LED to t5 on 24”x24” tank

[reef’r]

Okay so I’m thinking of going with a hybrid setup. I don’t want to blow this way out of proportion though. My tank is new (5 months) and mixed reef, with still a lot of room to add corals. Would a single xr15 with a 4bulb fixture be way overkill? Should I continue to run the single radion for awhile? Obviously looking more towards the endgame and what will thrive this tank for the long haul, but no need to blast it with light… if there’s no need

 

[oreo54]

Believe your tank is like 50 gallons..
100 watts of t5 and 100 watts of dimmable led isn't extreme.

A guesstimate would be the t5's alone should provide about 100 par at a 20" substrate.

Arguably the par of your 1 xr15 is about = to your 4 24" tubes, ignoring distribution for a minute.

 

[reef’r]

Believe your tank is like 50 gallons..
100 watts of t5 and 100 watts of dimmable led isn't extreme.

A guesstimate would be the t5's alone should provide about 100 par at a 20" substrate.

Arguably the par of your 1 xr15 is about = to your 4 24" tubes, ignoring distribution for a minute.

I never have used a par meter in the tank but have the xr15 on the rms mount running at 60%. If I did add the T5, how should I properly acclimate the tank?

 

[oreo54]

I never have used a par meter in the tank but have the xr15 on the rms mount running at 60%. If I did add the T5, how should I properly acclimate the tank?

Not my forte.. I will say that because t5's are so soft many say that acclimation isn't always a necessity.

In your case it seems that just swapping the 4 tube t5 for the 15 would be a linear swap
Then slowly add the light from the 15.

Without a par meter all is just a guess though.

 

[mboley]

When a T5 fixture/ bulbs gets to be 9 months to a year old does just lowering the fixture fix the reduction in par issue?

 

[Uncle99]

When a T5 fixture/ bulbs gets to be 9 months to a year old does just lowering the fixture fix the reduction in par issue?

It’s not just a PAR issue, the spectrum can shift a bit to the red after time.

For this reason, I change every year.

I run Super Antinic, Super Purple, and Blue Plus, with LED.

Worth it IMM.

 

[reef’r]

Well I went ahead and pulled the trigger on an aquatic life hybrid fixture and 2 blue+ and 2 coral+ bulbs. Should I stagger the bulbs? Basically 1b+/ 1c+/radion/1b+/1c+

 

[bobnicaragua]

Well I went ahead and pulled the trigger on an aquatic life hybrid fixture and 2 blue+ and 2 coral+ bulbs. Should I stagger the bulbs? Basically 1b+/ 1c+/radion/1b+/1c+

Yep that’s good. The closer to the front, the stronger the color impact will be. So, blue plus in front if you want a more blue appearance.

I’m a stick head. T5 make keeping SPS a little easier. I recommend running blue LED the entire photoperiod and T5 for a 5-8 hour peak. If you want to acclimate the tank to T5, start with just a couple hours and increase over time.

Good luck

 

[Leadfooted]

I’ve been very happy with my Aquatic Life 24” Hybrid.

 

[reef’r]

I’ve been very happy with my Aquatic Life 24” Hybrid.

Nice! What bulb combo are you running? Looks like 3 blue plus and maybe 1 coral plus?

 

[reef’r]

Yep that’s good. The closer to the front, the stronger the color impact will be. So, blue plus in front if you want a more blue appearance.

I’m a stick head. T5 make keeping SPS a little easier. I recommend running blue LED the entire photoperiod and T5 for a 5-8 hour peak. If you want to acclimate the tank to T5, start with just a couple hours and increase over time.

Good luck

Awesome feedback thank you! I’m not crazy into sticks although I do plan on having a couple centerpieces in the top middle of my aquascape. A big colony of green slimmer and another big colony of purple stylophora I think would be awesome, contrasting colors. Do you recommend just running the t5 at 100%? The fixture is dimmable, but I was planning on mounting the fixture somewhere around 8-9” just based off the brs video or maybe a tad lower, based off the par readings they posted with a 4 bulb ati, and maybe cutting the xr15 intensity by half

 

[Ross]

I too am thinking about adding some T5s to my LEDs. The spread and spectrum really give something Extra the leds don’t have.

 

[Leadfooted]

Nice! What bulb combo are you running? Looks like 3 blue plus and maybe 1 coral plus?

Exactly, all ATI. Thank you as well

 

[Spare time]

Why not just set and forget the radion? I am sure you have enough restraint not to constantly change it up.

 

[reef’r]

Why not just set and forget the radion? I am sure you have enough restraint not to constantly change it up.

You mean instead of adding the t5, or in addition to the t5, just leaving the radion on the current intensity it is set on?

 

[Spare time]

You mean instead of adding the t5, or in addition to the t5, just leaving the radion on the current intensity it is set on?

Yeah I would personally do that and spend the money on something else like coral. Just seems like a waste of money to buy new lights if you don't need them.

 

[reef’r]

Yeah I would personally do that and spend the money on something else like coral. Just seems like a waste of money to buy new lights if you don't need them.

Well mainly because I want to provide a blanket of light to the tank and increase par around the edges without cranking the radion up and having a huge hotspot in the center of the tank. And, a 24x24x20 tank with a single xr15 is probably right on the edge of what that light is capable of. A lot of the really grown out and successful 30-50g tanks are either running an xr30, any other type of panel/puck style led accompanied by a light bar, or a t5/LED hybrid. I was able to do the t5 hybrid upgrade for cheaper than adding a second LED as well, so that helped

 

[Spare time]

Well mainly because I want to provide a blanket of light to the tank and increase par around the edges without cranking the radion up and having a huge hotspot in the center of the tank. And, a 24x24x20 tank with a single xr15 is probably right on the edge of what that light is capable of. A lot of the really grown out and successful 30-50g tanks are either running an xr30, any other type of panel/puck style led accompanied by a light bar, or a t5/LED hybrid. I was able to do the t5 hybrid upgrade for cheaper than adding a second LED as well, so that helped

In that case I see what you mean. I personally would consider adding some reef brites or ai blades on the side, but the t5 additions are fine as well. I personally wouldn't scrap the xr15 though for 100% t5's.

 

[reef’r]

In that case I see what you mean. I personally would consider adding some reef brites or ai blades on the side, but the t5 additions are fine as well. I personally wouldn't scrap the xr15 though for 100% t5's.

Yes I did consider adding the 3d reefing mounts and doing 2 ai blades, just something about the T5 to me, maybe it’s because I’m a little old school in most things. The xr15 is staying as I went with a 4 bulb hybrid fixture

 

[bobnicaragua]

Awesome feedback thank you! I’m not crazy into sticks although I do plan on having a couple centerpieces in the top middle of my aquascape. A big colony of green slimmer and another big colony of purple stylophora I think would be awesome, contrasting colors. Do you recommend just running the t5 at 100%? The fixture is dimmable, but I was planning on mounting the fixture somewhere around 8-9” just based off the brs video or maybe a tad lower, based off the par readings they posted with a 4 bulb ati, and maybe cutting the xr15 intensity by half

I would use the radions to ramp up and down and just run the T5 at 100%.