The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[TylerHaworth]

No. The spectrum is covered and with plenty of PAR to boot.

I should have elaborated a bit, I currently am running 6xBlue 3xCoral and 1xPurple... The overall richness(?) of color is good, however I think it has a bit more pink'ish hue to it than I prefer...

Am I headed in the proper direction?

 

[rtparty]

I should have elaborated a bit, I currently am running 6xBlue 3xCoral and 1xPurple... The overall richness(?) of color is good, however I think it has a bit more pink'ish hue to it than I prefer...

Am I headed in the proper direction?

Yes. I'd grab one extra coral plus though and try a combo of 6 blue and 4 coral plus.

 

[mhucasey]

I should have elaborated a bit, I currently am running 6xBlue 3xCoral and 1xPurple... The overall richness(?) of color is good, however I think it has a bit more pink'ish hue to it than I prefer...

Am I headed in the proper direction?

Yes, that mix will be fine. If you want a bit more red after adding the extra blue bulb then go with 2 coral+ and 1 purple+. Since you already have the bulbs you can try several combinations until its perfect for you. With 10 bulbs the par will be more than enough no matter what the combo.

 

[TylerHaworth]

Since I've got plenty of PAR and proper spectrum, would swapping a Blue Plus for a True Actinic really add anything? (6xBlue 3xCoral 1xActinic)

 

[rtparty]

You won't notice it with all lights on. It may be worthwhile on the dusk dawn look but pointless otherwise with 10 bulbs.

I was on an actinic kick for a while but they really hurt reflective colors and my color gain was due to a lower PAR and not actually the actinic light.

 

[TylerHaworth]

I understand that as they make the fluorescent colors pop, but the reflective colors are subdued?

 

[h0bite]

Hi! I got a very good deal for KZ bulbs.
So I'll finally go with 6 superblue
2 fiji purple and
2 new generation
Is that a good mixt ?
Thanks
David

 

[TropTrea]

Hi! I got a very good deal for KZ bulbs.
So I'll finally go with 6 superblue
2 fiji purple and
2 new generation
Is that a good mixt ?
Thanks
David

The two new generation might be too much white for some peoples liking. If so then replace it with another super blue.

 

[TropTrea]

I understand that as they make the fluorescent colors pop, but the reflective colors are subdued?

They are not actually subdued but they are darker. Reds can look more maroon, yellows can look more brown. It is a balancing act between the reflective and florescent colors. Everyone has there preference on were they prefer this balance to be.

 

[nicholasb]

You may only need 4 of the 6 tubes.

 

[mhucasey]

Hi! I got a very good deal for KZ bulbs.
So I'll finally go with 6 superblue
2 fiji purple and
2 new generation
Is that a good mixt ?
Thanks
David

I think that is a very good mix actually.

I'm currently using
3 superblue
1 Blue Plus
3 KZ New Gen
1 KZ Fiji Purple

I went back and forth between 2 or 3 New Gen, but settled on 3. Its slightly brighter than if I used 5 blue bulbs, which the girlfriend likes, and its a PAR monster. I use a Blue Plus in the front position(#3) for when the two bulbs are on and a New Gen in the back(#6). Give the New Gen's a few hours to burn in, when I first lit them they were quite a bit more yellow than they were an hour later.

I'm very interested to hear what your impressions of the bulbs are

 

[erickcooper]

I just moved my T5 combo to be more white because it was too blue. I think I'm at about 14k now. However, I still don't like the new color of my maroon clown. I loved her color under MHs, but she's still not very pretty under the T5s. Now, the scarlet hawk and chromis look good and the coral beauty is amazing. Just bummed about my clown.

 

[mhucasey]

I just moved my T5 combo to be more white because it was too blue. I think I'm at about 14k now. However, I still don't like the new color of my maroon clown. I loved her color under MHs, but she's still not very pretty under the T5s. Now, the scarlet hawk and chromis look good and the coral beauty is amazing. Just bummed about my clown.

What bulbs are you running and how is the color incorrect? Maybe someone here could suggest a substitution that would fix the issue.

 

[erickcooper]

What bulbs are you running and how is the color incorrect? Maybe someone here could suggest a substitution that would fix the issue.

She just seems to have a deeper maroon - almost like you can see more blue in her. Under the halides, she was a great color and her gold bands really showed up better. She's not ugly mind you, but the lights have made everything else in the tank look good except for her.

I took out one of the 420/460 bulbs and replaced with another 10k daylight. It's helped. My new configuration is (12 total but it's 6 on each side):

(6) 36 in. T5HO 39W 420/460nm Actinic/Blue Lamps
(4) 36 in. T5HO 39W 10,000K White lamps
(2) 36 in. T5HO 39W 460/650nm Purple Lamps
(6) 1W Blue Lunar LEDs

 

[TropTrea]

She just seems to have a deeper maroon - almost like you can see more blue in her. Under the halides, she was a great color and her gold bands really showed up better. She's not ugly mind you, but the lights have made everything else in the tank look good except for her.

I took out one of the 420/460 bulbs and replaced with another 10k daylight. It's helped. My new configuration is (12 total but it's 6 on each side):

(6) 36 in. T5HO 39W 420/460nm Actinic/Blue Lamps
(4) 36 in. T5HO 39W 10,000K White lamps
(2) 36 in. T5HO 39W 460/650nm Purple Lamps
(6) 1W Blue Lunar LEDs

Changing a set of the 10,000K to 6,500K should make the gold (yellow) bands pop more. To bring out the marroon color would require more light in the deep red range like 680nm but I'm not sure if any bulb is strong in that area and if one were you would also have to careful with it as that is the range of light that excess is strongly suspect of causing issues.

 

[r2odie]

Hi Grim,
240 full sps reef with two 7 bulb aquatinics constellation fixtures. Looking for most pop!
This:
B+
Actinic white
B+
Fiji purple
B+
GE daylight
B+

Or:

B+
Purple plus or fiji purple
B+
Coral plus
B+
Purple plus or fiji
B+

Or? Thanks!!

 

[sahin]

Grim doesnt get involved with this subject anymore. He's been replaced by Denis and Ryan, and one or two others. :lol:

I would go with option 2. Maybe replace one of the Purple+ with a Coral+.

 

[r2odie]

thanks sahin! the more i think about it i think i might go with 4 b+ and either 3 coral+ or 2 c+ and 1 new gen.
do you guys like the look of the kz new generation?

 

[Dashiki]

I have an ati 8 bulb and have these bulbs on hand

6 blue plus
2 purple plus
3 coral plus

What combo for best color in an sps tank and in what order?

 

[quantim0]

I like 5 b+, 2 c+, 1 p+. I have 3 b+ and the p+ on for my dusk/dawn and the others for my daylight, with the blues on the outside of the fixture