The T5 Q&a Thread - split

We need a sticky that suggests the most used and "best" over all configuration for all fixtures. A 4,6,8,10,and 12 combination.
We could do a 18-20K look
and a 10-15K look
Even though these are commonly found on the internet, it would be useful to be posted on the forum no?

ATI North America has this already. You can interchange the bulbs from each manufacture with little to no change in look.
 
What do u guys think of the life of the bulbs and changing schedule?

Non cooled bulbs change every 4-6 months.

Semi cooled bulbs can go 8-9 months.

Properly cooled can go 12 months if you really want to. I've seen some white bulbs go 18 months although I don't recommend that.

Blue and actinic bulbs degrade the quickest.
 
Two questions

1) i want to upgrade my 48" retro t5 reflectors. I dont know the current reflectors(bought used) but know they are far from the best. Any suggestion on new reflectors?

2)I have been using 4-48" ati bulbs on a icecapp 660 ballast for two years(B+,P+,C+,B+).
Im tossing the idea of using 2-B+ and 2-C+ but think that might be too white.
I wouldnt mind a little bluer look. Should i go 3-B+ 1-C+? or should i keep the P+ and lose the C+?

Any suggestions on bulb combo?

LET reflectors from reefgeek are the best retro reflectors.

3 blue and a coral should be good. You'd be better off changing ballasts and getting the true colors from the bulbs.
 
Ryan don't you run 2 Blue 2 Coral? I'm still itching to ditch the Purple+ for either the Coral or Blue+... not sure which...
 
How important is the bulb placement in the fixture ? I have an 8bulb ati sunpower fixture in a tank that is 24 in front to back. Any good reading on info on best place to place bulbs?
 
Going to an ATI LED powermodule. It is the 4x24w plus the LEDs.

I'll probably go 2 blue,1 actinic and either a coral plus or purple plus.

I will decide my final lineup when I see what the LEDs do.
 
Any thoughts on why the ATI over the Pacific Sun?

The Pac Sun module seems a lot more controllable with their iphone/android/web software with bluetooth and wifi. Also the Pac Sun is kind of better looking and their LED setup is cutting edge. The reflectors look really great and are probably on PAR (pun intended) with ATI.
 
Any thoughts on why the ATI over the Pacific Sun?

The Pac Sun module seems a lot more controllable with their iphone/android/web software with bluetooth and wifi. Also the Pac Sun is kind of better looking and their LED setup is cutting edge. The reflectors look really great and are probably on PAR (pun intended) with ATI.

First and foremost: I'm reviewing the ATI.

Secondly, I hate pacific sun with a passion because of their old distributor. Without going into a ton of detail, they told me I should be banned because I called them out for false advertising. Of which, I had all the proof in the world they were knowingly advertising false information just to bump sales.
 
Good day everyone. I'm looking for some advice about T5 tubes to run that will complement my DIY LED system. The LED fixtures are "full spectrum" meaning that I've got neutral whites, royal blues, OCWs (red, green and blue on a single chip), and violets. The result is a fairly balanced 20k look and decent blending with the use of 103 point light sources.

I'm keeping a 90 gallon SPS tank and wanted to add a bit more light in the blue spectrum. I chose to install a single T5 bulb on either side of the LED heatsinks, instead of adding more royal blues, hoping they would provide more "broad" coverage to compliment the point sources.

Got a ballast off of a local reefer but it is unmarked so I have no idea what it is. Anyways, I've been trying a couple of random bulbs that I managed to acquire from other reefers. ATI Purple+, Coralife Actinic, CurrentUSA Actinic, and a 6400k bulb (can't remember the brand).

I would like to add bulbs that have high par and lots of blue/purple. Well, maybe not purple because the Purple+ I added resulted in too much red/white (due in part to my OCW LEDs I think). I like the look of having the two actinics installed, but I know they are pretty crappy bulbs that don't put out much PAR. Looking for recommendations! Possibly 2 Blue+ bulbs??

Oh and I'm running the bulbs at the peak of my lighting schedule, coming on just after the white LEDs peak and ending just before the whites dim. The LEDs run from about noon till 9, with a half hour to one hour ramp up/down on each colour.
 
First and foremost: I'm reviewing the ATI.

Secondly, I hate pacific sun with a passion because of their old distributor. Without going into a ton of detail, they told me I should be banned because I called them out for false advertising. Of which, I had all the proof in the world they were knowingly advertising false information just to bump sales.

I do wish they had a 4x 24 watt available instead of only 2x on their smaller fixture. I think I'm planning to switch out next year for the Pac Sun from my 8 bulb sunpower.

I'm going to add 2x GLO Single T5 HO Fixtures to my 8 bulb so I can get some light in shooting perpendicular mounted on the tank, pretty great they can be angled. I'll probably be running UVL Actinics or more blue pluses, not sure yet in those.
 
Good day everyone. I'm looking for some advice about T5 tubes to run that will complement my DIY LED system. The LED fixtures are "full spectrum" meaning that I've got neutral whites, royal blues, OCWs (red, green and blue on a single chip), and violets. The result is a fairly balanced 20k look and decent blending with the use of 103 point light sources.

I'm keeping a 90 gallon SPS tank and wanted to add a bit more light in the blue spectrum. I chose to install a single T5 bulb on either side of the LED heatsinks, instead of adding more royal blues, hoping they would provide more "broad" coverage to compliment the point sources.

Got a ballast off of a local reefer but it is unmarked so I have no idea what it is. Anyways, I've been trying a couple of random bulbs that I managed to acquire from other reefers. ATI Purple+, Coralife Actinic, CurrentUSA Actinic, and a 6400k bulb (can't remember the brand).

I would like to add bulbs that have high par and lots of blue/purple. Well, maybe not purple because the Purple+ I added resulted in too much red/white (due in part to my OCW LEDs I think). I like the look of having the two actinics installed, but I know they are pretty crappy bulbs that don't put out much PAR. Looking for recommendations! Possibly 2 Blue+ bulbs??

Oh and I'm running the bulbs at the peak of my lighting schedule, coming on just after the white LEDs peak and ending just before the whites dim. The LEDs run from about noon till 9, with a half hour to one hour ramp up/down on each colour.

I would go with 2 Blue+ or UVL Actinics which actually put out a lot of PAR.

Keep in mind though, PAR is important but PUR is the true stat you need to worry about.
 
Good day everyone. I'm looking for some advice about T5 tubes to run that will complement my DIY LED system. The LED fixtures are "full spectrum" meaning that I've got neutral whites, royal blues, OCWs (red, green and blue on a single chip), and violets. The result is a fairly balanced 20k look and decent blending with the use of 103 point light sources.

I'm keeping a 90 gallon SPS tank and wanted to add a bit more light in the blue spectrum. I chose to install a single T5 bulb on either side of the LED heatsinks, instead of adding more royal blues, hoping they would provide more "broad" coverage to compliment the point sources.

Got a ballast off of a local reefer but it is unmarked so I have no idea what it is. Anyways, I've been trying a couple of random bulbs that I managed to acquire from other reefers. ATI Purple+, Coralife Actinic, CurrentUSA Actinic, and a 6400k bulb (can't remember the brand).

I would like to add bulbs that have high par and lots of blue/purple. Well, maybe not purple because the Purple+ I added resulted in too much red/white (due in part to my OCW LEDs I think). I like the look of having the two actinics installed, but I know they are pretty crappy bulbs that don't put out much PAR. Looking for recommendations! Possibly 2 Blue+ bulbs??

Oh and I'm running the bulbs at the peak of my lighting schedule, coming on just after the white LEDs peak and ending just before the whites dim. The LEDs run from about noon till 9, with a half hour to one hour ramp up/down on each colour.

2 blue plus, 2 kz superblue or 1 blue and 1 coral plus.

The kz blue bulbs seem to be a touch more blue and less green than the blue plus.
 
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