The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[rtparty]

So I know that you guys prefer ATI bulbs but that's not what I have. I am running all Giesmann bulbs in my 48 Tek 8 bulb unit. I just bought the bulbs as this is all my LFS carries. I am looking for a good sane to dusk 20k radium look. Here is what I have. By the way my Tek runs the four outside bulbs and then the 4 inside

I have the following Giesmann bulbs.
4 Actnic +
3 Aquablue +
2 Actinic
1 miiday.

So let me know

For a real true 20k look, you will have a tough time with those bulbs. If I want a 20k look with 8 bulbs I use 6 blue and 2 pink bulbs. That would be 6 Actinic Plus and 2 AquaPink bulbs using Geisemann bulbs.

You could try the 4 Actinic Plus, 2 Actinic and 2 Aquablue and see what you think but the Aquablue bulbs are going to overpower just about everything else. See if the store will exchange some bulbs for you. I would take all 3 Aquablue bulbs back and get another Actinic Plus and 2 AquaPink bulbs.

 

[SDonkey]

Ok guys, have looked back through tons of posts but still want to ask..
6 bulb 36" Aquatic life fixture over a 65.
Light configuration with time is:
Lamps 1,3,5,6 for "white" timer
Lamps 2 and 4 for "blue" timer.

I currently have it running front to back:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Blue Plus

I run the "white" timer as first on and last off and the "blue" timer that kicks on during the day.
So that means first on and off is:
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Blue Plus

Followed by:
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

Fiance says its still too blue for her during the daytime hours. I tried an aquablue and its just way too "bright/white" for me. I also have quite a bit of coraline algae in the tank and it seems the combo of the Purple Plus and Aqua Blue really make that stand out and the corals not as "showy".
I'm willing to drop the UVL since from what I read it doesn't help growth, just color.
Any suggestions?

Thanks for all your help guys!!
Zack

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok guys, have looked back through tons of posts but still want to ask..
6 bulb 36" Aquatic life fixture over a 65.
Light configuration with time is:
Lamps 1,3,5,6 for "white" timer
Lamps 2 and 4 for "blue" timer.

I currently have it running front to back:
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Blue Plus

I run the "white" timer as first on and last off and the "blue" timer that kicks on during the day.
So that means first on and off is:
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
Blue Plus

Followed by:
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

Fiance says its still too blue for her during the daytime hours. I tried an aquablue and its just way too "bright/white" for me. I also have quite a bit of coraline algae in the tank and it seems the combo of the Purple Plus and Aqua Blue really make that stand out and the corals not as "showy".
I'm willing to drop the UVL since from what I read it doesn't help growth, just color.
Any suggestions?

Thanks for all your help guys!!
Zack

Try a KZ New Generation in place of the Actinic

 

[Borchers]

For a real true 20k look, you will have a tough time with those bulbs. If I want a 20k look with 8 bulbs I use 6 blue and 2 pink bulbs. That would be 6 Actinic Plus and 2 AquaPink bulbs using Geisemann bulbs.

You could try the 4 Actinic Plus, 2 Actinic and 2 Aquablue and see what you think but the Aquablue bulbs are going to overpower just about everything else. See if the store will exchange some bulbs for you. I would take all 3 Aquablue bulbs back and get another Actinic Plus and 2 AquaPink bulbs.

I'll try the Combo first and then see how things look.

 

[cdivine]

I just purchased four UVL bulbs. The 454, Aqua Sun, 75/25, and super actinic to go over 48x12high frag tank. They were on sale and in the past they were my favorite bulbs. Now I'm catching up on this thread and I'm reading that the quality control isn't all that great. Did I make a bad purchase? Why are the new UVL bulbs, so different from the old UVL bulbs?

 

[boosted chemist]

double

 

[boosted chemist]

Now I have been playing wiht bulb combos and cant seem to attain the color and pop I like. First it was two giessman blue, aqua blue and a kz new gen, my sps basically lost color, so next i swap out the new gen for a figi purple and a new aquablue special, the color is back but honestly i HATE the red the kz figi bulb puts out. So now im 3 blue and one aqua blue, i must say the coral pops more and the sps seems happy (going to let it sit for a bit)

But i was thinking, I have newish bulbs and they are "good" bulbs" so maybe it is time to point the finger at my fixture. I run a current sundial t5 (yaya i know), been looking to upgrade to a tek 4 or 6 bulb or a ati 4 bulb over my 40b. I plan on keeping mostly lps and some colorful zoa along with acros. At the same time I don't wanna cook my acans, do you guys think its a good idea to upgrade the fixture? And is the base tek going to give me what i want compared to my current model?

(also looking at the radion though im not entirely sold on the leds yet.)

 

[TropTrea]

Now I have been playing wiht bulb combos and cant seem to attain the color and pop I like. First it was two giessman blue, aqua blue and a kz new gen, my sps basically lost color, so next i swap out the new gen for a figi purple and a new aquablue special, the color is back but honestly i HATE the red the kz figi bulb puts out. So now im 3 blue and one aqua blue, i must say the coral pops more and the sps seems happy (going to let it sit for a bit).)

Did you try the New Generation with the 3 Blue Plus Bulbs? or another option is the GE 6500 with 3 blues.

But i was thinking, I have newish bulbs and they are "good" bulbs" so maybe it is time to point the finger at my fixture. I run a current sundial t5 (yaya i know), been looking to upgrade to a tek 4 or 6 bulb or a ati 4 bulb over my 40b. I plan on keeping mostly lps and some colorful zoa along with acros. At the same time I don't wanna cook my acans, do you guys think its a good idea to upgrade the fixture? And is the base tek going to give me what i want compared to my current model?

(also looking at the radion though im not entirely sold on the leds yet.)

Yes your tank is not that tall so light does not have to penetrate very deeply and a 6 bulb fixture could be too much for some of your corals.

I also like the LED fixtures but am very skeptical about them. Therefore I'm doing some DIY experimenting with that idea myself now. Starting small but if they prove to be a good at some claim I should be able to cut my lighting bill in half eventually.

 

[gibbus123]

Hi I decided to replace my 8x39module to an ATI dimmable. Would an 8x39sunpower dimmable be ok for a full SPS tank(42x24x24)? Or would I benefit more from a 10x39 power module?

Oh what bulb combination for a 14k look?

 

[njw26]

I'm running a 8 bulb 54 watt t-5 fixture on my 55 gal mixed reef tank. i just bought 5 blue plus, 2 purple plus and an aqua blue bulbs. Any specific order i should put them in the fixture???

 

[andrewbram]

I have a 75 gallon reef. I have 4 by 54 t-5. It is two glo t-5 2x54 ballast. If I use better bulbs then what i have will it be enough to put an sps anywhere or do I need to buy one more ballast and run 6 bulbs total. I am on a budget so best bang for my buck first and what types of bulbs. thank you for your time

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just purchased four UVL bulbs. The 454, Aqua Sun, 75/25, and super actinic to go over 48x12high frag tank. They were on sale and in the past they were my favorite bulbs. Now I'm catching up on this thread and I'm reading that the quality control isn't all that great. Did I make a bad purchase? Why are the new UVL bulbs, so different from the old UVL bulbs?

Always looked good, just doesn't have good PAR retention.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi I decided to replace my 8x39module to an ATI dimmable. Would an 8x39sunpower dimmable be ok for a full SPS tank(42x24x24)? Or would I benefit more from a 10x39 power module?

Oh what bulb combination for a 14k look?

Be plenty

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I'm running a 8 bulb 54 watt t-5 fixture on my 55 gal mixed reef tank. i just bought 5 blue plus, 2 purple plus and an aqua blue bulbs. Any specific order i should put them in the fixture???

Aquablue about center with a purple front and rear of it by a slot or two so you get even light distribution

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 75 gallon reef. I have 4 by 54 t-5. It is two glo t-5 2x54 ballast. If I use better bulbs then what i have will it be enough to put an sps anywhere or do I need to buy one more ballast and run 6 bulbs total. I am on a budget so best bang for my buck first and what types of bulbs. thank you for your time

What do you have for reflectors? 4 good T5's with good reflectors (LET brand) is enough for SPS anywhere below the lamps. 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and a KZ New Generation

 

[andrewbram]

well at moment the reflector came off an old light it is one piece reflector but it comes half way up each bulb. so the look like individual reflectors. so with 4 bulbs how many blue and how many white? The t5 thing is new to me just want to do it correctly. I can get two more bulbs and run 6 if needed that is allowed by household 6

 

[The Grim Reefer]

well at moment the reflector came off an old light it is one piece reflector but it comes half way up each bulb. so the look like individual reflectors. so with 4 bulbs how many blue and how many white? The t5 thing is new to me just want to do it correctly. I can get two more bulbs and run 6 if needed that is allowed by household 6

Do 6 then, 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and a GE 6500K

 

[andrewbram]

thank you very much.

 

[gibbus123]

Mr grim, what bulb combination would be like a 14k color? Im getting a 8x39wat dimmable sunpower and would like to have a 14k look to it. Thanks.

 

[andrewbram]

Sorry to ask one more question Grim. I try and buy local when I can so are Giesemann bulbs any good. I am going to replace my 4 now and get my additional two bulbs and ballast later. If the Giesemann aren't suffiecnt I will order the ATI