Best T5 Bulb For Coral Growth: Light Supplier’s Review

Coral Growth! Ah, we know how confusing this matter can be. What should you focus on? 

Perhaps, the bulbs are situated above the aquarium. 

To be honest, T5 bulbs are our recent favorite ones because of their ability to help coral life grow. But what’s the best T5 bulb for coral growth?

Well, that’s our topic for the day. We’ll review what you need to know about before purchasing this bulb.

But before that, we’ll go through all 5 products our experts have selected.

And don’t worry, they have spent an entire week going through all these products. So you can trust them. But wait, why go in blindly?

This is why we advise you to go through all the features and benefits of the products. And they will help you decide on the right one for you.

Now, if you’re ready to start the journey, we can commence-

Comparison Table

Product Overview

The winner of our little list is the Wane Point 01275 Super Blue 460 HO T-5. Now, we have some perfectly rational reason for making this one our top pick.

For instance, what we love about this bulb is that it’s a universal fit.

This means it’ll work with all the different fixture brands as long as they are of the correct size.

Speaking of size, these bulbs come in 36 inches sizes. Now, this is generally the length people go for when coming to buy a bulb for their fixture. But if it doesn’t fit yours, then that’s bad news.

Aside from all these, this bulb comes in a set of 4. So, you’ll get 4 pieces of the bulb in one go.

This way, you’ll be saving a few bucks as well. When buying individual bulbs, you might end up paying more.

Moreover, these bulbs are blue. They do contain other colors of the spectrum, like a little bit of red, green, and yellow, but their peak is at blue. That’s why you get blue-colored aquariums.

Now, this is extremely good for your corals. That’s because blue light is proven to help corals grow faster. Plus, the lumens per watt for this bulb are quite high, so it ensures that the corals have even growth.

Pros

• It fits in all types of fixtures
• Allows the corals to grow normally
• Saves money in a way
• It fits most of the common fixtures

Cons

• You have to buy 4 bulbs of the same brand

Product Overview

In the second place, we have the ATI 008407 48 Inch 54W Coral Plus T5HO. Yep, this one came close to being the winner.

But alas! It had to settle in 2nd place because it doesn’t fit all fixtures. But let’s see its features anyway. Who knows, it might suit you –

The most defining feature of this product is that it had the highest length out of all the bulbs present here. You see, they have a size of 48 inches.

It’s quite a lot. And if you want to cover a large aquarium, it’s the one for you.

This long length will also ensure that all parts of the aquarium get covered by the light so that all the corals get their fair share of light for their growth. But they do require a lot of power input.

To be exact, they need a power output of 54W. Although you’ll be wasting a lot of electrical energy on this bulb, it’ll give you some nice results.

Plus, this bulb’s color falls in the blue spectrum. Since blue is more prominent for this product, the corals grow steadily because of it. You see, blue is the right color for optimum coral growth.

Pros

• It can cover most big aquariums
• Ensures coral growth
• The growth is steady

Cons

• It consumes a lot of electrical energy

Product Overview

In third place, we have the Coralife  100180403 HOT5. This one might not be our top pick.

But it’s a great T5 bulb that has its way of promoting coral reefs. Let’s find out how it does this magic-

Well, before we dive into the actual features, let’s just point out the fact that this bulb comes in 2 different sizes. One is 24 inches, and the other is 30 inches.

So you can choose the size you need for your coral reef.

Other than this, the Coralife bulbs emit a white light that helps promote the growth of coral reefs. It’s one of the colors most experts go for because it is proven to help the coral reefs in the tanks.

It works on the saltwater, reef, and other types of plants present in the aquarium. So, you can rest assured that the living things in your aquarium will grow fully.

Plus, this bulb can ensure that the plant grows healthily. That’s a real catch if you ask us.

Moreover, these T5 bulbs use low power, like 24W and 30W. So, it’s actually being very efficient in saving energy. Plus, since you want your coral reef to grow fully, you’ll keep the lights on for longer hours.

So, the low power input helps because it saves the energy required by the bulb.

Pros

• You get to pick between two sizes
• Works on all the living things in the aquarium
• The corals have a healthy growth
• Illuminates the entire aquarium

Cons

• The size can be too small for some fixtures

Product Overview

Moving on, we have another product that we want to show you. And this is the Zoo Med CL554 420 Coral Bulb T5.

If you’re unsatisfied with the rest of the bulbs, this will impress you. Besides, it’s quite budget-friendly.

You see, it comes at a very reasonable price. But don’t go ahead and think that it doesn’t offer much.

This bulb surely puts a lot on the table. Well, firstly, it evenly distributes the light throughout the aquarium.

This way, they ensure that the corals have an even amount of light. So, all parts of the coral grow equally.

Plus, the color of this bulb has a 420 nm wavelength. This falls in the blue spectrum. And you might know this, but the best color that supports coral is blue.

Hence the growth of the coral reef will be maximum. Plus, they will be quite healthy when they grow. However, it’s not the only blue bulb on our list, but it is a good choice.

Lastly, the quality of the T5 bulb is quite good. Since it’s manufactured in Germany, you can count on the bulb to be durable.

Pros

• It’s budget-friendly
• The bulbs are durable
• Supports coral growth

Cons

• It consumes a lot of energy

Product Overview

At the end of the list, we have the Fluval A1669 T5 Aquarium Fluorescent Bulb. Now, we know that this bulb is the last product but wait. It still has some great features that are worth checking out.

Firstly, this is the only product on our list that emits green light. Yeah, well, this bulb contains most of the color of the spectrum. But it has a peak at 540 nm wavelength. So, the bulb turns into a shade of green.

Now, since it contains a lot of colors from the spectrum, like- red, yellow, orange, and blue, it’s quite good for the coral reefs. It ensures that the coral reef has good and normal growth.

Additionally, due to all the colors, this bulb emits light like the sun. So, you can see the corals having a natural habitat in the aquarium.

It also promotes the photosynthesis process for the corals and other plants in the aquarium. So, the corals will stay healthy since they’ll be able to produce their food regularly.

Plus, the power emitted by this bulb is quite high. And it can reach all the parts of the aquarium. Hence, this will ensure that the coral reefs grow evenly.

Pros

• It produces green lights to help make the aquarium look good
• The presence of other colors promotes coral growth
• It makes the corals feel like they’re under the sun

Cons

• It doesn’t come in other sizes

 

Buying Guide

Woah, that was a lot of info in one go. But if you’re reading this, you might still be confused about what to buy. Well, that is understandable.

Plus, we’re here to have your back, my friends. That’s why we compiled a list of things you need to be aware of before buying a T5 Bulb for the coral lives.

Color of The Bulbs

The first thing to look into is the color of the bulb. Yep, they come in all colors, so you must make the right choice here.

We know you’ll want to play with the colors to make the aquarium more lovely.

However, to make the aquarium optimum for coral growth, you can engage with all the colors of the spectrum. That means you need a hint of red, orange, yellow, green, violet, indigo, and blue.

But the main focus should be on blue. You see, they encourage the growth of the coral reef.

Fun fact- we, humans, require white color for our growth.

Number of Bulbs Your Need

Another thing you need to decide on is the number of bulbs you’ll get. You see, there are typically two channels in the fixture. One channel supports exactly 2 bulbs.

But the other one can support 4, 6, or even 8 bulbs. The first chamber is used to control the color during dawn time. The others are used for other times.

So, you need to check your fixture and see how many bulbs it requires. After that, you know how many to get. Simple right?

Position of The Bulbs

Next up, you need to figure out the position of the bulbs. You know, you won’t work with simply one bulb, right?

You’ll have to buy a few to fill the channels in the fixture. Now, to save a few bucks, you can buy the premium ones and put them in the middle, where they will get more active space.

And use the remaining ones for the other channels. This way, your coral reef will get more premium quality light to grow on. Trust us; you’ll thank us later.

The Temperature of The Bulbs

Moving on, the temperature of the bulbs plays a significant role. You see, each bulb emits a different amount of heat.

Although the T5 bulbs are known to not emit too much, they can be a bit too intense at times.

Most of the time, the T5 bulbs have a 6500 Kelvin temperature. But those are the best ones for the growth of coral reefs.

But, if you want to save a few bucks, you can buy the ones that emit 3000K. They work too.

Matching Fixture Size

Another important criterion to pay heed to is the size of the bulbs. Now, the diameter of all the T5 bulls is 5/8-Inch, but their vertical size varies. So, that makes the decision a bit tricky.

You see, you need to find the right size for your fixture.

Otherwise, the bulb won’t fit in, and it won’t be able to do its job. And in the end, you’ll have to re-order the whole thing again.

Hence, if you don’t want to go through the hassle, we suggest that you take a look at the size you want to begin with. It’ll save a ton of extra work.

Control Over the Lights

Lastly, try to look for lights that you can control of your own will. This will give you the power to turn the desired lights on separately.

By that, we mean you won’t have one switch that controls all the lights in the fixture.

You’ll be able to play with the lights that you want. And they will listen to your words.

Optimum Usage Time: How Much Do You Need Exactly?

Now, you don’t have to keep the lights on all day long. Even those hard-working bulbs need some break from time to time. But you do want longer hours so that they can fully grow.

You need to give the plants at least 9 hours of bulb time. This is the right amount that will allow the coral reefs to grow fully.

At the same time, it’ll ensure that the bulb works for a longer period.

By the way, the T5 bulbs have a lifetime of more than 20,000 hours. So, you can count on the bulbs to last for ages.

FAQs

Question: How much light do corals need a day?

Answer: The corals need at least 9 to 10 hours of light throughout the day to grow properly.

Now, this can be either sunlight or artificial lights like T5 bulbs. Otherwise, they might even wither away or stop in growth.

Question: Is T5 lighting good for corals?

Answer: The pros say that light that T5 emits doesn’t match the halide level needed by corals. But they still work for coral growth.

Question: How often should I change my T5 bulbs?

Answer: Now, if you follow our advice and let the bulb run for 9 hours a day, it’ll fully grow. And it’ll last for 9 to 12 years.

So, after that, you can change the bulbs and get some new ones for your reef tank.

Question: Do T5 bulbs get hot?

Answer: Yes, T5 bulbs do get hot from time to time. This is because they have a small diameter that emits light.

Especially the ends. They have cathodes that tend to heat up the bulbs.

Conclusion

Well, guys, that’s all we have on the best T5 bulb for coral growth. Now, we know that we have presented a lot of info.

But we do hope that these info points helped you decide on what you want.