ReeferFulton's most SPECTACULARLY AWESOMEST tank build(s) EVAHHH!!!!

[jason604]

So was it rly worth it adding T5s to supplement ur LEDS? I'm thinking of doing the same but not sure if it will make a huge diff for growth n color. I'm currently running 2 radions. Can u please post a pic of how ur lights r placed? I'm thinking of 1 single T5 parallel to each side of my radions. Do u run chiller? Does it raise tank temp much?

[reeferfulton]

ok ,
i initially added 1 t5 parallel to each side of the 2 mitras. I Do think that i saw a difference of color and growth, which is why i added a second set of parallel bulbs.

Growth was to so directional with just leds, before with just the leds it seemed all growth directly pointed towards the led clusters above . Now with the t5's it seems growth is more wide in direction .... if that makes sense ..

As far as color , I had good color from the top down with just leds , but now i feel like I get a more visible color on the corals when looking from the front and sides of the tank as well.

Chiller, no i do not run one, i do believe that the 4 t5's did increase the tank temp , but not much , I had to run a fan on my sump last summer even without the t5's . And again this summer is seem to be getting by with just a large loud honeywell fan. It kicks on around 3pm and runs till about 7 in my house on just the hot days. Tank has not breached 80 degrees yet.

as far as mounting of the t5s , they actually just have brackets that cross over the leds and simply rest ontop of the leds. it is fairly clean and simple.. i took some pics for you .

[Jaws]

Looking great John. What did you end up turning your mitras down to after you added the T5's?

[reeferfulton]

thanks!

I turned the CW and NW leds down to around 35 percent. I made that adjustment over the course of a few months as i was noticing my corals were getting pale.
i havent made any adjustments to my lights now in a few months and think that it is stable now

[jason604]

Interesting. Should I start with 1 bulb on each side like U did or just jump right for 2 on each side? My tank is a 110gal I think the width is about 20"

[Roskoreef]

FWIW i started with 2 on each side of my radions, also sunbrights, and corals loved it but i think it caused a small algae outbreak, next time i would mount all of them and turn turn on half for a while then the rest.

[Rice Reef]

Looking pretty sweet, Jon!!! Aren't you glad you jumped onto the T5 wagon?