Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

http://brs.li/BRS160_Week19 It's Week 19 of 52 Weeks of Reefing, and we're two weeks into a 5 episode segment where we are really diving into the different types of aquarium lighting. This week we are covering T5 lighting which is a form of lighting here the team at BRS has historically had a ton of success with. Success in this case can be defined as maintaining a healthy, colorful, growing reef tank where the corals thrive in almost any area of the tank with excellent color and growth patterns. However there are pros and cons to every light source so we are going to start with that then evaluate T5 lighting based on the criteria we shared last week including some really cool tests we performed based on that criteria. We'll discuss some hybrid options, explore which type of reefer T5 lighting is ideal for, and finish with some really interesting details on heat related performance and other operating tips. *Legal Stuff* The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications as presented in the video. Aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.

Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160 sentiment_very_dissatisfied 75

Reef tank 9 years ago 164,150 views

http://brs.li/BRS160_Week19 It's Week 19 of 52 Weeks of Reefing, and we're two weeks into a 5 episode segment where we are really diving into the different types of aquarium lighting. This week we are covering T5 lighting which is a form of lighting here the team at BRS has historically had a ton of success with. Success in this case can be defined as maintaining a healthy, colorful, growing reef tank where the corals thrive in almost any area of the tank with excellent color and growth patterns. However there are pros and cons to every light source so we are going to start with that then evaluate T5 lighting based on the criteria we shared last week including some really cool tests we performed based on that criteria. We'll discuss some hybrid options, explore which type of reefer T5 lighting is ideal for, and finish with some really interesting details on heat related performance and other operating tips. *Legal Stuff* The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications as presented in the video. Aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.

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Most popular comments
for Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

Fred Marquet
Fred Marquet - 6 years ago
Hi guys ! Just one thing, i just bought a Giesemann matrix II dimtec, for best results, i hesitate to remove the splach guard. As i'm french i don't understand very the part of the video where you treat this point. Could you confirm that the results are best with the splashguard removed ? Thanks a lot.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 6 years ago
Hey there! This video may help you decide which is best. :-) https://youtu.be/FHEbZnZY0Ug
Anthony Scianna
Anthony Scianna - 6 years ago
I have 2 bubble-tip anemones in a that is 20in long and 13 hight what light would you recommend
Marine Life
Marine Life - 7 years ago
How often do t5 bulbs need to be replaced. Do you have to change all the bulbs at once or one at a time
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
The most common practice is to change bulbs about every 8-10weeks. Many reefers will replace half then a few months later replace the other half, to help offset the initial cost of bulbs. :-)
EpicMudbud
EpicMudbud - 7 years ago
What bulb combination is being used @1212 in the video? And is that considered the most effective for coral growth and color? Mine is a lot less on the red side and more green. My lfs said even though corals dont use as much green it was still needed...
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Unfortunately that tank has since came down since it was filmed several years ago. We didn't get the chance to document the bulb combo. :-(
marquise Washington
marquise Washington - 7 years ago
What about Kessil lights?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
This one was specifically geared towards T5 lighting, but check out these in-depth videos we did more recently about the A360 and the AP700. https://youtu.be/_vTaYLC9oBk https://youtu.be/wavz8K63-Oc
James Nurkka
James Nurkka - 7 years ago
New Subscriber I just joined the YouTube world found and love your channel. I have a 4 bulb T5 Aquatic Life fixture about four years old. I'm running 2 ATI blue + 1 ATI coral + and 1 ATI purple + I like this combo and was looking at possibly supplementing with led like making a hybrid because I've heard so much about how much better a hybrid grows corals would you have a recommendation?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Hey there! Welcome! A very popular LED to add to a T5 lighting is some Kessil A160s or Kessil A360s. There's also ReefBrite LED strips, but you may find more value in Kessils at their price point for what they offer as far as controllabilty and adjustability. :-) There's also these newest Aquatic Life T5/Hybrid fixture that essentially is your current fixture but split down the center with brackets to add LEDs in between. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/24-hybrid-t5ho-4x24w-fixture-with-led-mounting-system-aquatic-life.html
eric shevket
eric shevket - 7 years ago
Hi guys does running t5s at anything lower than 100% shorten the bulb life ?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
I hope we can find out for sure in future BRStv Investigates episodes! Stay tuned! :-)
# knumbskulls
# knumbskulls - 7 years ago
Crap, I learned programming for nothing? Now I have 2 obsessions.
Checker vom Neckar
Checker vom Neckar - 7 years ago
Which bulbs are used at 17:35, it looks stunning!!!
Checker vom Neckar
Checker vom Neckar - 7 years ago
BulkReefSupplyCom oh no, but thank you very much for answering even after 2 years the video was uploaded, BRS u are the best!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Unfortunately that tank has since been taken down since that B-roll shot was created. We didn't get to capture the bulb combo or lighting schedule. :-(

10. comment for Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

Beth Sketoe
Beth Sketoe - 7 years ago
What is the best t5 combo of bulbs
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
That one is still on the to-do list to test! I would check out the reef hobbyist forums like Reef2Reef.com or ReefCentral.com to see what thousands of fellow reefers are using in their T5 fixtures. Then you can get an idea of what you want for your tank and emulate the same bulb combos! :-)
Gib P
Gib P - 7 years ago
I love this series. I just now got interested in Reef Aquariums, and this is like going to school! I do have a question: How do you get an over all rating of 7.8? To me, if you average 9.6, 6.6, and 8.0 the answer is 8.1.... just wondering. Thanks.
Gib P
Gib P - 7 years ago
At 16:38 of the video. You are "rating" the lights on overall Life Support, Visual Appearance, and Price. You say the "T5 comes out at an average of 7.8..."
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Thanks so much! Unfortunately, i"m not sure what you are asking about here. Are you wondering about pH, Alkalinity (dKH), PAR, or something different? :-)
Ron Killeen
Ron Killeen - 7 years ago
Will you do a nice review on the E5 T5 lights? Please!!!!
SuperGrowPlants
SuperGrowPlants - 7 years ago
my head just exploded
Stacy Clark
Stacy Clark - 7 years ago
I'm hoping you will respond or someone will, I'm setting up a 45 gallon jbj all in one tank and I don't know how many t5 bulbs to put over it. it will be a mixed reef with sps LPS and a few soft. please respond
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Hey there! I think two bulbs should work just fine for that size of tank! Otherwise a 4 bulb will work as well, but would probably need to be mounted higher over the tank, so it doesn't burn the corals! :-)
Indoor Orchids and Tropicals
Indoor Orchids and Tropicals - 7 years ago
I don't even keep fish, but I still get a tremendous amount out of these videos since corals and orchids have a lot in common, and just like in aquariums, growing healthy plants starts with quality water and light =food (though led blows t5ho way out of the water for high light demanding flowering plants.)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Haha! That's awesome!
mario selier
mario selier - 7 years ago
great tip over the cooling of the lights!!!! a have tried it on my own ati and my par went up from 213 to 276 and my lux from 7800 to 10151

grtnx from holland
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Hello from Minnesota, USA! Thanks for watching! :-)
Meldium
Meldium - 7 years ago
I really love how sharp and vivid the Anemone Tank looks like in 18:25. Please tell me Which light fixture was it and what bulb configuration that was and if you have all this in stock?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Hey there! That fixture is the ATI 48" LED T5 PowerModule Hybrid 8x54W. Unfortunately it has been swapped out since this video and I don't have the original bulb combo available. :-)
Hellish Underwater Harmonica
Hellish Underwater Harmonica - 7 years ago
there's something about his hi pitched sell hard read it off the rolling script type thing?
Hellish Underwater Harmonica
Hellish Underwater Harmonica - 7 years ago
BulkReefSupplyCom only kidding! good video.
shiva kumar
shiva kumar - 7 years ago
i have a 3bulb t5 light fixture,what colors of bulbs do u recomend for good growth of corals.and my tank is 24in*16in*18in of size.please tell me

20. comment for Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

Scott Gardner
Scott Gardner - 7 years ago
The tank at 8:15 has an ATI fixture over it,correct? Was that straight T5 or a hybrid fixture? Either way, do you know the bulb setup for it? It has perfect coloration! Thank you guys for making these videos, they're so darn helpful.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Thanks, Scott! Unfortunately, that tank has since come down and the one who got it to that point is no longer with us. I do believe that he used a Giesemann T5/MH combo to grow it that way, but I'm unsure of the exact bulb configuration. :-)
Karl Douglas
Karl Douglas - 7 years ago
what would you recommened for a tank 31" by 17" 21 " deep
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Personally, I would use a 6-bulb fixture at a minimum for a tank with mostly LPS/Softies and maybe some SPS. I would use an 8-bulb for a more SPS dominant tank. :-)
Will Cooksey
Will Cooksey - 7 years ago
at 14:05 i see it's an ati fixture can u tell me which one and what bulbs it's running. thanks, i love brs
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Hey there! That specific fixture was setup for that shot and was not used during the life of the tank. I'm pretty sure he had a MH/T5 combo prior to mounting this ATI for the shot. :-)
Roshan Patel
Roshan Patel - 7 years ago
Could you please tell me the bulb combinations for the light at https://youtu.be/C61DTnWKGjc?t=844? I'm planning on getting a 6-bulb ATI fixture for a 8inch deep tank, and really like the look of that tank :)
Roshan Patel
Roshan Patel - 7 years ago
Thanks for the prompt reply BRS
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
Unfortunately, that ATI fixture was installed for video purposes on that specific shot. He was using a Giesemann Spectra with a Radium MH bulb and ATI Blue+ bulbs. :-)
Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi
Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi - 7 years ago
electric bill would tell you sir how good T5 is
chip turd
chip turd - 7 years ago
Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi your smoking crack. your corals will
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
We very much hope to expand to you someday! Regardless, thank you so much for watching! :-)
Indoor Orchids and Tropicals
Indoor Orchids and Tropicals - 7 years ago
What about the TLEDs- the LEDs that fit into t5fixtures? I don't think any of them have the same options for spectral distribution that the flourescent t5s have, but say you just had a bunch of 6500k for a freshwater planted tank and switched the flourescent tubes out and put the LED tubes in?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 7 years ago
While I wouldn't count on them as major PAR or growth contributors, they are fantastic solutions for adding shimmer and LED "pop" to your T5 fixture.
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
Are there any fixtures which hold LEDs and T5s for a small 60 gallon cube?
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom Awesome!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
I'm a patron myself to a few channels, but I haven't considered it for ours. I will mention it to the team.
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom I know you have an online store and that we can support you by buying stuff but I can't buy stuff from you guys where I live, have you considered getting a patreon account? You channel is really useful and informative I would gladly donate to see more testing of products and just to keep getting great answers.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Any time!
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom Great thanks
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Check out the end of this video where we setup a hybrid solution including some retrofit setups over the 160. We used two bulbs retro's, but a single kit like the LET kit could be done in a similar manner:

https://youtu.be/GTuj5MJCgpc
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom Great thanks, do you have any videos about mounting a retrofit t5 kit?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
I would probably go with a retrofit kit at that point, because then you could build a custom setup and split the bulbs apart just far enough to fit an A160 down the center. It would be pretty cool!
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom Great thanks, would a pair of Sun Blaze T5 HO Lighting Fixtures with a pair of kessil a160s also work well too?
And for a very long 2 foot by 10 inches by 10 inches? I want those two small tanks for my room, the 60 gallon to use as my first tanks and eventually turn into an anemone tank and then the small long one as a quarantine to be able to watch all my corals up close. film them and check them to see if they have any pests on them. What light could I use for that long but shallow tank?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
I'm a sucker for a good 2x2x2 cube! Checkout the Giesemann Aurora for a hybrid solution, we are running them over our frag tanks:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aurora-hybrid-24-4x24-1x85w-led-giesemann.html
Franklin Michael
Franklin Michael - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom I haven't bought it yet, but im thinking a cube 2x2x2 would be nice, or maybe an 80 gallon long.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
What are the dimensions of your tank?
arenalarmyof2
arenalarmyof2 - 8 years ago
what's the best combination for a 4 bulb t5?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
It's impossible for me to say since it will depend on your preferences. I like to use two blue plus, a coral plus, and an aquablue special, but I like tanks with a bluer look.
Juan Mattos Fishing
Juan Mattos Fishing - 8 years ago
What would be BRS' recommended setup for a 4 bulb T5 fixture?, I'm thinking 2 KZ Coral Light II (Front and Back) and Super Blue / Fiji Purple in the center... Or, would you recommend 1 Coral Lght II, 1 Super Blue, 1 Corar Light II, One Fiji Purple instead?... Thank you
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Bulb choice is dependent on what is appealing to your eye, so it's really hard for me to say either way. The second setup seems more appealing to me, but that is just my opinion.

30. comment for Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

Patrick Hubbard
Patrick Hubbard - 8 years ago
I know this is almost a year later but the Win a matrixx 2 isn't going to a working page :(. Really wanted to try my luck in winning something from this 52 weeks of reefing.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Yeah, unfortunately that contest has ended. But, we may have more in the future!
Jerry
Jerry - 8 years ago
Hi BRS, which blue spectrum is good for fluorescent colors of corals? 420nm or 440nm? thanks!
Jerry
Jerry - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom thanks for the response :)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Corals will fluoresce anywhere in that range. 420nm is more on the violet side of things though, so I would recommend around 440 to 460.
David Rael
David Rael - 8 years ago
can u guys do a video on the kz t5 bulbs? would be cool to know the difference between them and the ati bulbs
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
We're looking at implementing more testing vids in the future. This is a good suggestion!
Philip J. Fry
Philip J. Fry - 8 years ago
I feel like these videos are more of advertisement than guidelines on how to set up an aquarium.
Greego
Greego - 8 years ago
It is great marketing though and only a fool would not use it to promote their business. This is not a bad thing at all. To be fair, the videos are also very informative and some of the best out there on the internet and the extensive library of videos on the topic of reef keeping is unmatched.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
That's a fair vantage point. In some ways they are both. I would like to say they are not advertising in the typical 30 second commercial sense of the word but they are a type of marketing. We just choose to market by sharing the methods and products the staff here uses and then show you how to if you want to do the same. If you are interested in a specific topic and watch one of our videos on that topic I can almost guarantee you will know if that method or product is for you and at least one sure fire method for success using it.
Kickingandshaving with Kojak
Kickingandshaving with Kojak - 8 years ago
How do you guys recommend starting off with this fixture in terms of time on? Start off with less time and slowly increase?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
To acclimate corals? That is one way to do it. Another popular option is to lay a few layers of window screen over the tank, and remove one of the screens every week to acclimate the corals to the intensity.
joey dacayan
joey dacayan - 8 years ago
What kind of paint used to corals?
debabrata das
debabrata das - 8 years ago
Which is the best?? T5, actanic or led?
debabrata das
debabrata das - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom ohk.. thank you.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Ok cool, in that case I would probably run a 6 bulb T5 fixture. Anemones in my experience respond best to T5's, and they are one of the more cost friendly lights out there. That being said, LED and MH can also support anemones just fine, and many people have had success with them.
debabrata das
debabrata das - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom only anemoon. . 5×2×2 feets
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
Do you have LPS, SPS or softies? What size is the tank?
debabrata das
debabrata das - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom normally reef
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+debabrata das Honestly that will depend on your preferences and goals. What type of tank setup are you running?
debabrata das
debabrata das - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom
Which one is best for my reef tank..?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+debabrata das Actinic is usually just a nickname for a specific spectrum. It really depends on the goals you are looking to accomplish. We have had good luck with both, as well as running a mix of them.
Pedro Alves
Pedro Alves - 8 years ago
hii BRS, nice video! I add 4x54w T5 to my led vertex sr360. tell me,
in your opinion can i turn off the white leds and keep the blue and RB
at 100% or keep some intensity in the white? regards
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Pedro Alves I would test out different intensities in your tank. I would assume that 100% on any channel on that light will be too much light, so that PAR meter will help you dial things in,
Pedro Alves
Pedro Alves - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom hii, Yes I have! What I do?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Pedro Alves Honestly that will depend entirely on your tank and your preferences. Do you have access to a PAR meter?
Lissia Baun
Lissia Baun - 8 years ago
do you guys have anything on wave makers, I bought one for my reef tank and it blows all my sand to the side of the tank.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Lissia Baun What size tank are you currently running, and what wavemaker did you purchase? I'd love to help!

I would check this video out if you haven't yet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1Oc1LYgVbo
Kawwwman
Kawwwman - 8 years ago
I have a T5 and want to build a tank canopy. However the instructions say NOT to use with a canopy. With a canopy, it places more light into the tank? Without a canopy the wall behind the tank is all lit up. Can I actually put the T5 in a canopy? thanks
Gold Aquariums
Gold Aquariums - 8 years ago
Just put a fan in the canopy for air to come and go, as the T5 get hot
Samuel Kogen
Samuel Kogen - 8 years ago
Very informative.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Samuel Kogen Thanks for watching :)
Salamander Fangskin
Salamander Fangskin - 8 years ago
How can I know the size of the T5 bulbs that my lamp needs?
Salamander Fangskin
Salamander Fangskin - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom
Thank you!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Salamander Fangskin You'll likely use 54 Watt bulbs in that fixture.
Salamander Fangskin
Salamander Fangskin - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom
1179mm
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Salamander Fangskin How long is the light?
Salamander Fangskin
Salamander Fangskin - 8 years ago
Can I use any kind of T5 bulbs for my corals? or there are specific bulbs to use?
Salamander Fangskin
Salamander Fangskin - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom
 Thanks! then I will combine reef bulbs with normal.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Salamander Fangskin Ideally I'd recommend running bulbs that were designed to have the proper spectrums for corals. Some of the non-aquarium bulbs are really red/yellow and don't make the tank look too flattering.
Klondike Kitty
Klondike Kitty - 8 years ago
Will you be getting the Giesemann Moonlight Infiti in stock Ryan? It looks like a great option for those who want halide/T5 full control fixtures and has great control.

I'm bouncing between the Matrix II Dimmable and the Spectra, but if you can get in the Moonlight, I would probably buy it.
Klondike Kitty
Klondike Kitty - 8 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom


I ended up buying the 48" Spectra. Unfortunately, you were out, so I got it from Coral Vue :)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Klondike Kitty I'll add it to our new product ideas. Thanks for the heads up!
Klondike Kitty
Klondike Kitty - 8 years ago
Great video Ryan, calling you guys tomorrow with some questions.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+Klondike Kitty Sounds good!
khaled damer
khaled damer - 8 years ago
hello I have a new tank and the height is 110 cm what is the best light ? LED , METEL HALIDE OR T5 ??
khaled damer
khaled damer - 8 years ago
thank you so much
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+khaled damer Ok, I see! In that case I would probably recommend looking into the Kessil A360N. They have a more focused lens to penetrate further into the tank.
khaled damer
khaled damer - 8 years ago
hello first thanks for replay
second I looking to grow mostly fish, nice live rock and a few of coral  
my tank is 1500 liter  of over all
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+khaled damer That's a pretty deep tank! What are you looking to grow in the tank? Honestly I think you may have some trouble growing corals in the bottom 1/3 or so of the tank.
412natureboy
412natureboy - 9 years ago
Current, ATI and a Hagen True Glo retro fit.
412natureboy
412natureboy - 9 years ago
I ran t-5 for years. The fixtures even high end ones failed " broke". Also the bulbs failed randomly. Plus replacing 12 54 watt ho bulbs every 6 to 8 months was insanely costly. LED has been my go to for the last 2 years with no more operation cost except electricity. Even that has been cut super drastically I can't even run my lights at 100%!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+412natureboy Just out of curiosity, what fixtures did you run?
nick knight
nick knight - 9 years ago
Hey BRS, just 1 quick question. If I have a quad lamp T5 that I wanna replace the bulbs on with ATI bulbs, which 4 bulbs would you all recommend for a reef tank? I've got a little bit of everything inside my tank from sps to lps and even 1 or 2 anemones and I'd like the best lighting possible in my tank that I can get without spending a fortune on a new fixture.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+nick knight These are always hard to answer since it is a huge personal preference, but I like a bluer look and would likely go with two Blue Plus, one Coral Plus, and one Aquablue Special.
oceanslide
oceanslide - 9 years ago
Wow so much i didn't know, thanks for the awesome videos!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+oceanslide Thank you! Happy to hear you are enjoying them :)

50. comment for Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

joe b
joe b - 9 years ago
First of all. I would like to thank you for taking the time to make these videos as a new person to this hobby I find these videos most helpful. I understand that T5 maybe a good light in general but how well will a maxima clam do under a T5 compared to a metal halide ?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+joe b Thanks Joe, happy to help! To be honest it is all relative. It will greatly depend on how many bulbs you choose for the T5, as well as the depth of the tank. I've been able to keep clams under metal halide, T5, and LED without any issues. :)
Krystal River
Krystal River - 9 years ago
Hi, great video! how do you feel about led lights? I have a salt water fish only aquarium with one star fish and few low light plants.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Joseleen Valentin It depends on the LED, but a large majority of them work pretty well on a reef tank. We'll be covering LEDs in this video series at the end of the week, so stay tuned!
ill have Uh, uhhh
ill have Uh, uhhh - 9 years ago
You need your own show. those fish tank kings aren't as good as you.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+CXK03 Haha, thanks!
shawnriv9
shawnriv9 - 9 years ago
Where is today's video? :(
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+shawnriv9 Sorry guys, this one took quite a bit of time. It's out now though!

https://youtu.be/HKnZq0-0ghY
Josh Avila
Josh Avila - 9 years ago
+shawnriv9 It's what I look forward to every week.
Markalot
Markalot - 9 years ago
Really enjoyed the video and the in depth data. Will the graphs and such be available online, or only what is shown in the video? Thanks.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Markalot Good call! I'm pretty sure we'll have them available on the site :)
Patrick's Dive and Reef
Patrick's Dive and Reef - 9 years ago
Well that's it sorted so, I will keep my T5 fixture on my 120g....for now...
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Patrick's Dive and Reef Stay tuned for the Halide and LED episodes :)
Seth Williamson
Seth Williamson - 9 years ago
I suspect this won't be one of the forms of lighting you'll cover, but one approach that some reefers are experimenting with is natural sunlight as part of their lighting plan. Reefers have installed one or more solar tube or conventional skylights over tanks. One reefer with deeper pockets even built a solarium/conservatory around his tank. This obviously comes with a long list of caveats and gotchas, and it is far from a plug and play option, but I've seen some stunning results.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Seth Williamson Good point! I've done quite a bit of research on solar tubes. There are a lot of really nice tanks out there that have used them at some point. The problem comes into play with geographical location (sunlight not the same intensity in the winter), and the fact that you need to modify your home's roof.
Glen Hill
Glen Hill - 9 years ago
800 dollars for that fixture....... Dang, for that kind of money I'll stand there with a flash light.......lol
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Glen Hill Thanks Glenn, we appreciate it :D
Glen Hill
Glen Hill - 9 years ago
You guys Rock!!!!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Glen Hill Haha, you must have a lot of patience. :P
jorm222
jorm222 - 9 years ago
I think the reason we see success with a direct light source, like LED, and diffused light like T5 is it reproduce the cycle of direct sunlight vs diffused skylight. If we could measure the difference in direct vs diffused daylight and use this to provide even better light then nature we would see the best results
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+jorm222 Interesting point!
Petr Minařík
Petr Minařík - 9 years ago
Perfect channel ;-) thanks. Greetings from the Czech republic ;-)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Petr Minařík Thanks! We appreciate it :)
cplcouture
cplcouture - 9 years ago
You guys should put a live webcam and a link to your fabulous tank!!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+cplcouture We've talked about it before. We haven't ruled anything out yet :P
poe8132
poe8132 - 9 years ago
What is the ati fixture that you used on the square tank? Is it available on the bulkreef website?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
Ted Y
Ted Y - 9 years ago
Which par meter would you recommend, the Apogee or Neptune PMK?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Ted Y To be honest it's almost like comparing apples and oranges since they perform similar but pretty different functions. If you want something you can take out a drawer and take a reading every so often then I would go with the Apogee. If you have an Apex however, and would prefer to get continuous readings over time, then I would consider getting the PMK. :)
firebirdude2
firebirdude2 - 9 years ago
Absolutely insanely helpful video. I'm almost shocked at the amount of data you guys collected for us! You guys are doing WONDERS for our hobby. I think I was most shocked by the changes in PAR around fan speed!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+firebirdude2 Wow, thanks! It was really cool actually getting to test the temperature based PAR. Pretty big variances!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
Pew Heretic - Thanks! Having a fan system like that would be really really cool! As far as PAR monitoring goes, check this out:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/par-monitoring-kit-pmk-neptune-systems.html
Nick M
Nick M - 8 years ago
Ryan, thanks for all of these videos. There must have been so much work that went into all of these. Just a shame you don't ship overseas! Most appreciated for the videos, mate.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+darkDeag No problem! The bottom should be just fine :)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 8 years ago
+darkDeag One piece of solid advice is understand that getting them to run "optimally" all the time at every point in the bulb is impossible and you are just going to get frustrated trying. I'd shoot for within 10-20% of optimal and be happy. Corals are not going to notice much within that range anyways.
Shane Reich
Shane Reich - 9 years ago
oh also wanted to ask, is there any video coming up where we see the tank?
each week you show us the same snippet of the tank,
ide like to see how you are dealing with the algae blooms and cycling of the tank.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Shane Reich To be honest nothing has really changed since the last time it was shown. Knock on wood, but we haven't even had a bit of algal growth. The shot around the 20:34 mark was taken last week during filming, but we have plans on showing an updated shot of the tank near the beginning of each episode once we start making some significant changes. :)
Shane Reich
Shane Reich - 9 years ago
Awsome, Super excited about the LED video, as i have always been a fan of T5 but since Ecotechmarine released their Radion fixtures along with the reeflink to control the light as well as wavemakers and return pumps, all from my phone, its a winner for me, however after watching this video, i kind if want to go back to T5, thanks ryan...... lol...
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Shane Reich Nice! The Radion is a fantastic light, we have quite a few running tanks in the office. Stay tuned for the rest of the series. :)
theBUTCHER1349
theBUTCHER1349 - 9 years ago
where do you suggest height off water to be?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+theBUTCHER1349 8 inches seems to be the most common, but it can vary depending on your corals. There's been times where I've had my T5 fixture more than a foot off the surface of the water to help new corals acclimate.
915Mang
915Mang - 9 years ago
Great video, long story short. T5s have done great on my tank, as shown in my videos. My own corals had lost color with leds. Then I added T5 and they colored back up again. Hybrid is the way to go, T5 with Leds. Currently Running ATI T5, I plan on adding leds as a supplement
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+915Mang They ended up making some changes to it. It's now a hybrid LED T5. We have one over the Clown Harem tank you can check out in the video around the 18:10 mark.
915Mang
915Mang - 9 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom Oh trust me I like the ATI Power Module, but not the price. And I think they stop selling it
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+915Mang Nice! You might be happy with the lighting we choose to put over the system. :)
Daniel Donnelly
Daniel Donnelly - 9 years ago
i am setting up a 40 breeder and would 2 Kessil a160we do the trick
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Daniel Donnelly Each covers an 18-24" area depending on how high you have them over the surface of the water so that would be a pretty solid choice!
josh p
josh p - 9 years ago
can't wait for the LED one. just ordered my AI prime.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Joshua Payette That is a pretty good choice! You'll have some shadowing out near the edges with a single prime, but with clever coral placement you should be just fine. Yeah, 30" tanks are tricky when it comes to lighting. Your best bet for T5 is to run a 24" setup. Thanks for watching!
josh p
josh p - 9 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom is it the best option for a 29 gal nano. I didn't see any t5 kits that would fit. thanks for the great videos. got me back into the hobby.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Joshua Payette Very nice! We have a few running in the office and they are pretty cool!
Eric Chambers
Eric Chambers - 9 years ago
Really loving this series, lots of food for thought as I plan out my tank build. I'm curious if BRS is going to look at the ARIID Algae Reactor as a part the filtration. Once again thanks for producing this series!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Eric Chambers Thanks, stoked to hear you like it! The ARID reactors are on our radar ;)
Abdul  Mohsen
Abdul Mohsen - 9 years ago
hey guys i wounder if you have any input on pacific sun t5 hybrid lighting the look awesome wounder if you have any reviews on them
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Abdul Mohsen We did actually bring one of them in for testing, and while it did perform well we felt like the Giesemann and ATI fixtures offered more value. :)
Sagar Patel
Sagar Patel - 9 years ago
You got your sleeve wet when you were putting the PAR meter in the tank.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Sagar Patel Such is the life of a reefer. :P
Skuby
Skuby - 9 years ago
great info , hope you are going to do one with kessil a160 a360 , since im considering buying one of those :)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Skuby Perfect! Stay tuned then.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Skuby Nice! Once we get to LEDs we will likely be talking about them. :) Have you seen any of our other videos on Kessil's lights?
Jeremy Connelly
Jeremy Connelly - 9 years ago
Wow! I have liked the BRS videos for a long time. I have especially enjoyed the BRS160 videos. But, what BRS is doing with the lighting comparisons is really, really innovative. I have read my fair number of business books, and BRS is really an example of what a great, 21st century business should be. I have reached out to your customer service department a number of times for support, and they have delivered better than any online company I have dealt with. You all have certainly made a loyal customer of me. Keep it up and I look forward to future installments.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Jeremy Connelly Wow! Thanks Jeremy. That means a lot, and I'm really happy to hear that you are enjoying the series!
Jason Coleman
Jason Coleman - 9 years ago
Love the reviews! I might note, Ryan, I remember a time when you felt stuff and awkward on a quick 3 minute explainer. Now you seem as if you could star in your own reef television series!

I previously had T5s over a 40B, and now I have one of the standard 135W CCB LED setups. Is it a BAD option? No. Gives nice highlights and good shimmer. But if you really want to see EVERY INCH on your tank in nice lighting and detail, I feel a T5 incorporation (or more LEDs than a TV screen) is DEFINITELY part of the solution. Honestly, paired as a retrofit with some LED pucks, is how I'm looking at going on my 110.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Jason Coleman Thanks Jason! You might be happy with our recommendation at the end of this series :)
Pew Heretic
Pew Heretic - 9 years ago
Excellent! Quantitative data, not just qualitative assumption. Wouldn't it be incredibly cool if the T5 manufacturers put a sensor in the housing that controlled the fan speed to achieve optimum Par? Also, I'd love to have a permanent Par reading that I could track via wifi or at least through my chosen data controllers to know exactly when I needed to change my bulbs instead of just guessing or manually testing with a hand-held Par meter. We have that for the chemistry aspects of our tanks, why not lighting? Alas, no such way exists yet. But I'm sure my fellow gear geeks will find a way soon...and then BRS will do an in-depth report on it :)
Reef Roid
Reef Roid - 9 years ago
Amazing video ,,,,,, probably the best yet !!!!!!!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+reef roid Thanks! Glad you liked it :)
Ambrosius Malachai
Ambrosius Malachai - 9 years ago
there is a new led system you should look into during your led research, it uses led pods. You purchase a strip light to fit the size of your tank, this strip has two rows where you can place little square led pods. This allows you to have two different settings to switch back and forth between the two strips. The led pods themselves come in a variety of types. Blue, High output white, Color enhancing, Coral growth. This allows you to light your tank, pretty much however you want. Its completely customizable. And starting at around $100
Ambrosius Malachai
Ambrosius Malachai - 9 years ago
np, and thank you. im saving up to do my first saltwater, its going to be a fowler with fake corals - and i was very interested in this led system since i could choose where i wanted my lights. so if you guys review it, it will really help me out to know how good they really are.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Ambrosius Malachai (AMV GOD) We'll check them out, thanks!
Ambrosius Malachai
Ambrosius Malachai - 9 years ago
Elive Easy Change LED Track light Pods.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Ambrosius Malachai (AMV GOD) Interesting. Can I ask who makes it and the model name?
Edward Thayer
Edward Thayer - 9 years ago
Thanks Ryan, now back to putting that dam T5 back on my tank. lol
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Edward Thayer Haha, I wouldn't make any changes quite yet. We still have a few more weeks of lighting videos to go.
Edward Thayer
Edward Thayer - 9 years ago
Great video, extraordinary research and demonstration. Also easy to see what's going on the 160! especially with that matching hood. retro is awesome.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Edward Thayer ;) Thanks!
Brent L
Brent L - 9 years ago
I thought you said you wouldn't make me regret getting LED's!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Brent L Your best bet is to fashion an aluminum frame to support everything. I've seen some pretty cool ones before!
Brent L
Brent L - 9 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom fair enough, Is there a good way to combined a T5 with a pair of XR15's on a tank.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Brent L Haven't gotten to the LED episode yet :P
Dalton Clocks
Dalton Clocks - 9 years ago
Great and informative video! Unfortunately I removed my T5 lighting a little while ago and switched to a home built LED set up based on info from reef forums and it just seemed the way everybody was going. Now I have doubt. Crap! I hope you guys will provide a recommendation for the best lighting system when all the videos are done. I am looking forward to the other videos. Thanks.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Dalton Clocks I wouldn't make any drastic changes yet. We'll be selecting an option at the end that we think will be best for our system so stay tuned. :)
David Manzella
David Manzella - 9 years ago
This series is awesome!  I look forward to it every week.  I live in MPLS and was able to stop by to pick up my bulbs.  I'm a T5 guy and you gave me your personal recommendation for a 4 bulb system.  I couldn't be happier.  Now I'm thinking hybrid for shimmer!  Thanks for your research and information!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+David Manzella Awesome! Certainly happy to help, David :)
russmaleartist
russmaleartist - 9 years ago
A very thoroughly researched and well-explained review of T5 lighting.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+russmaleartist Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Ryan Walkoviak
Ryan Walkoviak - 9 years ago
The combo of LED and T5 really definitely makes the two test tanks look better and healthier, but I am wondering if this is attributed to a difference in PAR or spectrum. Do you have any additional data on this?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Ryan Walkoviak really could be a lot of different things. It is very possible with the right tuning of par and spectrum the LEDs would have ended up with the same result.


Fact is there are a lot of unknowns with aquarium lighting. The hobby hasn't honed in on a exact recipie of what is needed by different coral species. What we have done is honed in on some options that work and used personal experiences to keep elevating that success.


The current wave of LEDs has really expanded on the options LEDs offer to explore the possibilities with no limites on what you can do with the light sorce. Meaning it allows you to offer the wrong spectrum or 5 times the needed PAR . The next wave I think will be about removing options and replacing them with settings that work for the most people . Leaving an advanced tab for those that want to push the envelope. My guess is we are 2-3 years from something that really nails that and basicly anyone can be sucesfull like they can with t5 or halides .
Mr Alatalo
Mr Alatalo - 9 years ago
Good and informative as always! :-) thanks.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Martin Alatalo Thank you!
GENISIS1TWENTYONE
GENISIS1TWENTYONE - 9 years ago
Great video. I use a LED/T5 hybrid retrofitted into my canopy. In my opinion it is one the best options. https://youtu.be/t13yUI-wh3o
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+GENISIS1TWENTYONE Looking good!
9StickNate
9StickNate - 9 years ago
Whoa! I didn't realize that Geisemann made an all T5 fixture! I've been very happy with my Giesemann Spectra T5/Halide. Great quality.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+9StickNate Yeah, they're super nice!
Andrew Hales
Andrew Hales - 9 years ago
Love your channel. I have told all my friends about your site and videos. Keep them coming and thank you for your great work.

I LOVE the longer videos!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Andrew Hales No problem! The tank is 72" x 24" x 20"
Andrew Hales
Andrew Hales - 9 years ago
Quick question: If the Brs 160 is 6ft. long, how tall and wide is it? Thanks!!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Andrew Hales Thanks Andrew! That's awesome to hear.
Johan Coetser
Johan Coetser - 9 years ago
I may consider going back to T5
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Johan Coetser Ok, I gotcha. Do you have access to a PAR meter? You may be running too much intensity.
Johan Coetser
Johan Coetser - 9 years ago
Kessel a150w, corrals don't seem to thrive, perhaps to much light or the sky blue not the correct spectrum for a 45cm cube. had a lot of success with T5 over a planted tank
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Johan Coetser Cool! What are you running now?
Kyle O'Leary
Kyle O'Leary - 9 years ago
Thank you very much for all the great info. I always suspected that running hybrid lighting was the way to go, but thank you for confirming.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Kyle O'Leary No problem, and thank you for watching! Stay tuned the next couple weeks ;)
Reid Smith
Reid Smith - 9 years ago
(jet flies over head)
TJ Morehouse
TJ Morehouse - 9 years ago
Thoroughly enjoyed the video, my only problem is that I really wanna see all the other weeks on the other types of lighting, right now. I don't care if the video is 3 hours long, I would sit down and watch that start to finish.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+TJ Morehouse Haha, BRStv on Demand?
happy93384
happy93384 - 9 years ago
I always liked t5 starting my hobby I had 10 gallon tank under 36inch fixture I loved and then I got 75 gallon under led and I feel like quitting this hobby next year I get bigger tank and have t5 on it
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+happy93384 I wouldn't completely rule out LED since each light has it's advantages and disadvantages, but I can see where you're coming from.
Patty O'Grady
Patty O'Grady - 9 years ago
Incredible video. I learned a lot. Thank you!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Patty O'Grady Happy to help! Thanks for watching :)
coralinealgae
coralinealgae - 9 years ago
Outstanding video. You just gave the reef community so much useful information. Thank you.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+coralinealgae Thanks a ton, and thanks for watching :)
Merritt McDowell
Merritt McDowell - 9 years ago
the more info the better
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Merritt McDowell :P It was tough to cover everything!
Joseph Berthiaume
Joseph Berthiaume - 9 years ago
At the risk of outing myself as nuts, I've watched every BRS video to date (not just the BRS 160) and I can say with confidence that this one was the best. The testing methodologies were detailed and have real science behind them. The discussion was in depth. Basically, well done.

One minor quibble: testing with all ATI Aquablue Special's isn't very real world, so I think that somewhat hurts the "real world-ness" of the data. (Especially given that the ABS isn't too well liked anymore when compared to the Coral+) I would have preferred to see 3-4 ATI Blue+, 2-3 Coral+, and at least 1 ATI Actinic. But it's OK. I get what you were doing. The bottom line about T5 bulbs is that it's a personal choice.

As someone who saw his corals and clams fail and die miserably under LED's, I went to an ATI Sunpower 2 1/2 years ago and haven't looked back. I bolted a custom BML LED bar to the front for extra actinic-y ness, (405 nm and 450 nm diodes) and have been nothing but happy since. Also, another useful tip...the ATI Actinic bulbs are amazing.

I think I have a spidey-sense as to what conclusion you guys are building towards, and all I have to say is that if money isn't an object, cooling isn't an object, and I can build a nice pretty vented hood, if I ever get to do it over again, I'm building a triple threat hybrid -400w Radium (Luxcore ballasts) 4x T5 (ATI bulbs, Workhorse ballasts, ATI reflectors) and heavily actinic LED to form the Uber light. (tm)

Keep em coming!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Hydrogalaxy lol
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Joseph Berthiaume Wow! Thank you Joseph! We certainly appreciate it. I would stay tuned for the rest of the series; who knows, maybe your guess will be right! :P

100. comment for Week 19: Compelling data for using T5 lighting on your reef tank | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

Freddy Buitenhuis
Freddy Buitenhuis - 9 years ago
Hello Rian, don't you need oxygen talking????? Thanks for the video!!!!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Freddy Buitenhuis Haha! Thanks for watching :P
fadifanous
fadifanous - 9 years ago
I love your scientific aproach to testing aquarium products. great video keep it up. thank you BRS for your awesome contribution to the reefing hobby!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+fadifanous Thank you so much! We really appreciate it.
Brett Abbott
Brett Abbott - 9 years ago
My black clownfish bites my hand every time I put it in the tank. Couldn't imagine your clown tank. Like piranhas...... Hand goes in, skeleton comes out.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Brett Abbott That's why Chad maintains that tank. He's the clown whisperer! Haha.
aracely meraz
aracely meraz - 9 years ago
Amazing information, I just thought it was a bunch of bulbs.... mind blown. I can only imagine what the other lighting videos will cover.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+aracely meraz Thanks! It's great to hear that :)
R6Macedo
R6Macedo - 9 years ago
learn something new every day. never knew the logo side was the cool side thanks brs
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Roger Macedo Thanks! Happy to help :)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Hydrogalaxy - Thanks!
nick castellani
nick castellani - 9 years ago
Just like I said last week. T5 is the best. BY FAR. LEDs are a complete joke if you ask me. I made a bet 5 years ago when LED's blew up the scene. I said LED's have got another 20 years to go before they win me over. And they still have another 15 years to go in my opinion. One thing id like to point out, is that almost every informative video ive seen with LED in it says. "these will pay for themselves after about 5 years." Think on this for a minute. I know a lot of reefers, and NOT ONE of them kept the same LED set for more than 1 year. which means they bought another 700$ LED fixture a year after the first one. THEN bought ANOTHER 700$ LED fixture a year after that. SO while ive replaced 6 T5 bulbs 5 times for a total of 840$ in bulb replacement over 5 years. FIVE YEARS ive had my T5's. while the guy next to me has spent well over 3000$ on LEDs. All the while his tank has been subpar. And when I say "him", I mean everyone i know with LED's. So do you really think the LED fixtures pay for themselves? NO! They do not.

Thank you BRS for showing the world that LED's are a FAD. Thats right. A fleeting joke that the industry played on all of you. I think its pretty laughable that people now have to "switch back" or supplement their tanks with T5. You guys got taken to the cleaners!

Final note. DO NOT EVER BUY DIMMABLE T5 LIGHTS. NO NO NO NO NO!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+nick castellani Hey Nick! Appreciate the comment :) I would stay tuned because we'll be covering LED in a few weeks. LED and T5 are absolutely two different types of light and each have their own advantages and disadvantages, which is why hybridization might be the ultimate lighting solution.
Chase Vanover
Chase Vanover - 9 years ago
Very informative. I'm getting a new tank in a couple months and have been on the led bandwagon and had planned on getting the ap700 but you may have just changed my mind.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Chase Vanover I wish! These have been a blast to produce.
Chase Vanover
Chase Vanover - 9 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom alright alright I'll wait. Just put them up in the next couple days instead of next haha. I look forward to the weekly videos.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Chase Vanover Thanks! I wouldn't make any decisions quite yet since we still have a few more videos to go, but T5 is certainly a contender in today's aquarium lighting world. :)
brsund06
brsund06 - 9 years ago
Excellent video one of the best I've seen from you guys yet. One thing I was a little disappointed in was really only acknowledging ati and giesemann and leaving out pacific sun who has really hit the us market hard and has put out some incredible competition. I'm currently using the Bluetooth controllable 10x 80w diuna t5 and it is outstanding in terms of looks and build quality. I'd love to see you guys test this model like you did with the ati.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+brsund06 Very nice!
brsund06
brsund06 - 9 years ago
+BulkReefSupplyCom 300 dd, I'm just working on the sump room right now behind the display synergy just sent me a 72x20x16 sump. I live in duluth not far from you guys.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+brsund06 Nice! 250 Deep Dimension?
brsund06
brsund06 - 9 years ago
+Bulkreefsupply Com Good to know, they are spendy fixtures but its still early for them I'm sure as they grow the price will come down. I was never a fan of thr leds selected for a powermodule I thought the Pacific Sun offered a better led selection. I would have gone for a hybrid light however my tank is 3ft wide so I figured I'd just try out the 25" diuna and stick my 3 radions in the back and make my own hybrid.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+brsund06 Thanks a ton! Initially we did bring in a Pacific sun Hybrid T5 fixture for initial testing, and while it did offer some value, we felt like the Giesemann and ATI options offered more value. We appreciate the feedback! :)
gsacksmn
gsacksmn - 9 years ago
Unbelievable. That was by far the most in depth video or article on reef lighting that I've ever seen. You guys have really raised the bar (par?) I have had moderate success with my current LED only solution, which is a 4 foot off brand imported solution. I am looking forward to the rest of the lighting videos, and then I need to save up for a better fixture.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+gsacksmn Wow, thank you! This video was a lot of work to produce, so it's amazing to hear that.
wincod75
wincod75 - 9 years ago
Nice work guys!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+TheWincod75 Thanks!
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez - 9 years ago
So much for upgrading to LEDs when income tax comes in lol
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Juan Martinez Haha! I wouldn't make any decisions quite yet, we've only covered T5's so far ;)
Charles gilliland
Charles gilliland - 9 years ago
Great information for all the reef junkies out there! Y'all are doing great.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Charles gilliland Thank you Charles!
T Surro
T Surro - 9 years ago
Really great info, switched from t5 to Kessils for the shimmer but sps growth has slowed quite a bit!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+T “Kingofpipe” Surro Interesting! Were you able to "PAR match" the lights after switching to try and match them as close as possible?
shawnriv9
shawnriv9 - 9 years ago
I did the same thing before in the past. I switched to the Kessil 360W and saw barley any SPS growth. But I recently switched to the Radion XR30's and found the growth to be substantially better.
Spencer Brown
Spencer Brown - 9 years ago
Great long length and in-Depth video :)
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Spencer Brown Thanks! Glad you liked it.
TxAdamFitz
TxAdamFitz - 9 years ago
Wow you guys did your homework on this topic. Amazing details. Unfortunately your results are true. I switched from T5 to AI Hydras. While they are "cool" and visually appealing, the LPS isn't thriving like it used to. SPS is going great however.

I've tinkered around with light settings. Most recently frying the top layer of coral by going a little too high too long on the UV. Was much easier using t5. Letting the manufactures specify the proper spectrum, and allowing me to just enjoy our tank.

I have considered adding a few t5s to our hydra setup, or selling it off, going back to T5 with an LED strip for night time coral viewing.

Thanks for planting yet another bug in my head!

Adam
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+TxAdamFitz Thank you! This one was a blast to work on. I agree, sometimes I feel like there can be TOO much adjustment with some of the new lights nowadays. There's certainly value in something that just "works" out of the box. Stay tuned through the rest of these next couple episodes because we might have a solution that works for you.
Cjx0r
Cjx0r - 9 years ago
Yay! The new ATI's made it in!
Jeffery Hammer
Jeffery Hammer - 9 years ago
That was in depth, the whole 52 week thing is a class on Where We are at now.
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Jeffery Hammer Thanks!
Jesus S
Jesus S - 9 years ago
Hey brs how would I got about adding tour retrofit t5 kit to an open top reef? Aesthetics aren't important to me. Would I be able to ghetto rig a hanging kit to the retrofit kit?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Jesus S The most common way to do it is by building an aluminum frame to hold the lights. You can actually make them look pretty nice that way.
ibi nyth
ibi nyth - 9 years ago
LED Master Race!
Jay Wilson
Jay Wilson - 9 years ago
I want to add a Retro Kit to add to my LEDs. Which kit is shown in the video? Can you recommend a few if you can?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Jay Wilson Nice! There are a couple kits we mentioned in the video. If you're looking for something more DIY I'd recommend the LET kit:

http://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/search?view=grid&w=LET+LIGHTING+RETROFIT

If you want something that is a little more plug and play checkout the Hamilton:


http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hamilton-aruba-sun-v-series-t5-ho-fluorescent-retrofit-with-leds.html
gonefishingaquatics
gonefishingaquatics - 9 years ago
Some of the best reef keeps switch from high quality led back to t5. Why do you think rainbow acans keep their color with t5 and wash out with other lighting? T5 is the best
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+gonefishingaquatics Stay tuned for the LED video because I wouldn't entirely rule them out. There are tanks with LEDs out there that are able to keep acan coloration, so it's likely a combination of things that can attribute to that. :P
Tim Kotanko
Tim Kotanko - 9 years ago
Just when I make the switch to LED's you say start using some t5's again :P

It seemed from the video that you suggest using the actinic lighting only if you are using a hybrid option (led/t5 or halide/t5). Is that an accurate statement?
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Tim Kotanko I would stay tuned for the LED video as well. :) Personally, which bulbs you choose will highly depend on the look you are trying to achieve, however I would choose to run actinic or blue bulbs on pretty much any fixture. :) The reason why we used the Aquablue Special bulbs was to get a good solid baseline on PAR that others could relate to.
Johnny Elliott
Johnny Elliott - 9 years ago
Long but good and in-depth! Waiting patiently for a LED lighting review!
BulkReefSupplyCom
BulkReefSupplyCom - 9 years ago
+Johnny Elliott Thanks! This one was a blast to produce, so I'm just as excited!
RoboNarples2929
RoboNarples2929 - 9 years ago
Great video as always!

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