The T5 Q&a Thread - split

Huntor0 said:
Hello Grim and everyone,

I am in the market for a 36" t5 hanging fixture in the next few months. Is there anything new coming out in t5's or should I just focus on the ATI and Tek Elite fixtures currently available?

Tank size is 36x24x20 up and running great for 2 years
Mainly LPS and softies but would like a few SPS

My LFS recommends the Tek 36" 6x39w with Giesemann bulbs that they sell locally. My thoughts from reading this thread as well as others is to look at maybe using an 8x39w ATI fixture with ATI bulbs. What would be recommended for my tank size and depth?
Click to expand...

If you are hanging the fixture I'd do ATI for sure because it can be higher above the tank. If your tank is only 20 inches front to back I'd go with a 6 lamp power module.
 
ctniners said:
I was here a while ago and let me first say thanks to The Grimm and everybody else for your help.

So here is my issue....this is what i have right now

40 gal breeder

All SPS (all small frags)

2 x 120 W Chinese LEDs

2 x 39 W ATI Blue Plus bulbs...one in front one in back to add some blue...the fixture for these bulbs was a cheap T5 marine depot fixture so i doubt im getting the full power of those ATI bulbs

All the lights are about 6 inches from the water

So here are my questions:

1. I am not liking the color im getting..i would prefer a light that can show more purples and blues and greens..etc....in my basement i have a Current USA NOVA Extreme Plus 6 bulbs 39w fixture...im aware that these are not as good as the ATI or TEKS but im wondering if setting that up with a better combination of bulbs would give me a better look?

2. Is it worth it or should i just stick with what i have unless i can upgrade to a better T5 fixture?

3. My only issue is the price..some full expectrum LEDs cost as much as the ATI

4. In terms of power comsumption i assume the T5 will use more

thanks for the help everybody
Click to expand...

Throw the extreme on with 4 ATI Blue Plus 1 Purple Plus and a Coral Plus.
 
rjinct said:
Hi Grim. Pulled this off your great website... How would you (or maybe you wouldn't) change this up now? Just picked up one of these used. thanks!

"7 lamp Aquactinics fixture

Blue
Actinic White
Blue
ATI Purple Plus or Fiji Purple
Blue
GE Daylight
Blue

This was my favorite mix when I had the Constellation fixture. Lamps 3&5 came on first for Dusk/Dawn, then lamps 1, 4 and 7 which gives a brighter blue look but still subdued and 2 and 6 for midday."
Click to expand...

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
 
jgraz said:
Well it's time to change my bulbs in my Tek 8x54. The current assortment which I got the fixture with is front B+,B+,AB,B+,GE,AB,PureAtinic,B+. I definatly want to change this up. I keep mostly SPS from about mid tank and up in a standard 90gal. With some LPS scattered about. I was considering this
Front
Blue+
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+
GE 6500K
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+
Does this sound like a good combo? Are there any changes that you would make? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
 
nichthyes said:
EMERGENCY: I had some water pour into the side of my ballast because I was being an idiot and holding it over the open tank and it slipped into the water. I caught it before too much damage occured, and the lights when off, and then came back on. The switches on the back did get wet, but i don't think the terminals got wet. only the left back corner got wet, not the whole ballast. I've had it in front of a fan drying since it happened 4 hrs ago and I'm afraid to plug it in and turn it on . . . ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? I'm worried about salt corrosion . . . HELP!!!
Click to expand...

Same thing happened to me. If it is an Icecap ballast, send it in to Coralvue.com for repair. I think it was $60.
 
nichthyes said:
EMERGENCY: I had some water pour into the side of my ballast because I was being an idiot and holding it over the open tank and it slipped into the water. I caught it before too much damage occured, and the lights when off, and then came back on. The switches on the back did get wet, but i don't think the terminals got wet. only the left back corner got wet, not the whole ballast. I've had it in front of a fan drying since it happened 4 hrs ago and I'm afraid to plug it in and turn it on . . . ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? I'm worried about salt corrosion . . . HELP!!!
Click to expand...

If it's a metal cased ballast you should be able to pop the top. Unplug if first of course but pop the top and make sure the insides are completely dry and see what happens. As long as you didn't let the magic smoke out it should be OK. Just make sure to wipe it dry, you don't want salt residue in there.
 
Getting close to bulb replacement time. Mostly LPS/soft, but a few SPS here and there.

Current combo in the Tek 6 bulb fixture front to back:

Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+
AB Special
Blue+

I think that's how it goes. The outer Blue+ bulbs serve as the dawn/dusk.

Aiming for more of a 20k look this time probably. Would it be comparable to do 4 Blue+ and 2 Coral+? I'd try one Blue+ and one Coral+ as the dawn/dusk this time instead of the two blues.

If that doesn't seem like it will hit what I'm aiming for, please advise.

Thanks!
 
Grim,
So I took your advice and ordered my 5 new bulbs, 4 blue+, 1 purple+.

How many hours should I leave them on each day? I have a Soft/LPS tank and will probably add a few SPS in the future.
 
Hey Grim and everyone. Thanks for always answering my questions and help over the years. Anyway, I just noticed that GE makes a 6500k Starcoat t5 bulb. What's the difference between the Starcoat and the Daylight, or are they the same?
 
KJoFan said:
Getting close to bulb replacement time. Mostly LPS/soft, but a few SPS here and there.

Current combo in the Tek 6 bulb fixture front to back:

Blue+
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+
AB Special
Blue+

I think that's how it goes. The outer Blue+ bulbs serve as the dawn/dusk.

Aiming for more of a 20k look this time probably. Would it be comparable to do 4 Blue+ and 2 Coral+? I'd try one Blue+ and one Coral+ as the dawn/dusk this time instead of the two blues.

If that doesn't seem like it will hit what I'm aiming for, please advise.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'd swap the aquablue for another Blue Plus
 
jackers said:
Grim,
So I took your advice and ordered my 5 new bulbs, 4 blue+, 1 purple+.

How many hours should I leave them on each day? I have a Soft/LPS tank and will probably add a few SPS in the future.
Click to expand...

You want all the lights on as much as 10 hours depending and your dusk/dawn as much as 12 hours.
 
Michigan Mike said:
Hoping you have the answer...
What's the PAR of:
Coral plus
Purple plus

Can't seem to find them
Click to expand...

Depends what unit they are run in and how far away from the water, how deep the tank etc. Purple plus doesn't have a huge amount and the Coral plus I've never bothered to measure because the Blue Plus have so much PAR it really doesn't matter. I suspect they are a little less than a Aquablue which is good PAR.
 
canesfan44 said:
Hey Grim and everyone. Thanks for always answering my questions and help over the years. Anyway, I just noticed that GE makes a 6500k Starcoat t5 bulb. What's the difference between the Starcoat and the Daylight, or are they the same?
Click to expand...

Don't know if they are the same but the starcoat is the new "daylight" lamp.
 
Swap Ecoxotic LEDs for 4 bulb Tek Light?

Swap Ecoxotic LEDs for 4 bulb Tek Light?

Hello Grim, et al.

I have an 85 G tank that is 48x18x22.

It is currently lit with 10 Ecoxotic LED strip lights, 5 of them of the 12W Gen 1 varietal and 5 of them the Gen 2 19W varietal. In short, I basically don't like them as much as I liked the VHOs on my old 85G tank. This tank came with the LEDs though, so I have stuck with them for awhile.

I found today that I have access to a 4 bulb 48" Tek Light and was wondering what your thoughts are on replacing my LEDs with this 4 bulb Tek. I have mostly LPS and softies with a few lower light SPS.

Do you think the 4 bulb Tek would be enough over my 48x18 footprint and if so, thoughts on bulb combo?

I was thinking maybe something like all ATI bulbs with 2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus, and 1 Aqua Blue Plus.

Or maybe Gieseman bulbs with 2 Blue+ and 2 Actinic+ but worried about it being too blue, not enough light , etc.

Mostly, I am concerned with the viability of a 4 bulb Tek to replace the LEDs.
 
Last edited:
I just purchased a couple ge bulbs from reefgeek and they say ecolux on them, I too am curios about the difference. One of the pictures of the starcoat I've seen in the past said made in Hungary but the ecolux I just got say made in china.
 
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