combo with an actinic LED strip?
My second question is, with having 2 fixtures what kind of lighting schedule would be good on my DT? I will have a sump with a refugium that will run an opposite light schedule. Should I run my LED all night long on my DT? Only use it for sunrise/sunset and have by DT dark at night? Thanks in advance for the help!
