Simplereefing
New member
Ok I'm thinking of just going with a full photoperiod of 10 hours with the two 6500k bulbs on for 5 hours in between.
The T5 Q&a Thread - split
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Ok I'm thinking of just going with a full photoperiod of 10 hours with the two 6500k bulbs on for 5 hours in between.
Simplereefing
New member
shred5
Premium Member
If you like the blue look 6500k is not that, I would stick with what you were looking at.. Also 6500k usually are higher par. If you did want 6500k go with one or you may get a yellow green tint.
If you like a whiter look 6500 is ok.
Bpb
New member
To me the 6500k bulbs have their own flavor honestly. Good bad or indifferent they're just another overall vibe of viewing a tank. It'll look a lot more natural. Again. The point to me in using them is pigment development that will show better when viewed under blues. You may not enjoy the look while they're on. Which is why I do a shorter photoperiod.
Right now I run 4 blue+, 2 purple+, 1 true actinic, 1 6500k. But I have no led supplements.
In the future on my next tank (which I have, it's just not set up) I will run 4 blue+, 2 6500k, and 2 purple+, as well as 2 SBReef SBAR blue actinic led strips.
I previously ran 2 6500k bulbs. I didn't hate it but I didn't like the look as well since I don't currently run LEDs. Swapping one out for a purple+ has allowed me to keep those wavelengths present, though not as heavy, and has helped with the displaying of color.
Again. Running led supplements changes the formula though
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Simplereefing
New member
Bpb
New member
Similar. But not exact. If you look at the spectral plots between the coral+ and say the giesemann tropic, they appear to use similar phosphors as they have similar high peaks, the 6500k just has more. It is more evenly distributed among the green red and blue, rather than being heavily blue weighted with a touch of the rest. I actually don't MIND how the 6500k looks. It looks very natural like shallow water. A 2:4 mix of 6500k and blue+ will look nearly identical to water at a 10-15 foot depth (what id consider very shallow). It's white and bright. And what blue you do see is more likely a reflection of the blue sky itself than actual attenuation of light color
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Chicagoreef2016
New member
Ok, so I have an 8 bulb going over my current build. I plan on running 6 bulbs during the day, and use the other 2 as my sunrise/sunset. I currently have a 8 bulb ATI over my cube and run 2 Blue+ for sunrise/sunset, and these for my 6 bulb: KZ fiji purple, 4 Blue+, & 1 Coral Plus. Like but don't love the setup so looking to change it up on the new tank. Thoughts on the below for the 6 bulb:
1 KZ Fiji Purple
1 GE 6500k (is Giesman just as good?)
3 ATI Blue+
1 ATI Coral+
And for my sunrise/sunset, what should I pair with a Blue+? I am so so on the Blue only with T5s, doesn't pop like with LEDs (previously had a Hydra 26HD) so willing to try something different this time with the T5.
Thanks!
1 KZ Fiji Purple
1 GE 6500k (is Giesman just as good?)
3 ATI Blue+
1 ATI Coral+
And for my sunrise/sunset, what should I pair with a Blue+? I am so so on the Blue only with T5s, doesn't pop like with LEDs (previously had a Hydra 26HD) so willing to try something different this time with the T5.
Thanks!
Have you ever tried 420 nm true actinic? I would run 2 on the D/D channel personally. My opinion is the blue plus bulb by itself is ugly with all that green, I need purple/ coral/ white to balance it.
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Keith@ ATI NA
Member
most of these questions are addressed in our latest blog post here:
https://www.atinorthamerica.com/t5-bulb-layout/
https://www.atinorthamerica.com/t5-bulb-layout/
paal
New member
Here is the thing:
If you buy 6 bulbs and you are not happy with the look, you will change some of them. Doh!
If you buy 6 bulbs and you are “ok” with the look, you will change some of them.
If you buy 6 bulbs and LOVE the look, you eventually start wondering if it would look even better if you just changed that ONE bulb…
Unless you live super close to the "bulb store", I strongly suggest you buy more bulbs right away to start playing with. It is really hard to get it right the first time, and even if you do, you STILL probably want to tweak it. Other people’s online pictures rarely show the exact color IMO.
I suggest you buy extra B+ and C+ to play around with. B&C are bulbs that you will for sure end up using in future replacements anyway (unless in the rare case of a 4B/2P combo) As long as you can afford the initial purchase, you lose nothing in the long run.
As for P+ and Act+, just get 1 each for testing as these are bulbs that you could potentially end up not using.
This is my recommended starting list for a 6 bulb fixture. It will save you a lot of “what if…?”
4 Blue Plus
3 Coral Plus
1 Purple Plus
1 Actinic
Even with the extra bulbs available, you will still probably wonder how other brand’s bulbs will look etc... It’s the damn T5 curse!
For this reason alone, I am very glad that I went the hybrid route. It is much easier then to get the T5s “about right”, and then fine tune the overall color with the LEDs (But even then I have still played around a lot with bulb changes
)Good luck
Here is the thing:
If you buy 6 bulbs and you are not happy with the look, you will change some of them. Doh!
If you buy 6 bulbs and you are "œok" with the look, you will change some of them.
If you buy 6 bulbs and LOVE the look, you eventually start wondering if it would look even better if you just changed that ONE bulb"¦
Unless you live super close to the "bulb store", I strongly suggest you buy more bulbs right away to start playing with. It is really hard to get it right the first time, and even if you do, you STILL probably want to tweak it. Other people's online pictures rarely show the exact color IMO.
I suggest you buy extra B+ and C+ to play around with. B&C are bulbs that you will for sure end up using in future replacements anyway (unless in the rare case of a 4B/2P combo) As long as you can afford the initial purchase, you lose nothing in the long run.
As for P+ and Act+, just get 1 each for testing as these are bulbs that you could potentially end up not using.
This is my recommended starting list for a 6 bulb fixture. It will save you a lot of "œwhat if"¦?"
4 Blue Plus
3 Coral Plus
1 Purple Plus
1 Actinic
Even with the extra bulbs available, you will still probably wonder how other brand's bulbs will look etc... It's the damn T5 curse!
For this reason alone, I am very glad that I went the hybrid route. It is much easier then to get the T5s "œabout right", and then fine tune the overall color with the LEDs (But even then I have still played around a lot with bulb changes
Good luck
bulbs are ordered, along with the bulbs I have coming with the unit.
4 blue+
2 coral+
1 purple+
1 actinic
ordered these last night.
combo's i'll play with for certain:
4 B+, 1 C+, 1 P+
4 B+, 2 C+ (I'm inclined to think this will be too white for my liking)
3 B+, 1 C+, 1 Actinic, 1 P+
Bulbs coming with the unit (assuming they last through shipping): 3 Blue+, 1 Coral+, 1 AB Special, 1 Purple+ (each approximately 2 months old)
Hi all!.
Anyone know if there is a site or if someone could help me with a conversion question? I had a 150 with T5s. Front to back, B+,ABS,ATI actinic, KZ fiji purple, Gies AB Azure, B+. Not sure at the end of the day what kind of look that was (20K, 10K etc). I am trying to mirror that look on a Prime HD unit. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Anyone know if there is a site or if someone could help me with a conversion question? I had a 150 with T5s. Front to back, B+,ABS,ATI actinic, KZ fiji purple, Gies AB Azure, B+. Not sure at the end of the day what kind of look that was (20K, 10K etc). I am trying to mirror that look on a Prime HD unit. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Both will work in the long run and are good choices.
Option one is somewhat higher overall costs and much higher startup costs.
Option 2 will be simpler and likely more effective.
Do you want the super blue led sunrise or would you be happy with a pair of 420NM true actinic on the dawn/dusk channel?
Are you okay with the totally flat look of only T-5?
Personally I would go with the 4 bulb with one XHO or a pair of standard reefbrites. With a std 90 gallon (same dimensions but a foot longer) I run a 4X54 ATI (2 coral+ and 2 true actinic) and a BML 20K multichannel bar.
reefslugs
Active member
T5
T5
Here is a stupid question. When ever I'm looking at my tank. My eyes burn, for hours after. I am not looking straight up at the light. Just the reef with in. The one thing is my light is missing the clear plastic lens. Could that be allowing UV light out? Burning my eyes and the corals?
T5
Here is a stupid question. When ever I'm looking at my tank. My eyes burn, for hours after. I am not looking straight up at the light. Just the reef with in. The one thing is my light is missing the clear plastic lens. Could that be allowing UV light out? Burning my eyes and the corals?
Keith@ ATI NA
Member
Double Ended halide bulbs require a glass shield. If you are running T5 like your signature states UV damage is highly unlikely.
reefslugs
Active member
ati six bulb placment
ati six bulb placment
I just bought a ATI six bulb fixture. I have read everyone's bulb combo. My Question is the bulb order. If I run three B+, two C+, and P+. In what order would you put them in? With the second and the fifth circuit, which is the two bulb channel. Wouldn't I want to put the B+'s there for dusk to down look? Then in what order used I put them in?
ati six bulb placment
I just bought a ATI six bulb fixture. I have read everyone's bulb combo. My Question is the bulb order. If I run three B+, two C+, and P+. In what order would you put them in? With the second and the fifth circuit, which is the two bulb channel. Wouldn't I want to put the B+'s there for dusk to down look? Then in what order used I put them in?
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