The Puffer Forum

I managed to get talked into, and got a fantastic deal on, a 6 x t5HO Tek-Light. Everyone I spoke to, even those who weren't trying to sell me, said it was better to buy big so that I didn't get stuck with less than I needed down the line. For now, I don't think I need to be running 6 tubes. I'm upgrading from a 3 tube t8 fixture and don't want to fry my stuff! So I will probably run 3 tubes to start, then go up as needed/acclimated. I am going to, at least this time around, use coralife tubes, since I can get them at cost and that's what I've always used and it''s been fine. I have access to 6700k, 10000k, actinic, and color max. Right now, I'm running (T8's) 1x 6700k, 1x 10000k and 1x actinic. Any opinions on what I should use in the new fixture, both in the 3 tube setup and the 6 tube setup? And on what sched? My current fixture is on or off, no separate settings for white/actinic...it's on about 10hrs/day...
Any guidance will be appreciated...I've been reading like crazy and my head is about to explode, and every time I think I'm getting it, I read something different! I have soooo much to learn!

T8 normal out put lights dont put out squat worth of light compared to T5 with TEK reflectors. So if you have any corals start with 4 hours a day and slowly move up.

For bulbs, it is recommended to start with 3 ATI Blue+, 2 ATI Aquablue Special, and one GE 6,500k. Many people on reef central have done testing and get great growth and color with that combo. If theres any way to go with that setup its worth the extra $. If you have to go with coralife I would get 3 actinic, 1 6,500k and 2 10,000k, but I fear that the 10,000ks would make the tank far to pink, kinda like a VHO lit tank.

For example I tried a UVL 12,000k and 10,000k and had to return them due to the overly pink light. The ATI bulbs are brighter and more crisp.

http://www.reefgeek.com is a great place to look around, and great customer service.

I kind of have to go with coralife this time...I blew all my "spending money" on the fixture I've got merch credits at the store where I work and can order the coralife ones, anything else would be retail, cash money...
I'll go with your advice as far as colors, though. If I'm only running 3, which do you recommend?
I appreciate your advice on the on/off sched, too, I didn't realize that shortening the "day" would help with acclimating...

What size tank is this going over? Are there individual reflectors for each bulb?

It's for a 90g, and yes it does...
http://www.marinedepot.com/48_inch_6x54 ... 19-vi.html

Thats a great fixture, only way it could be better is fans.

Why would you use just 3 bulbs? Cost? Well if you HAD to run just 3, and use coralife bulbs, I guess 1 6,500k, 1 10,000k, and one actinic, but its gonna not look that great, it will be fine for corals, but really why only 3?

If frying corals is the only concern, get all 6 bulbs and just bump up hours every few days. Expect the corals to have some adverse effects, maybe coraline bleaching, but it will all come back soon.

Thanks! If I go Coralife this time around, I will def go ahead and get all 6 but I wasn't planning on running them all right away because I thought everything would get fried. I had no idea (until you mentioned it before) that that could be mitigated by shortening the time period, I thought it was the intensity more than duration that would be a problem.
I miss Douggie like crazy but having this project takes my mind off of him a bit and these are all things he would NOT have approved of...
As far as fans go, there's a local store that runs these and a hobbyist I buy some stuff off of that runs these and I've felt them, they run really cool, they're really well ventilated...
Thanks again!

Why would you use just 3 bulbs?

Exactly why I asked the tank size. I have 6 over my 90g.