rtparty
Raise The Reef!
There is zero shortage for 24" bulbs! Every major manufacture makes them....
The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
- Start date
There is zero shortage for 24" bulbs! Every major manufacture makes them....
TropTrea
New member
Different corals have different lighting needs. Blue light is a comon denominator and when you get to deep water corals it is the only light they need. Shallow water colras on the other hand need not only more light but a wider spectrum of light. SPS corals generaly on the market today are usualy from the shallower waters but not always.
Therefore the Blue light is necessary for good coral growth. The fuller spctrum light is needed in only a small precetage of the total picture. Therefore most tanks are deeper blue. The full spectrum lighting is added by many to reduce the blue effect however if should not be added in excess as some corals are sensative to excessive light expecialy in the red end of the spectrum.
In your aces the 3 bulbs are on the edge of of maximium toal light. So you should not go with a 10,000K white look as you would probably be pushing the max amount of red light that many corals can handle. But putting in a bulb with a combination of white and blue will break up the blue look look enough for you to use blue and/or Atinic light in the other two slots.
With your present set up my thoughts for an economical improvement would be replacing the purple with either a blue or an atinic bulb.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Basically identical. The super blue is a tad more blue and a little less green but just barely. It's hardly noticeable after both bulbs burn in.
I haven't seen PAR readings in a long time but they were neck and neck last I remember. If the KZ are more than $1-2 more than ATI, I don't find them worth it.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
In the UK at least, the ATI tubes are significantly cheaper than KZ. I dont see the point in buying the KZ tubes. The ATI tubes work just fine, most of the T5 users use ATI tubes anyway.
I bought the KZ New Gen tube a while back and didnt like it to be honest. The ATI Coral+, Blue+ and Purple+ cover all you need. With 8 tube units you can even use ATI Actinics as well.
TropTrea
New member
Par reading can be very deceiging as a lower PAR from a Bluer bulb could be better for your coralsthan one with a higher PAR. The ZK super Blue is a bluer bulb with peak blue in the 460 nm range. The ATI Blue Plus is a slightly greener bulb with a peak in the 470nm range. Picking between the two isa matter of personal preference for most the color difference wth other bulbs in the mix is unnoticable. Bot other the ATI looks green and the KZ looks purple. If you put them next to each other it would be noticaible by most but in a tank it is hard to tell.
Which would I take? I go with the ATI Bulbs because for me they are ceaper and more readily available. If they were priced the same and and both handles in a local shop I would probably go with the ZK Super Blue, GE, 6,500K and the rest would be ATI bulbs.
I will say that I have notced the shift from 460 to 470nm on the ATI bulbs and do not prefer it.
FireEater
New member
I run a 125g SPS dominated tank. It is viewed from both sides and the reef runs down the middle of it. Over the many years I have been in the hobby, I moved from metal halides to T-5's about 6 years ago. Even after being in T-5's for 6 years, it seems there is still so much to be learned about using them in the wide range of combinations and name brands out there now.
My DIY light setup uses six 80 Watt HO bulbs powered by 3 Workhorse 7's, with separate reflectors, on 3 timers.
Keeping in mind that my reef runs right down the middle of a standard 125g tank, SPS dominated, but with LPS and Softies, my current setup is:
1. GE 6500K Daylight - On at Noon - Off at 3PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
3. Korallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - On at 10AM - Off at 7PM
3. Korallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - ON at 10AM - Off at 7PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
1. GE 6500K Daylight - On at NOON - Off at 3PM
Now these bulbs just hit there year mark this month. A few months ago, I noticed some of my SPS corals looking burned and bleaching out. Other SPS's were barely polyping out by evening time. I noticed the others looking better after the 6500K lights went off.
So I turned off the 6500K lights completely and already noticed the next day a difference in the SPS corals. Within the last week, they have bounced back tremendously.
My light fixture hung about 8 inches off the water. I recently raised it up to a little over a foot. Space restriction on my setup keeps me from raising it higher for now. Once I build my new fixture next week, it can be raised higher.
So I am thinking with the 6500K and 10000K bulbs, it was just to bright for the SPS's. Another thing is that 90% of my SPS corals now are new frags, due to a tank crash a year and half ago. So I am just now back to the point of adding a lot of new ones.
So I'm thinking I'm most likely setting them up to high to fast and not acclimating them to the lights.
I'm replacing the 6500K this week with a Giesemann Aqua Pink on one side and a ATI True Actinic on the other side.
Setup will be like this:
1. Korallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - On at Noon - Off at 3PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 10AM - Off at 7PM
3. Giesemann Aqua Pink - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
3. ATI True Actinic - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 10AM - Off at 7PM
1. Korrallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - On at Noon - Off at 3PM
Is this a good combo to keep?
I'm thinking of replacing the Korrallen Zucht 10000K with either the GE 6500K or the Giesemann Midday Sun 6000K for more coral growth and simulation of high Noon.
Also, the Aqua Blue Plus could be changed out with any of the other blues out there? ATI Aquablue Special or the ATI Coral Plus.
Long post, and thanks for any input!
My DIY light setup uses six 80 Watt HO bulbs powered by 3 Workhorse 7's, with separate reflectors, on 3 timers.
Keeping in mind that my reef runs right down the middle of a standard 125g tank, SPS dominated, but with LPS and Softies, my current setup is:
1. GE 6500K Daylight - On at Noon - Off at 3PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
3. Korallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - On at 10AM - Off at 7PM
3. Korallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - ON at 10AM - Off at 7PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
1. GE 6500K Daylight - On at NOON - Off at 3PM
Now these bulbs just hit there year mark this month. A few months ago, I noticed some of my SPS corals looking burned and bleaching out. Other SPS's were barely polyping out by evening time. I noticed the others looking better after the 6500K lights went off.
So I turned off the 6500K lights completely and already noticed the next day a difference in the SPS corals. Within the last week, they have bounced back tremendously.
My light fixture hung about 8 inches off the water. I recently raised it up to a little over a foot. Space restriction on my setup keeps me from raising it higher for now. Once I build my new fixture next week, it can be raised higher.
So I am thinking with the 6500K and 10000K bulbs, it was just to bright for the SPS's. Another thing is that 90% of my SPS corals now are new frags, due to a tank crash a year and half ago. So I am just now back to the point of adding a lot of new ones.
So I'm thinking I'm most likely setting them up to high to fast and not acclimating them to the lights.
I'm replacing the 6500K this week with a Giesemann Aqua Pink on one side and a ATI True Actinic on the other side.
Setup will be like this:
1. Korallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - On at Noon - Off at 3PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 10AM - Off at 7PM
3. Giesemann Aqua Pink - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
3. ATI True Actinic - On at 7AM - Off at 9PM
2. Giesemann Aquablue Plus - On at 10AM - Off at 7PM
1. Korrallen Zucht Coral Light 10000K - On at Noon - Off at 3PM
Is this a good combo to keep?
I'm thinking of replacing the Korrallen Zucht 10000K with either the GE 6500K or the Giesemann Midday Sun 6000K for more coral growth and simulation of high Noon.
Also, the Aqua Blue Plus could be changed out with any of the other blues out there? ATI Aquablue Special or the ATI Coral Plus.
Long post, and thanks for any input!
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Holy cow that is a ton of yellow and red spectrum! Way too many daylight bulbs in my opinion.
Do you like the yellow look? Like the old 6500k halides?
You need more blue bulbs. At least 3 to 4 of them should be the ATI Blue Plus.
I'd go like this personally
Blue plus
Blue plus
Coral plus
Coral plus
Blue plus
Blue plus
It will be more blue than your current setup and I'd bet you see much better coloration. If that is too blue then both coral plus can be switched for ATI aquablue special bulbs. I don't like those bulbs however. They tend to wash out colors.
TropTrea
New member
Looking at your mix you have 2 6,500K and 2 10,000K out of a mix of 6 bulbs. This tank must almost require sun glass to look at. It is jnot far off from old school where you would 3 Atinics, and 3 10,000K bulbs. But far from what ost people use today.
Do not make a drastic change all at once as you can shock some of your corals doing this. You will probably complain about the blueness of the tank if you use most of recomendation but if you make the changes gradualy you will love them also.
Step one I would statt replacing one of the 6,500K bulbs with a Blue Plus bulb. Thius will give you a slightly more blue kick but probably not noticable to most people.
Step 2 would be to replace the two 10,000K bulbs one at a time. the fisrt one I would replace with a Purple Bulb and the second one with another Blue Plus bulb.
Eventualy you should have a combination of roughly
front
1. Blue Plus
2 Blue Plus
3 GE 6.5000K
4 Purple
5 Blue Plus
6 Blue Plus
This is a much whiter combination than what RT recommends but it will be a world bluer than what you have. It is the brightest combination you can get good coral growth and color from.
If you later want to go even bluer you can then replace the GE with an Aqua Blue Special, or both 3 and 4 with two coral plus bulbs. But the later I'm sure will shock you with how blue it looks.
Remember when your cahnging colors I like to only change a max of one bulb er week to avoid shocking the corals.
FireEater
New member
On my current setup though, I did shut down the GE 6500k bulbs last week.
So for a week now, I have been running the two 10000K and two Aquablue Plus.
All bulbs are a year old this month, though I know you can get up to 18 months out of T 5's.
So for now, I will order a Giesemann Aqua Pink and an ATI Blue Plus.
I would like to stagger the bulbs where I am not buying all six all at once every year like I have been doing.
Also, maybe throw back in one of the 6500K for now? Setup would be:
1. 10000K
2. Aquablue Plus
3. Aqua Pink
3. Blue Plus
2. Aquablue Plus
1. 6500K
Then in January change out the two Aquablue Plus to Blue Plus.
Then in February change out the 10000K and 6500K to one Blue Plus and one 6500K.
So by March I would have:
1. Blue Plus
2. Blue Plus
3. 6500K
3. Aqua Pink
2. Blue Plus
1. Blue Plus
Even though I will buy them in pairs, I will change the pair out, spacing each bulb a week apart.
Do I have it right?
So for a week now, I have been running the two 10000K and two Aquablue Plus.
All bulbs are a year old this month, though I know you can get up to 18 months out of T 5's.
So for now, I will order a Giesemann Aqua Pink and an ATI Blue Plus.
I would like to stagger the bulbs where I am not buying all six all at once every year like I have been doing.
Also, maybe throw back in one of the 6500K for now? Setup would be:
1. 10000K
2. Aquablue Plus
3. Aqua Pink
3. Blue Plus
2. Aquablue Plus
1. 6500K
Then in January change out the two Aquablue Plus to Blue Plus.
Then in February change out the 10000K and 6500K to one Blue Plus and one 6500K.
So by March I would have:
1. Blue Plus
2. Blue Plus
3. 6500K
3. Aqua Pink
2. Blue Plus
1. Blue Plus
Even though I will buy them in pairs, I will change the pair out, spacing each bulb a week apart.
Do I have it right?
scoobzilla
New member
hi all new here on R/C.need some help with lighting 8 months ago upgraded my 55 salt fish only to a 120 reef ready tank with eshopps 300 refugium with fish I had lion,pan grouper,snowflake eal fish got to big had to upgrade had a marineland 48in reef ready led light on it.sorry for running with this.
question:looking to go corals now donating fish.picked up (2) 48in solarxtreme t5 quad setups used for 100 a piece cheap still works good.saving for good led set up.
what bulbs should I use?
what order should they go?
one quad or both quads or quad and led?
bulb 1 and 3 are on on timer 2 and 4 are on another.
question:looking to go corals now donating fish.picked up (2) 48in solarxtreme t5 quad setups used for 100 a piece cheap still works good.saving for good led set up.
what bulbs should I use?
what order should they go?
one quad or both quads or quad and led?
bulb 1 and 3 are on on timer 2 and 4 are on another.
Just wanted to say thanks to all who have helped with this thread. I pulled the trigger and ordered a ATI 60" 8 bulb fixture from reef geeks. Great people to work with. My light came in today!!! But it was damaged during shipment. Small crease and dent on the fixture but no issue with it working. Emailed reef geeks and David called within 30 minutes, apologized for the damage and offered to reduce the cost or send me a new one. No blame, no excuses just great customer service. So I saved a few bucks and fired up my new ATI fixture. I really like my color. B+, B+,coral+,B+,purple+,B+,coral+, B+. I was afraid it might look windex blue but much brighter than expected. Your thoughts n swapping the purple + with another B+?
TropTrea
New member
Yes I wuld either swap the purple with another blue plus or coral plus. The Coral Plus would make it look slightly brighter, while the blue plus would simply remove some of the redness. This is a matter of personal preference in color.
I like all Blue Plus bulbs for dawn to dusk, some people prefer the mix of a blue plus and purple plus for dawn to dusk. This is where you will see the biggest difference in your color choices.
TropTrea
New member
Yes that is good course of action. You will still have bright tank but lot better spectrum distribution for the benifit of your corals.
TropTrea
New member
I'm not familuar with your LED set up and all LED's are not the same by any means. However If I were starting from where your at I''d go with a twin T-5 fixture running Blue Plus bulbs. This I would combine with roughly
Your other options are running a 4 bulb T-5 Fixture running 2 Coral Plus and 2 Blue Plus with about 150 Watts of LED's.
Option three is a 6 bulb T-5 fixture running 4 blue plus and 2 coral plus with about 120 Watts of LED's.
And your last option would be running 8 T-5's without the LEDs. Note the bulb selection is based a lot on what your color preference is but I like the single GE 6,500 with 1 or 2 purple plus bulbs and the rest Blue Plus.
FireEater
New member
Thanks!
Ok, I'm about to buy the fixture this weekend and I need your help on some open questions I still have. Again, the tank is 95x50x45cm which comes to about 37x20x18 inches. Water level is at 16".
I will be getting the ATI Sunpower 6x39W and the questions are:
- Is the dimmable version worth the premium? Here it costs almost 100 euros more (around $130).
- I have a lot of SPS and like my tanks to be on the blue side. Which bulb combo would be the best?
- I would rather not hang the fixture, ie. drill the walls. Is there any other way to put the fixture over the tank?
Thanks!
I will be getting the ATI Sunpower 6x39W and the questions are:
- Is the dimmable version worth the premium? Here it costs almost 100 euros more (around $130).
- I have a lot of SPS and like my tanks to be on the blue side. Which bulb combo would be the best?
- I would rather not hang the fixture, ie. drill the walls. Is there any other way to put the fixture over the tank?
Thanks!
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
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