Will adding T5s Make a Difference

[mcarroll]

Water surface is 14,000 lux
13,000 lux with screen on top

I forgot this part.....14,000 is minimal but should work OK. One of my two stony coral tanks get 14,000 lux....both seem happy.

Now back to your original question:

Will adding 2 t5 bulbs make a big difference in my coral colors?

With levels that low (even though acceptable), adding a lot more of any kind of light will be noticeable.

Colors are automatically twice as bright when you shine twice the light on them.

Also, your corals may find the ability to use more nutrients from your tank with a higher photosynthesis budget.

For example, tests on Stylophora (stony coral) have shown that amino acid uptake doesn't kick into high gear until around 20,000 lux.

So I'm not willing to say there's anything magical or special about the T5's....I'd recommend more LED's instead....but more light may very well bring better colors. So use the T5's while you have them, but I'd try to decide on an LED replacement before you need to replace the bulbs. I mean if I were you.

I stopped using LUX meters 15 years ago when I bought a Par meter.

A $300-$400 PAR meter isn't far out enough, you gotta bring up the $2000 PAR meter? You know we were just talking about free and $15, right?

I will say you have good taste in gear though.

 

[reefwiser]

I have to use gear like this at work. They use spectrum meters for color of product checking.

 

[mcarroll]

I have to use gear like this at work. They use spectrum meters for color of product checking.

That's awesome technology!