T5 Lighting suggestions

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

Not new to the hobby per say BUT im new to reef tanks.

I've had my FOWLR up and running almost a year and a half....in that ballpark. Decided I want to jump into corals. Recently found a relatively cheap T5 fixture made by coralife.

Looking for suggestions on bulb brands that are proven and different combinations that's worked for y'all. I plan to start with a few softies to get my feet wet.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

ATI is probably the best bulb you'll find in the US right now. (Giesemann are also good but there is currently no US distributor). As for color combinations, all bulbs are going to grow coral, you just need to decide what you want the tank to look like...
If you search the web, there are lots of sites/videos that show different combos.

 

[air_run]

I've had good luck with ATI and the KZ bulbs. I have an SPS dominant 45g that I run and 8 bulb fixture using (5) ATI Blue Plus, (2) ATI Actinic and (1) Giesemann Tropic 6500w per Abe's suggestion from Coral Euphoria. It's been working very well for coloration, pop and growth. This is my only experience with Giesemann bulbs though.

My new build is 218g that I am running (3) ATI Blue Plus, (3) KZ Coral Light II NG, (1) ATI Aquablue Special, and (1) KZ Fiji Purple. It's a fairly new setup but I like the way it looks so far. There are so many options, tbh.

My best advice is find someone's aquarium you like the looks of that are running T5's with the same bulb count you plan to run and then start from there. Over time you will change it around to suit your needs and likes. I have had a few ATI bulb failures in a couple of years but found it was due to my settings as T5 bulbs do not like long fade ramps nor running at lower power. My experience anyway.

 

[air_run]

ATI is probably the best bulb you'll find in the US right now. (Giesemann are also good but there is currently no US distributor). As for color combinations, all bulbs are going to grow coral, you just need to decide what you want the tank to look like...
If you search the web, there are lots of sites/videos that show different combos.

Aquacave carries the Giesemann bulbs. That's were I get my Tropic T5's from.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I forgot about KZ bulbs. Those are good too

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Aquacave carries the Giesemann bulbs. That's were I get my Tropic T5's from.

Aquacave will only have them available until CoralVue's stock runs out... CV was the distributor but cut ties with Giesemann. So... Get any replacements while you can

 

[air_run]

Aquacave will only have them available until CoralVue's stock runs out... CV was the distributor but cut ties with Giesemann. So... Get any replacements while you can

I did not know that. Thanks for the info!

 

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

I appreciate the suggestions! It's just a simple two bulb fixture. Don't like deep blue look but I have seen a few combinations that gives the tank this light blue hue but nothing that is overpowering like the cheap Coralife clip on I purchased off Amazon when I first set the tank up.

 

[Rmckoy]

Ati are the easiest to find
I prefer 4 coral plus and 4 blue plus

 

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

Ati are the easiest to find
I prefer 4 coral plus and 4 blue plus

Just got to the house so I'll definitely be looking into Ati a bit more. My first bout with T5's, $10 for the fixture itself with coralife's original bulbs. Can't complain considering it still works great.

 

[Rmckoy]

Just got to the house so I'll definitely be looking into Ati a bit more. My first bout with T5's, $10 for the fixture itself with coralife's original bulbs. Can't complain considering it still works great.

My 8 bulb fixture was a salvage from a construction site

I changed the ballasts 2x over the last 20 years

 

[Rmckoy]

In the old 90 gal system there wasn’t any coral I couldn’t grow .

 

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

In the old 90 gal system there wasn’t any coral I couldn’t grow .

Nice! I've just heard a lot of good stuff about them but a lot of the guys I've spoken with have been in the hobby for year's and rather use those over LED's. Sure both have their pro and cons.

 

[Rmckoy]

Nice! I've just heard a lot of good stuff about them but a lot of the guys I've spoken with have been in the hobby for year's and rather use those over LED's. Sure both have their pro and cons.

Personally … I prefer t5’s

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

IMO, the only downside to T5s is the heat

 

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

IMO, the only downside to T5s is the heat

This! I've noticed that as well.

 

[Rmckoy]

IMO, the only downside to T5s is the heat

And cost of running

 

[Thunder_reef]

I run 4 blue plus 2 coral plus and 2 true actinics, t-5 are my go to lights!!!

 

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

I run 4 blue plus 2 coral plus and 2 true actinics, t-5 are my go to lights!!!

That there is very similar to what im looking to achieve. Nothing over the top. Two bulb fixture what would you recommend?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I run that light on a 55. One coral+ and 1 blue+ will get you where you want to be