Aqua Medic Aqualine T5 Reef Blue 24w

Description

Aqua Medic Aqualine T5 Reef Blue 24W — 420 nm blue T5 HO tube for nano and 60 cm reef aquariums

A small reef under white light alone looks flat, and the corals miss the blue that reaches them on a natural reef. Aqua Medic Aqualine T5 Reef Blue 24W (SKU: AB88700) is the 24 W, 55 cm blue tube in Aqua Medic’s aqualine T5 range, a high-output (HO) fluorescent lamp made for saltwater aquaria. Aqua Medic states that it emits almost exclusively blue light between 400 and 500 nm, peaking at 420 nm, and that these wavelengths enhance the growth of many coral species. Reef Builders, testing the range, recorded the same 400 to 500 nm band and 420 nm peak. At 55 cm it fits fixtures over tanks of about 60 cm, the size of most nano and small reef set-ups that still run T5.

Reef Blue is not meant to light a tank on its own: Aqua Medic’s advice is to combine it with Reef White 10K or Reef White 15K, which together give the aquarium a natural appearance. In a two-tube 60 cm fixture that usually means one Reef Blue with one white; a four-tube unit allows two of each, with the blues often run on their own circuit for a dawn and dusk period. The deep blue is also the light that brings out the fluorescent pigments in many corals, which is why the tank looks so different when only the blue tubes are on. The lamp uses G5 bi-pin ends and needs a 24 W T5 HO ballast; the 14 W standard-output T5 is the same length, so go by the fixture’s rating. Reef keepers commonly renew T5 tubes every nine to twelve months as output fades, one tube at a time.

Usage & Application

When to Use

• Nano and 60 cm reefs: Fixtures that take a 55 cm, 24 W T5 HO tube.
• Adding blue to a white fixture: Partnering Reef White 10K or 15K.
• Dawn and dusk: A blue-only period on a separately switched circuit.
• Coral fluorescence: Bringing out the glow of fluorescent coral pigments.

Installation & Setup Guide

• Confirm the rating: A 24 W T5 HO ballast with G5 sockets at 55 cm.
• Power down: Switch off and let the old tube cool before changing it.
• Fit and seal: Seat the pins fully and refit any splash-proof end caps.
• Acclimatise corals: After a change, shorten the photoperiod for a week or two as the new tube is brighter.

Product Specifications & Highlights

Key Features

• 420 nm peak: Almost all output between 400 and 500 nm.
• Coral growth: Wavelengths Aqua Medic says enhance many coral species.
• 55 cm, 24 W: Sized for nano and small reef fixtures.
• Pairs with Reef White: 10K or 15K for a natural look.
• Standard G5 ends: Fits any 24 W T5 HO fixture.

Product Details

• Brand: Aqua Medic (Germany)
• SKU: AB88700
• Barcode (GTIN/EAN): 4025901116540
• Product Type: Lighting > T5 HO Fluorescent Tube (Marine Blue)
• Lamp Type: T5 high output (HO) fluorescent, 16 mm diameter, G5 bi-pin
• Power: 24 W
• Length: About 55 cm (549 mm standard T5 HO length)
• Spectrum: 400–500 nm, peak 420 nm
• Recommended Partner: Aqua Medic aqualine T5 Reef White 10K or 15K
• Suits: Fixtures over aquariums of about 60 cm
• Other Sizes: Reef Blue 54w (AB88702); Reef Blue 80w (AB88703)
• Target Environment: Marine reef aquariums