The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[mhucasey]

How's my combo for an all sps

blue+
blue+
Actinic+
giesemann actinic blue
giesemann tropic
giesemann actinic blue
purple+
blue+

I think it would be fine but if it was me I would ditch the Tropic and replace it and the actinic+ with 2 Aquablue Corals or Coral Plusses.

 

[mhucasey]

Hey all, I just stumbled across this thread and was looking for some guidance before buying some news bulbs. I have an 8 bulb tek light fixture and this will be going on a 24" deep mixed reef tank. I like a some blue in the mixture but not OVERLY blue. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Bulb layout reccomendations would also be helpful!

That is really a personal preference thing- overly blue is hard to quantify. If it was me I would use the following to start:

C+,B+,B+,Fiji Purple,+,C+,B+,B+,C+

 

[mhucasey]

Now I got my ATI Sunpower 8x39w. I love it!
I have the following bulbs:
4x blue+
2x Actinic
2x Coral+
1x Purple+

What bulbs would you use for color and growth, and in what order?

C+,B+,B+,P+,Actinic,B+,C+,B+

 

[mhucasey]

Matt,

My 10 bulb fixture came with Wave Point T5 bulbs. Do you know anything about this brand? I like the look of the combination more on the whiter side but very bright. The previous owner had very good experience growing SPS with these bulbs so I may use these until I switch out to the ATI:

3 Wave Point "œReef Wave"
2 Wave Point "œCoral Wave"
3 Wave Point "œ Super Blue Wave"
1 Wave Point "œRed Wave"
1 Wave Point "œBlue Wave"

I don't trust any bulbs that are not produced by ATI, Giesemann, or KZ, so I haven't tried those bulbs, sorry. I would just expect to change them out around 6 months.

 

[m3lacoste]

I don't trust any bulbs that are not produced by ATI, Giesemann, or KZ, so I haven't tried those bulbs, sorry. I would just expect to change them out around 6 months.

Any LFS sell KZ brands ulbs other than online bulkreefsupply?

 

[mhucasey]

Any LFS sell KZ brands ulbs other than online bulkreefsupply?

Aquacave, aquariumspecialty.com, and Saltycritter also carry them.

 

[GOSKN5]

Could I get away with a 36" 4 bulb T5 on a standard 120? 4x2x2? Any sps will be in the top 1/2 of the tank.. the rest will be lps and softies...

 

[Bpb]

Could I get away with a 36" 4 bulb T5 on a standard 120? 4x2x2? Any sps will be in the top 1/2 of the tank.. the rest will be lps and softies...

I think you'll be a touch on the low light side for a tank that size. You'll also be really lacking in bulb color choice with only 4. I'm sure most things would survive but if you wanted acros with great color and nice pleasing symmetrical dense growth you may be disappointed with only 4-36" bulbs. I'm running 8x54 watt sunpower on my 90 gallon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ReefPharmer]

This may have been addressed previously but I am running two 8 bulb dimmable 48 inch ati fixtures and the temp routinely sits at around 43 degrees. They have auto speed on fans. Anyone have any tips? They aren't enclosed, room isn't 85 degrees, basically a pretty standard setup. I'm running them at 100%. How can I cool them down to the recommended 35c?

 

[dcmartinpc]

I have. 150dd (36x36x27) that I have a 6x39w ati sunpower with a Kessil a360we on either side. Like this

O
------------
- -
------------
O

I'm putting together a bulb combo and this is what I am thinking. Thoughts?

Front

Kessil

Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Coral Plus
Blue Plus

Kessil

Back

I was thinking I could get away with another Fiji purple because of the kessils and really make the red based colors pop in the tank.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Don



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mark426]

This may have been addressed previously but I am running two 8 bulb dimmable 48 inch ati fixtures and the temp routinely sits at around 43 degrees. They have auto speed on fans. Anyone have any tips? They aren't enclosed, room isn't 85 degrees, basically a pretty standard setup. I'm running them at 100%. How can I cool them down to the recommended 35c?

I doubt you will be able to get it down to 35 degrees but you can go into the setup and up the max voltage to your fans. That will help some. 43 seems a little high but not much for that fixture. Check out ATI's videos on YouTube for the button sequence for the setup mode.

 

[ReefPharmer]

I doubt you will be able to get it down to 35 degrees but you can go into the setup and up the max voltage to your fans. That will help some. 43 seems a little high but not much for that fixture. Check out ATI's videos on YouTube for the button sequence for the setup mode.

Thanks for the tip, I did do that and the fans would not fire up correctly (or not fire up at all) when I increased the voltages to 11.5 or so. Ati told me to reset the lights and not mess w it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sepulvd]

what would you guys recommend on a 4x24w aquaticlife bulb setup. I am looking to be more on the blueside. currently growing lps and softies

 

[Bpb]

what would you guys recommend on a 4x24w aquaticlife bulb setup. I am looking to be more on the blueside. currently growing lps and softies

Try
2 ATI Blue+ (or Giesemann actinic blue)
1 ATI True Actinic (or Giesemann super actinic)
1 ATI Purple+ (or Giesemann super purple)

That should give you a fairly blue look. Just pair your dawn/dusk bulbs to be blue/actinic, and the other two "daytime" bulbs to be blue/purple (which when combined actually look like a nice 20k white)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sepulvd]

Thanks for the help

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[tommyboynj]

Looking make a switch back to t5 from led. Iv been tinkering for 4 years and never been entirely happy. My new tank is 4months old so figured now's the time to do it before it starts growing out. Do you think a 8x39w ati dimmable will be enough for 48*30*24 tank. Sps and lps. Peninsula tank so most of the rock work is down the middle.

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

 

[mwilk19]

I'm thinking of making the switch from LEDs to T5. I have a 120 gallon tank. I'm looking at the dimmable ATI fixture but I'm not sure if I should get the 6 or 8 tube. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[bucfan]

Do you think a 8x39w ati dimmable will be enough for 48*30*24 tank. Sps and lps.

I have the same fixture over my tank which is slightly larger than yours and it's great.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[bucfan]

I'm thinking of making the switch from LEDs to T5. I have a 120 gallon tank. I'm looking at the dimmable ATI fixture but I'm not sure if I should get the 6 or 8 tube. Any help would be appreciated.

IMO 8 bulbs gives you more options in choosing bulbs.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[MSHUR]

Question for T5s gurus :
Witch bulbs is better as far as PAR, color, effect on SPS and so on:
1. ATI Coral+
2. KZ GEN 2
3. Giesmann -AquaBlue Coral
4. Giesmann- Azure

group 2:

1.ATI Blue +
2. KZ Super Blue
3. Giesmann Actinic Blue

Basically this is most popular and whats available for US reefers.