[jimw369]

I purchased a new T5HO 432W Tek light with 12k bulbs for my tank and now things dont seem to grow as much as when I had a light with 216W 10K bulbs. The colors are still vivid on everything but growth has slowed way down.

Do I need to go to MH to get more light? What is meant by intensity? Do I need more or less of it?

Is it more important to decide what was going into my tank before I bought the new lights?

[glampka]

How long have you had the new lights? Did you acclimate the corals to the new lights? Corals may be in a state of "shock" from getting hit with double the light they had.

[jimw369]

I did not acclimate any corals to the new lights. However I have had the new light for over three mos. None of the corals have died and none seemed to bleach or fade. Some didnt open up as nice as they used to so I moved them to locations lower in the tank and that seemed to help them.

Can not acclimating corals to a new light stun them so they do not continue to grow?

[pogodzib]

Are all of your bulbs 12k bulbs, or do you have different par levels? You should be able to get a mixture of bulbs that will give you awesome color and growth.

I don't know how many bulbs are in your fixture, but as an example, here is what one, very highly recommend user, recommends for a 6 bulb fixture.

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun or Ge 3000K
Aquablue
GE 6500K
Blue Plus

[jimw369]

I have 3 True actinics (geisman) and 5 more of the same kind. All I know is 12K. When the light shuts down for the day I will check and see what those 5 are. So you can mix and match different bulbs? All I ever hear about is actinics and the "other bulbs". And if I get lets say a combo set of bulbs like you say, will I still be able to have clams and anemones? My tank is 25" deep. Would this be a reason for a lack of coraline growth but a large amount of green color on my rocks and back of tank?

[pogodzib]

Yes, you can mix the bulb colors. I'm not an expert on T5 lighting, but I have seen some gorgeous tanks that use them. Having 8 bulbs over a tank gives you an opportunity to do many things that will benefit your tank in both color and growth of both your corals and coralline.

Here's what the same person recommends for a 8 bulb unit

For lamps it really depends on personal taste. I would run at least 1 3000K or UVL Aquasun.

I'd try this

Front

Blue
Super Actinic
Blue
GE 3000K
Blue
GE 6500K
Super Actinic
Blue

BTW - I'll be sending you a PM.

[e_baer]

this is where nativevaman comes in.

[blu23girl]

brian-
any pics of those combos around?? looking for ideas!

i know... old thread... revived... sorry!

[pogodzib]

I have seen pics from that combo, but I don't know if I'd be able to relocate the pics again. Jim and I went back and forth through PM's with different combinations and has been using his T5HO unit for a while. Ask Jim what he likes and dislikes. My guess would be that he has some pics that he could post for you.

[Arnold40]

What would the 3000K bulb be used for? I wouldn't go below a 6500K bulb.

[pogodzib]

Growth. The person that recommends the 3000k bulb is by far the most knowledgible person I know when it comes to T5HO lighting over reef tanks. He has done plenty of studies and has used many different type of bulb combinations. I think Jim will agree that the person knows his stuff. The yellow color from the 3000k bulb gets washed away by the other bulbs so you don't notice the yellow tint. With that said, Jim did have problems with some corals under the 3000k bulb. This was probably because the 3000k bulb, in combination with the other bulbs, put out too much light intensity for the corals that it was frying them so he ended up removing the 3000k bulb.

[WILLIAM1]

I run the same light as Jim. I use the midday to encourage coral growth. the configuration that I am using back to front is:

Atinic +
Atinic +
Aqua blue +
Aqua blue +
Midday
Aqua blue +
Pure Atinic
Atinic +

[blu23girl]

Thanks guys!
I really like that combo you have William.
I am getitng:
ATI Blue Plus X4
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Procolor
ATI Aquablue

They should be arriving any day now! I will be sure to post some pics with the new bulbs this week! =)

Anyone else running t5 only lighting, and want to post pics??