LED light help

[Metrontech]

Ocean Creation calgary was amazing to deal with here in Calgary

Just a wealth of knowledge and great customer service

So I have a 6 bulb T5 HO hanging over my tank now

1 - 10k daylight 54W
1 - Actinic blue 54W
1 - Purple 54W
1- Actuablue special 54W

2 - Pro light grow T5 54W 865 HO (white) 6500k

Should I even use the last 2? I know they may cause algae but will it help with coral?

Mike

Originally Posted by JmeJReefer

Go online and check out ppls bulb configurations. Some very interesting combos of t5's! And better Colors for bulbs these days! 6500k usually is a "plant bulb" and very yellowish. IMO, doesn't look good on reef tanks. North Americans seem to prefer the bluer spectrum for reefing....
Good luck

[crimper]

Originally Posted by Metrontech

Ocean Creation calgary was amazing to deal with here in Calgary

2 - Pro light grow T5 54W 865 HO (white) 6500k

Should I even use the last 2? I know they may cause algae but will it help with coral?

Mike

Don't even bother, first it is too yellow.... second, algae love that spectrum. If you want whitish light, go with a 10K.

But if I were you I will throw in a couple of ATI Blue Plus and Coral Plus in there. There are lots of people having good coral coloration on this two types of bulb combo alone esp SPSs. There rest is much for color taste.

Google Best 6 T5 Bulb Combo, and check how their coral response.

Good luck.

[Metrontech]

So because my tank is 13" deep and the fixture is 19"

The back and front bulb of the 6 aren't really doing much

Can I get away with 4 or will the extra 2 really do much?

Thanks

Mike

[reefwars]

You can get away with two if you really needed to

[Metrontech]

What do you mean only 2?

After days of research and input everyone says at least 4 54W HO bulbs for this tank...

What do you mean?

Originally Posted by reefwars

You can get away with two if you really needed to

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Metrontech

What do you mean only 2?

After days of research and input everyone says at least 4 54W HO bulbs for this tank...

What do you mean?

Did they not grow under your first 2 bulb?

2 bulbs aren't ideal , 4 bulbs are better , 6 bulbs better agin etc.

At the end of the day 2 bulbs will get you out of the red zone.....like I say there's a diff in surviving and thriving , they will survive under 2 bulbs but thrive when there's more than enough light

[crimper]

If you only intend to grow leather and GSP, then the existing 2 T5 bulb fixture you have maybe good enough to grow those softies.

Your 6 bulb combo will grow SPS. I have grown a few sps on my T5 x 4 Bulb TEK fixture.

[Metrontech]

I was told leathers wouldn't grow with 2 bulbs...which is why I started down this path of expanding my lighting

I was running 2 bulbs and seeing no growth. With the 3W rule (I know its not the end all be all) I was only at 108W, so around 2W/gallon.

Now I have doubled that, I am at 216W which in theory should allow for deeper light penetration, right?

I have already in 3 hours seen massive amounts of polyps coming out of the leathers...thats more than I have seen in 3 weeks.

I have taken out the "yellow" bulbs and will see what happens

The problem is the 1 and 6 bulb aren't directly over the tank. So I am not sure if that would really help having 2 more in there. Or maybe should I raise the light up allowing for a broader cover?

Thanks

Originally Posted by crimper

If you only intend to grow leather and GSP, then the existing 2 T5 bulb fixture you have maybe good enough to grow those softies.

Your 6 bulb combo will grow SPS. I have grown a few sps on my T5 x 4 Bulb TEK fixture.