Thinking of adding a T5 fixture to my LEDs

[Roy 9121]

I have a 55 gallon reef, and I'm currently running one Hydra 52 LED light. It seems to be ok, but I'm having trouble keeping SPS. I don't want to go back to my MH light, so I was thinking of adding a T5 fixture. Does anyone have any advice? Good idea? Bad idea?

 

[TUSI]

what do u mean you can't keep sps? Maybe it's not the lights. How old is the tank? Parameters?

 

[Roy 9121]

what do u mean you can't keep sps? Maybe it's not the lights. How old is the tank? Parameters?

My tank is 11 years old. I haven't test my water in a few weeks, I'm going to test it today. Its not that I can't keep them, but I'm not seeing much growth. Just wondering if it may be a good idea to add the T5s

 

[Funbags]

I find more a lack of growth 99.9% of the time with hobbiest is normally a lack of rock solid parameters then any other element.

 

[Cherub]

Hydras can keep sps no problem. Test for everything you can.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is it a cube or a long.
What settings and how high over the tank?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The hydra will give you 600 par at 12in in air with all colors at full. With a significant drop off along the edges.

http://www.aquaillumination.com/lighting/hydra/


A t5 will add an additional 150 or so per tube at the same heith with less shading and much lower fall off on the sides.

 

[Roy 9121]

Is it a cube or a long.
What settings and how high over the tank?

It's 36x24x15. The light is about 12 off the top of the water. I'm going to have to check my settings, I'm pretty sure my whites are at 40-45%, not sure about the rest. Where should they be?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's 36x24x15. The light is about 12 off the top of the water. I'm going to have to check my settings, I'm pretty sure my whites are at 40-45%, not sure about the rest. Where should they be?

IMO , set them to your eye then set intensity based on livestock. With a 1:1 ratio they will grow coral pretty. well.
Your spread theoretically will be really close to those in the specs. So look at that and the 3D mock up they have.

If the white is 40% it could mean it's. 60% of full intensity. You'd need a meter to see more than that.

Fwiw. I like to set the native colors to full, then pull colors out to do my mix. Then lower the intensity appropriately overall.

Then if you don't like the color over time, you can make minor visual color tweaks over time without effecting par much.

 

[Roy 9121]

IMO , set them to your eye then set intensity based on livestock. With a 1:1 ratio they will grow coral pretty. well.
Your spread theoretically will be really close to those in the specs. So look at that and the 3D mock up they have.

If the white is 40% it could mean it's. 60% of full intensity. You'd need a meter to see more than that.

Fwiw. I like to set the native colors to full, then pull colors out to do my mix. Then lower the intensity appropriately overall.

Then if you don't like the color over time, you can make minor visual color tweaks over time without effecting par much.

I'm sorry, but I didn't understand that. What is the 1:1 ratio? If my white is at 40%, how is that 60% of full intensity? How do I know what each piece stock needs?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm sorry, but I didn't understand that. What is the 1:1 ratio? If my white is at 40%, how is that 60% of full intensity? How do I know what each piece stock needs?

And even ratio would be 1:1 as in white blue. A 100 to 50 ratio would be 2:1.

Full par on the lamp listed in the factory specs would be all channels at 100%.

Fwiw. Most led don't dim evenly from 0 to 100. (Just had that reminded as I set my lights yesterday.).

 

[Roy 9121]

And even ratio would be 1:1 as in white blue. A 100 to 50 ratio would be 2:1.

Full par on the lamp listed in the factory specs would be all channels at 100%.

Fwiw. Most led don't dim evenly from 0 to 100. (Just had that reminded as I set my lights yesterday.).

Oh, ok. Sorry, I'm kind of a neophyte when it comes to lighting.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Oh, ok. Sorry, I'm kind of a neofite when it comes to lighting.

No worries. I tend to speak with marbles in my mouth.

And hey, not many rode the bike very well the first time.
Nice thing about a bike, the internet doesn't constantly tell you you're probably doing it wrong