T5 Hybrid Lighting - Height off water ?

[14 foot reef]

Let's say we were going to add T5 lighting to a Kessil 360 LED set up. What is the closest you would hang an AI Hybrid fixture to the water line? Seems you would want them possibly low enough that a person would not be blinded by the T5's. So what is the closest you would go 3", 4", 5", 6"
Can T5's be to close that they could bleach out SPS ? The T5 fixture is NOT dimmable at this point.

 

[glb]

Following. I’ll be getting T-5’s at some point.

 

[Mark Bianco]

The homemade hybrid 4 T5's and a Hydra 26 I had. I adjusted it so when all lights were on there was no spillage on the outside of the tank. Being as this was a tall cube if I reclined the recliner there was some annoying light that my eye caught. However setting normally anywhere in the room there was not an issue. If I am not mistaken the bulbs were about 7" above the water line.

Mark

 

[Daniel Waters]

I run T5's and LED's and I have never had to worry about bleaching my corals from my T5's. However, I would always have to watch my corals after any adjustment in intensity on my LED's. For whatever reason, T5 lighting does not seem to pose the same type of risk that LED's do. I'm sure there's some point, though, where it might create a problem. However, I think the answer to your question would depend on how much light you are already giving your corals from your LED's and the depth of your corals. Like any change with lighting, I think you should make changes slowly. You should start the T5 fixture up higher and reduce your LED % to compensate for the extra light. Bring the fixture down 1" every week till you get to the mounting height you want. If you feel you need more light at that point, you can start adding back additional LED intensity each week.

I would not recommend a 3" mounting height. I think you will get some splashing and salt spray on the acrylic shield too easily at that height. Also, while T5's don't put out a lot of heat, at 3" above the water line, you might see your water temperature rise quite a bit. I think a 6 to 9 inch mounting height is fairly normal, but honestly, you shouldn't be blinded by the T5's. Reflectors on T5 units are designed such to focus light down (for the most part). If you're not being blinded by your LED's at whatever mounting height you are at, you shouldn't be blinded by the T5's either.

 

[dimidragos]

I run T5's and LED's and I have never had to worry about bleaching my corals from my T5's. However, I would always have to watch my corals after any adjustment in intensity on my LED's. For whatever reason, T5 lighting does not seem to pose the same type of risk that LED's do. I'm sure there's some point, though, where it might create a problem. However, I think the answer to your question would depend on how much light you are already giving your corals from your LED's and the depth of your corals. Like any change with lighting, I think you should make changes slowly. You should start the T5 fixture up higher and reduce your LED % to compensate for the extra light. Bring the fixture down 1" every week till you get to the mounting height you want. If you feel you need more light at that point, you can start adding back additional LED intensity each week.

I would not recommend a 3" mounting height. I think you will get some splashing and salt spray on the acrylic shield too easily at that height. Also, while T5's don't put out a lot of heat, at 3" above the water line, you might see your water temperature rise quite a bit. I think a 6 to 9 inch mounting height is fairly normal, but honestly, you shouldn't be blinded by the T5's. Reflectors on T5 units are designed such to focus light down (for the most part). If you're not being blinded by your LED's at whatever mounting height you are at, you shouldn't be blinded by the T5's either.

Hello, i belive you know much more better that me abot the T5 light and i want to ask a question. I have a 100x70x70 cm tank and i wonder if it's enough to use one Ati Powermodule 6x24W. If not can i mix with a LED light? what you reccomand me??

 

[Daniel Waters]

Hello, i belive you know much more better that me abot the T5 light and i want to ask a question. I have a 100x70x70 cm tank and i wonder if it's enough to use one Ati Powermodule 6x24W. If not can i mix with a LED light? what you reccomand me??

First off, the ATI powermodule IS a T5 / LED hybrid unit already, so there would be no need to mix in an LED light with it. Perhaps you meant the ATI sunpower fixture (T5 only)?

For that size tank, I would be more inclined to recommend you look at the 36 inch length (39 watt) ATI fixtures. The 24 inch fixture could work assuming you are only planning on keeping low light corals such as softies and LPS AND you don't mind mounting the fixture at least 12 inches above the tank to give you better coverage. If you plan on a tank with higher light needing corals such as acropora, I would recommend the 36 inch (39 watt) fixture for sure. I think 6 bulbs would be okay, but with a 70 cm width and depth, I think 8 bulbs would be best. You do not need LED's with the ATI fixture, but you could certainly run LED's also with the T5 fixture if you want. A couple of actinic type LED bars on each side of a 6 bulb ATI T5 fixture would look great in my opinion!

 

[dimidragos]

First off, the ATI powermodule IS a T5 / LED hybrid unit already, so there would be no need to mix in an LED light with it. Perhaps you meant the ATI sunpower fixture (T5 only)?

For that size tank, I would be more inclined to recommend you look at the 36 inch length (39 watt) ATI fixtures. The 24 inch fixture could work assuming you are only planning on keeping low light corals such as softies and LPS AND you don't mind mounting the fixture at least 12 inches above the tank to give you better coverage. If you plan on a tank with higher light needing corals such as acropora, I would recommend the 36 inch (39 watt) fixture for sure. I think 6 bulbs would be okay, but with a 70 cm width and depth, I think 8 bulbs would be best. You do not need LED's with the ATI fixture, but you could certainly run LED's also with the T5 fixture if you want. A couple of actinic type LED bars on each side of a 6 bulb ATI T5 fixture would look great in my opinion!

Thanks Daniel. The point is that i allready have this 6x24 from my previous smaller tank. Im shure 8x39 was best choice but. I think to use the 6x 24W in middle and two AI Hydra 26 left and right. Or Kesill ? Then i will have anough light i beleive

 

[leepink23]

I mounted mine 8 inches above the water line. I have a 30 inch tank so I didn’t want it to high, any closer and I would get salt spray on them.

 

[Daniel Waters]

Thanks Daniel. The point is that i allready have this 6x24 from my previous smaller tank. Im shure 8x39 was best choice but. I think to use the 6x 24W in middle and two AI Hydra 26 left and right. Or Kesill ? Then i will have anough light i beleive

I see. I'd mount the fixture you have fairly high (say 16"), and see if it illuminates from one end to the other on your tank. I don't think the 70cm width should be an issue. If you're keeping softies or lps, you will be fine. Keep any high light corals more underneath the fixture versus the sides and keep them in the middle or higher tank depths. 6 bulbs of T5 and the 75 watts of LED cluster on the powermodule should give you plenty of par in the middle for high light corals and the drop off on the sides should be workable unless you are growing acros everywhere. You're just going to need to mount it and see what it looks like I think.

Adding hydras or kessils on the ends will be trickier, as you would have about 6 inches on each end. You might get a lot of light spill on the edges with the LED lights mounted so close to the sides

 

[KollyPAC]

I mounted mine 8 inches above the water line. I have a 30 inch tank so I didn’t want it to high, any closer and I would get salt spray on them.

Hello! My tank is a similar size and I mounted mine 7.5 inches above the water. I am curious what % you have your LEDs set at? TIA

 

[hobbyreefer]

With the Kessils you can mount the hybrid unit a bit lower than some of the other LEDs. I have the 48 inch hybrid fixture with five Kessil 360s mounted 6 inches above the water. This give me 300-400 par throughout the entire tank. This is on a 5’ acropora dominated tank.

 

[leepink23]

Hello! My tank is a similar size and I mounted mine 7.5 inches above the water. I am curious what % you have your LEDs set at? TIA

Sorry I can’t remember, I ended having to shut that tank down.