Help From T5 Experts Please

[skybreezy]

Running a 90 gallon tank 4 feet by 24 inches high and 18 inches wide. Currently for lighting I'm using 3 t5 54 watt 6700k daylightbulbs with 4 blue moon led . I plan to upgrade as soon as my pockets and wifey will allow lol . I do want more blue light in my tank so for now I do plan on changing 1 of the daylight bulbs to a blue one. What is the right combo for lighting and coloration for my zoos, softies and Lps ? There is a timer on the fixture. Thx for your help!

 

[hark]

cant help you with the location, but the LED's i was talking to you about wanted to share the info. the units i got were these ones. you have a deep tank, need something to get the light to the bottom. these are not high end, nor are they the low end either...they work well in the middle.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2375787

if you want to see what these look like your welcome to stop by.

 

[skybreezy]

Thx Hark so am I ok for now with lighting? Just keep the corals up high for now till upgrade?

 

[Quartapound]

I wouldn't consider 18 inches a deep tank?

3 bulb t5 fixture is somewhat unique so its hard to suggest color combinations for it, but 6700K is way too low in my opinion, I would be surprised if you didn't have algae issues. Lowest I would go is 10,000K... my four bulb fixture is three blue plus and one purple plus, I would change this by swapping out a blue plus with a coral plus which I will do on my next bulb change. I also have 14 Cree xp-e royal blue LEDs surrounding the t5's for full disclosure.

T5 bulbs are more than capable of penetrating 18 inches of water, especially if they have decent reflectors.

Many who switched over to LED are now going back to t5 because they aren't experiencing the same success as they did with t5.

I started from the beginning using led and recently switched over to a combination of both and couldn't be happier

Here's video from bulk reef supply from their BRS 160 build which goes into t5 lighting in depth

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[hark]

I saw his tank today it was far deeper than 18" I believe

 

[Quartapound]

I saw his tank today it was far deeper than 18" I believe

Only going by what he's posted

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[hark]

I know.

 

[skybreezy]

Thx Hark

thx so much Hark you to quartapound
! I'm a newbie take it easy on me lol. Joking seriously I joined this site to get schooled . I wanna do this right ! I'm a sponge and wanna soak all advise in . Now plan to switch out my bulbs to what quartapound suggested ASAP. Thx for that vid. I've always been told led was the way to go. I do love the Way LEDs look in a tank

 

[skybreezy]

Only going by what he's posted

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It Is 24 tall 18 wide. Sorry for the typo.

 

[Fishit]

On a 24 deep tank 3 bulbs is pushing it you will need some real thought on coral placement but it will work I would also suggest the 2 blue plus 1 purple plus maybe a coral plus instead of the purple but honestly not much difference in the two I use 4 blue plus 1 coral plus 1 purple plus do not recommend any other bulbs than ati

 

[teebone110]

+1 on ATI bulbs!

Blue plus and Coral Plus work for me.

Another important factor to consider is your fixture. Not all are created equal.
Highly recommend ATI fixtures, proven performer.

 

[skybreezy]

You guys are awesome. Looks like I'm making a trip to big Als today or better yet living aquarium! Steve Is an amazing dude, I have known him since he was selling fish out of his basement at home. #supportthesmalleroperations

 

[unibob]

I would go with 2 blue plus and one coral plus (for par reasons for your corals)

For looks I would go 2 blue plus, one purple plus.

If you upgrade fixture to a 4 bulb fixture, I would go with 2 blue plus, 1 coral plus, 1 purple plus.


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[Amaroq]

I'm currently running two blue +, one Coral +, and one Purlpe + alongside 48 3W royal blue LEDS. While its not unheard to use a 6700K bulb its normally only one and it would be in a 8-10 bulb fixture because they are very overpowerly white, granted that may be your colour preference. As Quartapound said I'm amazed your tank isn't an algae farm yet! Also make sure you don't change all your bulbs out at once, you'll likely bleach out your corals switching to bulbs with such higher par output. Change one bulb a week until you've changed all three. I would also personally suggest grabbing yourself a quality four - six bulb fixture, six bulbs if you want SPS dominant, otherwise four will be sufficient. With ATI being cream of the crop in terms of fixture quality, a good condition four bulb ATI fixture will easily be equivalent to a lower quality six bulb fixture, its all in the reflectors!

 

[skybreezy]

Thanks Amaroq do you know of where to fine coral plus bulbs around kitchener. Big ALS doesn't have it. Living aquarium doesn't carry them either was there today. I did end up buying a bulb from them they said was on par with the blue plus. Blue color is my preference. Not white.

 

[Amaroq]

Before Aquariums By Design closed they were the only local shop to carry them, so you'll need to order them online. A whole slew of online retailers carry them some closer then others. I've never had a bulb break on me even when ordered online so don't be too concerned about it.

Personally I'd suggest to return that bulb, Fluval bulbs are garbage compared to ATI. The person who advised you that its on par to an ATI is simply incorrect. The colour spectrum may be similar (20K vs 20k) but thats where the similarities end unfortunately. If you decide to run the bulb it should definitely be blue to the eye but won't have near the punch an ATI bulb would have in terms of PAR.

 

[skybreezy]

Ok. Yeah I'll keep it for now. And look online for two ati's. I want another blue and either a purple or coral plus.

 

[skybreezy]

http://reefsupplies.ca says 3 days shipping time to kitchener! Beautiful.

 

[Amaroq]

Reef Supplies is one of my personal favourite online retailers, great guys who will go the extra mile to help you out!