The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[rogergolf66]

I have a 48x24 tank. It's SPS dominated. How much PAR can I expect to get towards the outside if I buy an ATI 36" 8 bulb? Can I keep SPS towards the outside, past the fixture? Or do I need to buy a 48" fixture and have light spillage towards the sides?

I have a ATI 48 unit over my sps dom over a 48x24x24 tank. Personally it's to much light I think 36 in fixture would have been better. Yes u can grow sps on sides of tanks. Keep lower light sps on sides is all.

 

[DragonWarriorPo]

I'm running a custom 8 bulb 48" fixture. ATI type Reflectors and ATI ballasts. but different fans more powerful than ATI's. The fixture 5" above the surface gives me an average 120 PAR at the Substrate and 240 at 14. above the substrate, and 500 at the surface. Note the top reading of the meter we used was 500 PAR so it could have been even higher.

Moving to a 36" fixture my suspicions would be your rating will be about 72% of what I'm getting with more difference between the edges and the center of the tank but it should not a drastic cut off.

Thanks. that info helps alot. I will be going with a 48" fixture.

 

[DragonWarriorPo]

I have a ATI 48 unit over my sps dom over a 48x24x24 tank. Personally it's to much light I think 36 in fixture would have been better. Yes u can grow sps on sides of tanks. Keep lower light sps on sides is all.

thanks. I'm just worried PAR values dropping toward the outside edge of a 36" fixture.

 

[DragonWarriorPo]

Need help with 6 bulb T5 combo with 2 reefbrites blue:
I want to buy an ATI 6 bulb fixture and attach Reefbrite actinic blues on each side. What is a good color combination of 6 T5 bulbs for a SPS tank that will go with the 2 Reefbrites? I'm looking for about 20K look.

 

[TropTrea]

Need help with 6 bulb T5 combo with 2 reefbrites blue:
I want to buy an ATI 6 bulb fixture and attach Reefbrite actinic blues on each side. What is a good color combination of 6 T5 bulbs for a SPS tank that will go with the 2 Reefbrites? I'm looking for about 20K look.

The two Reefbrites will add a lot of near UV Violet light for yo so will not need as much blue in your combo as most people do. You can probably go with one Aqua Blue Special, or one GE 6,500K, For the Ten I would go with 2 purple plus and three Blue Plus.

Normaly I put the fullest spectrum bulb fron to center and the Purples in front and behind it. If you run a Blue Plus between them usualy depends on your dawn to dusk combo. Do you like 2 Blue Plus or a Blue Plus and Purple Plus for the dawn to dusk. Try them both and see which you like best.

 

[kjardine519]

I'm running a aquatinic tx5 lighting system on my 35 gal reef system. The dimensions are 36-12-18 the bulbs I'm running are
Rear
Actinic
Coral +
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Front
I'm not overly impressed with the coloration and I'm about to buy new bulbs. Could ya help me out doc? Also my fixture came with legs to sit on top of the tank it's about 4 inches or so from the water surface. Do you think it's too close?

 

[TropTrea]

I'm running a aquatinic tx5 lighting system on my 35 gal reef system. The dimensions are 36-12-18 the bulbs I'm running are
Rear
Actinic
Coral +
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Front
I'm not overly impressed with the coloration and I'm about to buy new bulbs. Could ya help me out doc? Also my fixture came with legs to sit on top of the tank it's about 4 inches or so from the water surface. Do you think it's too close?

5 bulbs is a very unusual combination.

You claim your not happy but do not say why your unhappy. I know for some people here they would love that combination while others may consider it too blue and some would say it is not blue enough.

If you want it to be brighter replace the corl plus bulbs with either a GE 6,500K and Purple plus, or an Aqua Blue Special and a Purple Plus. You also want to do away with the Atinic bulb as your getting more than enough Atinic light from your Blue Plus Bulbs.

If you want it bluer then simple go with just one Coral Plus which can be replaced by either a Purple Plus for a more purple look or with a a blue plus to just deepen the blue. Again I would not keep the atinic.

As far as the bulb geight goes with 5 bulbs on an 18 inch tall tank should not be an issue with excess light. You may want to adjust your on time if yyou do see some issues but I doubt you will unless your running your dawn to duske more than 12 hours or your Mid day bulbs more than 8 hours.

 

[kjardine519]

much appreciated. thanks

 

[Jayhawker518]

Wow what a great long thread. Here is my question. Getting new bulbs for my TEK T5 6 bulbs 48" for my 120 gallon (4x2x2). Going to keep mostly softies.

My proposal would be:

Blue Plus (Dusk/Dawn)
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus (Dusk/Dawn)

The question is do I really need a GE 65K? Or does the Coral plus do the same for me? The second where is the best place to buy these? Marine Depot?

 

[r2odie]

Wow what a great long thread. Here is my question. Getting new bulbs for my TEK T5 6 bulbs 48" for my 120 gallon (4x2x2). Going to keep mostly softies.

My proposal would be:

Blue Plus (Dusk/Dawn)
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus (Dusk/Dawn)

The question is do I really need a GE 65K? Or does the Coral plus do the same for me? The second where is the best place to buy these? Marine Depot?

Reefgeek.com has good prices on bulbs. Often have sales & free shipping.

 

[beckerjm]

Wow what a great long thread. Here is my question. Getting new bulbs for my TEK T5 6 bulbs 48" for my 120 gallon (4x2x2). Going to keep mostly softies.

My proposal would be:

Blue Plus (Dusk/Dawn)
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus (Dusk/Dawn)

The question is do I really need a GE 65K? Or does the Coral plus do the same for me? The second where is the best place to buy these? Marine Depot?

I'm interested in the same question. I have always used the GE 65K with 4 Blue+ and a Purple plus - and gotten great growth. Colors look pretty good also. I just received replacement bulbs from Reefgeek (I 2nd that they are a good place to buy. They just finished having a free shipping at $99 promo). I debated a long time about the Coral plus - and finally just decided to order 7 bulbs - so I can personally test the difference in look as well as par value. I know that the GE 65K has good par as do the Blue Plus. I'm guessing the Coral plus does also - but not sure how close it is to the GE 65K.

 

[Jayhawker518]

I'm interested in the same question. I have always used the GE 65K with 4 Blue+ and a Purple plus - and gotten great growth. Colors look pretty good also. I just received replacement bulbs from Reefgeek (I 2nd that they are a good place to buy. They just finished having a free shipping at $99 promo). I debated a long time about the Coral plus - and finally just decided to order 7 bulbs - so I can personally test the difference in look as well as par value. I know that the GE 65K has good par as do the Blue Plus. I'm guessing the Coral plus does also - but not sure how close it is to the GE 65K.

You will have to let me know what you think when you get them. I am still torn

 

[beckerjm]

Will do. The bulbs are here, but I'm going to wait until I can borrow our club's PAR meter next week to test for any PAR differences.

 

[rogergolf66]

Will do. The bulbs are here, but I'm going to wait until I can borrow our club's PAR meter next week to test for any PAR differences.

Well measure ur current par then swap the bulbs out but u need to let the bulbs burn in a little new bulbs will read higher par till burned it for 10 hours at least. I like to wait 2 weeks for it to settle

 

[jdraider75]

I got rid of the ge6500k and purple plus bulbs and went with the coral plus bulbs and really like them. I didn't test par before I switched combo but seems like same if not more light cause had to move a few acros down for a bit to acclimate to change.

 

[DragonWarriorPo]

How often do I need to change bulbs on an ATI Sunpower 6 bulb fixture? I have alot of SPS and don't want to have a big drop on my PAR before changing 6 bulbs and shocking my corals with a sudden jump in PAR. I don't have a PAR meter. Recomendation is 12 months, but I heard PAR drops significantly if you wait that long.

 

[Jscholar]

lighting suggestions needed

lighting suggestions needed

I have a 144 gallon half moon tank with 4 bulb t5 48 inch and 2 bulb 36 inch in the front.
I was thinking about going

48 inch lights
1. ati blue plus
2. ge 6500Ke
3. ati purple plus
4. ati blue plus

36 inch
1.ati blue plus
2. ati blue plus

 

[TropTrea]

I have a 144 gallon half moon tank with 4 bulb t5 48 inch and 2 bulb 36 inch in the front.
I was thinking about going

48 inch lights
1. ati blue plus
2. ge 6500Ke
3. ati purple plus
4. ati blue plus

36 inch
1.ati blue plus
2. ati blue plus

only difference is I would swap 2 and 3's position. But that would be based on your coral placement you could even swap 2 and 4.

 

[TropTrea]

I got rid of the ge6500k and purple plus bulbs and went with the coral plus bulbs and really like them. I didn't test par before I switched combo but seems like same if not more light cause had to move a few acros down for a bit to acclimate to change.

on the meter the GE will show a higher par reading because most meters loose there sensitivity in the blues range. Usable PAR will increase with your Coral Plus because they produce more blue light that is usable by the corals.

The real big question is how you like or dislike your color combination. If you dislike the color then a small advantage in growth is not worth it. If you comfortable with the bluer color than it is a double win for you.

 

[vanzea]

Menards sells a Phillips 6500k t5 bulb . How does this compare to ge?