T5 combination for my new tank

[joshporksandwich]

Hello Guys, I want to add T5 with LEDs to my new tank but I've never had T5s so i don't know what combination would color my zoos the best! Reason is every time I trade zoas from someone with T5s the zoas are brighter than the ones from my tank. My new tank is 30" High and I want to add 2 retro 60" T5 on each corner with LEds in the middle. Help meee!!!!!

 

[Rob&Gab]

how many bulb setup are you getting?

 

[jeremy]

I have never ran leds with t5s but blue plus and purple plus would be a good start. If you don't like the purple plus bulb get a coral plus. All ati bulbs you kind of have to check out different bulb combos and see what you like. When I ran t5 on my little 20 gallon z&p tank I started with 3 blue plus 1 purple plus but I don't like the look of the purple plus bulb so I went with a coral plus bulb and liked alot better. And I think with the t5 s and the royal blue led your gonna get some killer pop.

 

[Tenor]

I afraid the T5 wont reaching far down to 30" but checkout the link below for more info.

ReefGeek Blog: Popular T5 Bulb Combos

 

[mnat]

What colors are your LEDs?

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

I would run blue plus and purple plus on either side. Then tune the blue led's to your liking

 

[joshporksandwich]

how many bulb setup are you getting?

2 bulb on each side

I have never ran leds with t5s but blue plus and purple plus would be a good start. If you don't like the purple plus bulb get a coral plus. All ati bulbs you kind of have to check out different bulb combos and see what you like. When I ran t5 on my little 20 gallon z&p tank I started with 3 blue plus 1 purple plus but I don't like the look of the purple plus bulb so I went with a coral plus bulb and liked alot better. And I think with the t5 s and the royal blue led your gonna get some killer pop.

I want them to color my zoas not for looks. The leds will make them look awesome.

I afraid the T5 wont reaching far down to 30" but checkout the link below for more info.

ReefGeek Blog: Popular T5 Bulb Combos

Great info. I have a friend with the same tank and a 6 bulb T5 only and his zoas do amazing in the sand.

What colors are your LEDs?

Full spectrum LEDs most likely AI hydras but don't know if they're strong enough yet. If they're not strong enough I might go with the onyx.

I would run blue plus and purple plus on either side. Then tune the blue led's to your liking

Thanks this was the answer i was looking for lol. I really don't care for the looks that much I just want a color combination that you guys think will color them better. It could be 6500k and if any of you had good coloration with it I will use it.

 

[bobf216]

i use one blue plus and one coral plus retro combination for my tank and my zoas are much brighter compared to when i was just running LEDs.

 

[PRomero]

If only using 450nm LEDs then I would go with a blue plus and a coral plus on each side, possibly throw in 1 6500k in place of a coral plus to get some yellow and white in for a few hours during the day.

If your using full spectrum or white LEDs then I would just stick with three blue plus and one purple plus.

Personally, I would run 6 t5s on that tank (I'm a big fan of t5's Lol), 2blue plus 1purple plus 2coral plus and 1 6500k with 2-3 all blue or blue with UV led light strips, custom of course maybe a combination of several 12 watt blues with 90° optics, reefbrite xho are bright but I want something brighter Lol.

 

[cimmorine]

I have same size tank (depth) and my zoas do great in the first 4-5 months of t5 life. Right around the 6 month mark they start to loose some colors but by then I have my other t5s ordered. BTW I run 12 39w t5's with 6 ecoxotic panoramas.

 

[lucky7]

Have you looked into the pacsun or ati hybrid fixtures? My customer runs the pacsun hybrid it's done amazing things for his corals

 

[Chris L]

What LEDs are you going to be using?

 

[Reef_in_Denver]

I just recently retrofitted a 2x t5 unit to my 75Gal. I was running two 2:1 Blue:White 120W LEDS on the tank before.

I picked an ATI Blue Plus and Korallen Purple. It is really a great combo.

I noticed more red/purples/blues in the zoas in my tank currently. Makes everything pop and they have colored up a bit as well since adding 2 weeks ago.

 

[Aquarium Art]

i tried it once and didnt like the color mix , for me its either one or the other

 

[bfam4t6]

Over one tank I have 4xT5 with an LED stunner-type strip down the middle.
In it I use:
1xATI Aquablue Special
3xATI Blue Plus

On another tank I have just T5s with a 6xT5
In it I run:
1xATI Aquablue Special
1xATI Purple Plus
1xATI Actinic
3xATI Blue Plus

I probably get better colors from my T5 only fixture, due likely to its larger number and variety of bulbs than my T5/LED combo fixture, but I also do not get the shimmer that LEDs give. So, I highly recommend the combo. As you can see, as far as bulbs, I use all ATI, with a heavy reliance on the Blue Plus bulbs. Blue Plus is going to give you great color, and make provide the correct light spectrum for most of your corals to grow. The rest you can really interchange to your personal liking. I've used Geissman bulbs in the past with great results as well. I no longer get them simply because it's easier for me to just get all ATI.

 

[J062682l]

Over one tank I have 4xT5 with an LED stunner-type strip down the middle.
In it I use:
1xATI Aquablue Special
3xATI Blue Plus

On another tank I have just T5s with a 6xT5
In it I run:
1xATI Aquablue Special
1xATI Purple Plus
1xATI Actinic
3xATI Blue Plus

I probably get better colors from my T5 only fixture, due likely to its larger number and variety of bulbs than my T5/LED combo fixture, but I also do not get the shimmer that LEDs give. So, I highly recommend the combo. As you can see, as far as bulbs, I use all ATI, with a heavy reliance on the Blue Plus bulbs. Blue Plus is going to give you great color, and make provide the correct light spectrum for most of your corals to grow. The rest you can really interchange to your personal liking. I've used Geissman bulbs in the past with great results as well. I no longer get them simply because it's easier for me to just get all ATI.

Why did you go with 3 blue plus and 1 aquablue. Why not throw a purple plus or a coral plus. Only asking because I'm getting new bulbs. Soon

 

[jeremy]

Well if strictly for color blue plus and true actinic on each side.

 

[J062682l]

I would like to get color and growth what's the best combo for that?

 

[J062682l]

I would like to get color and growth what's the best combo for that?

Was told1 aquablue plus 1 purple plus. And 2 blue plus.

 

[MoeManTheSnowMan]

All blue+, since your going to have a full spectrum
Led too.

Or blue+/actinic

I would think that a 6 bulb combo with some blue reef brite strips would do the trick.

My 2 cents..


All I use is T5. My combo goes as follows:
Ati blue+
Ati blue+
Ati Purple+(sometimes I'll switch this bulb out for a giesman lagoon blue)
Ati blue+