The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[teog]

5 Actinic Plus, 2 Midday and a Aquapink or whatever they call it.

Hey grim, what order would you put these in?

 

[Howebomber]

6 bulb t5 fixture

6 bulb t5 fixture

Hi grim. I am new here and you appear to be the resident expert so hoping you can help. I have 90 gallon tank with some corals, a few true onyx percula clowns, yellow tang, etc. just wondering what 6 bulb combo would produce some nice overall color. I have already ordered a few ati blue+, one purple plus. Should I get the ge 6500 or kz generation that I see you recommending? In what order would help too. Thanks.

 

[pitmindi]

I have a 90 gallon 48" x 18 with a 5" DSB and a 4 lamp Aquatic Life T5HO fixture with individual reflectors plus a 2 lamp Coralife aqualight t5 without individual reflectors. I am buying replacement lamps (bulbs) and would like a suggestion about what brand and color to buy. I have a picture of my tank. I read somewhere that a green lamp might be good to bring out the florescence of green corals. I also wonder about a lamp with a red color to accent the red corals and the xenia. Or should I get blue + and actinic only? Please help because I dont understand the lighting spectrum concepts and K ratings. What 6 bulbs would be best for coral health and viewing? Thank you for any help.

 

[Michigan Mike]

What kind of tank do you want to have? A bright sunny looking one or a deep water blue that focuses more on your corals flourescence ?
GE6500 is very bright and will overpower quite a few blue bulbs.
I like the growing power of the ge6500 but I'm leaning towards more blue lately.
My ATI SUNPOWER is scorching some corals with the ge6500 so I removed it nd added a low par ATI actinic and love the new blue-purple color, a blue plus & actinicis great for dawn/dusk.

 

[matt888]

Hi Grim,
I will be running a 72" Geisemann Spectra with 3x400w Radiums and 4 T5's over a standard 210g. SPS heavy. Configuration of fixture is as follows:

T5
T5
MH MH MH
T5
T5

Should I run Blue Plus' for all of the T5's? Rock work will be in the bottom half of the tank for the most part and 210g tanks are 5" deeper than a standard 180g. I do prefer a slightly darker, blue appearance, and wish to maximize growth. Thanks!

 

[NastyZ]

I really like it. Have had it for 6 yrs and never had a problem. Just pricey changing out 14 bulbs. I need to get into a pattern of changing out a few every couple months so I am not hit with a $300 charge every yr. Then again, I buy at ReefGeek so free shipping over $200. Wish I had a local supplier.

Yea I bet 14bulbs would be two yrs for me can't wait to get the light should be in on Wednesday gonna take some par readings aswell

 

[NastyZ]

Hey grim had a couple ?s For u funny that this fixture is being mentioned after not being able to fine much info on it all iv gathered is that it's a good fixture talking about the aquatinic constellation wht is ur over impression of the fixture and performance I'm in the process of getting one second ? Is what do u think of this bulb combo since its coming with practically new bulbs

All giesemann bulbs

5 actinic plus
1 aqua blue plus
1 pure actinic

Thanks

Also Grimm the pervious owner said this is the closest to 20k radium with t5
And that you recommended this bulb combo jut wanted to confirm

 

[Michigan Mike]

Yea I bet 14bulbs would be two yrs for me can't wait to get the light should be in on Wednesday gonna take some par readings aswell

With the money for 14 new bulbs I would invest it in a used 6x80w ATI sunpower. Less bulbs to change and way more powerful. Even with it being shorter it is better.

 

[NastyZ]

Way more powerful?? Are you sure about that or are you just saying from wht uv read and I don't see many 6x80w ati fixtures for sale and if there were some there not going for less then 350-400 so how long would it take for u to saw money really 2-3yrs?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim, what order would you put these in?

Pink just front of center with a midday also front and rear of center but not the first or last lamp.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi grim. I am new here and you appear to be the resident expert so hoping you can help. I have 90 gallon tank with some corals, a few true onyx percula clowns, yellow tang, etc. just wondering what 6 bulb combo would produce some nice overall color. I have already ordered a few ati blue+, one purple plus. Should I get the ge 6500 or kz generation that I see you recommending? In what order would help too. Thanks.

Get 4 Blue Plus, the purple and the GE lamp. Should pop corals and make the yellow tang shine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

00ps

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 90 gallon 48" x 18 with a 5" DSB and a 4 lamp Aquatic Life T5HO fixture with individual reflectors plus a 2 lamp Coralife aqualight t5 without individual reflectors. I am buying replacement lamps (bulbs) and would like a suggestion about what brand and color to buy. I have a picture of my tank. I read somewhere that a green lamp might be good to bring out the florescence of green corals. I also wonder about a lamp with a red color to accent the red corals and the xenia. Or should I get blue + and actinic only? Please help because I dont understand the lighting spectrum concepts and K ratings. What 6 bulbs would be best for coral health and viewing? Thank you for any help.

WASH YOUR STAND

4 ATI Blue Plus 1 Purple Plus and a Coral Plus. It will make that think light up like the Vegas strip

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
I will be running a 72" Geisemann Spectra with 3x400w Radiums and 4 T5's over a standard 210g. SPS heavy. Configuration of fixture is as follows:

T5
T5
MH MH MH
T5
T5

Should I run Blue Plus' for all of the T5's? Rock work will be in the bottom half of the tank for the most part and 210g tanks are 5" deeper than a standard 180g. I do prefer a slightly darker, blue appearance, and wish to maximize growth. Thanks!

I'd make the 2nd row Purple plus and the other three Blue Plus. It will look cool with just the T5's on

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Way more powerful?? Are you sure about that or are you just saying from wht uv read and I don't see many 6x80w ati fixtures for sale and if there were some there not going for less then 350-400 so how long would it take for u to saw money really 2-3yrs?

The 6x80 ATI would have better output as far as peak PAR. It's a better design for reflectors and cooling. The only advantage yours would have would be at the very ends because your lamps cover the last 6 inches the 60" lamps miss. I had a 48 Constellation for a while. It went Bye Bye when I got the Sunpower.

 

[jacob.morgan78]

Hey grim, do you have another thread where you talk about your tank/leds? Or can I just ask here how your tank is doing? I know you loved your leds... do you still?

 

[NastyZ]

What bout the bun combo Grimm

All giesemann bulbs

5 actinic plus
1 aqua blue plus
1 pure actinic

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Still have them and other than the hair algae outbreak from hell everything is great.

Getting good growth out of the Montis and the colors still look good. Never going back.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What bout the bun combo Grimm

All giesemann bulbs

5 actinic plus
1 aqua blue plus
1 pure actinic

It will look washed out. Use a Midday instead of the Aquablue.

 

[NastyZ]

The 6x80 ATI would have better output as far as peak PAR. It's a better design for reflectors and cooling. The only advantage yours would have would be at the very ends because your lamps cover the last 6 inches the 60" lamps miss. I had a 48 Constellation for a while. It went Bye Bye when I got the Sunpower.

It will look washed out. Use a Midday instead of the Aquablue.

Ok what bulb would that be in an ati bulb my LFS doesn't carry giesemann also is this a good combo