T5 lighting question

[Jet915]

Hi,
So I currently have a 100 gallon mixed reef tank. I have 2 48 inch orbit ic led pro panels and a sunblaster 48 inch T5 fixure that I retrofitted into my canopy in between my led strips. I initially started like most beginners with softies and some lps and have gotten nice growth. I then got a few plating montis a few months ago and have gotten decent growth (maybe 1/4 inch of each side of frags). So I just started with some frags of sps that Ive placed near the middle and top of my tank, i have pretty high rockwork.

So my question is, will adding another 48 inch T5 bulb increase the PAR of my tank or just increase my spread? Obviously want enough light to support sps growth. If I added a bulb, should I get another ATI blue plus or another type thats a slightly different spectrum? I added a pic of my current light setup. Thanks!

 

[jda]

More T5 bulbs means more PAR. It can provide 50 to 100 about 6" deep depending on the reflector, ballast and bulb type.

Color is up to you. Almost all T5 bulbs have nearly the same output, but they can read different on a PAR meter since the meter cannot capture some of the spectrum from some bulbs... but the corals can.

 

[SGREEFER310]

I used to have a coral vue 8 bulb t5 fixture before my ati 8 bulb dimable and I've got to say it really does matter on the quality of the fixture like the shields, reflectors, ballasts and the cooling. When I had the coral vue fixture I was getting about 300 par 10 inches down from the light it was hung at about 5 inches off the water surface, now with my ati it gets around 450 and the fixture is 10 inches off the water surface, so I'd say ditch all those fixtures and get yourself a good ati one you be surprised on how much par these can create.

 

[Jet915]

I used to have a coral vue 8 bulb t5 fixture before my ati 8 bulb dimable and I've got to say it really does matter on the quality of the fixture like the shields, reflectors, ballasts and the cooling. When I had the coral vue fixture I was getting about 300 par 10 inches down from the light it was hung at about 5 inches off the water surface, now with my ati it gets around 450 and the fixture is 10 inches off the water surface, so I'd say ditch all those fixtures and get yourself a good ati one you be surprised on how much par these can create.

I agree but I have a canopy hood so right now im kinda stuck with a retrofit option. Im probably gonna add another T5 fixture and see how my sps do.