The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
- Start date
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
ATI Is way better but the Tek is plenty for a breeder tank like that.
Thanks again!
The Coral Plus was not in stock so I ended up with these bulbs instead:
5 x Blue Plus
2 x Purple Plus
1 x Aquablue Special
How does this setup sound?:
Front:
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
TropTrea
New member
That is almost exactly what I'm running right now with the exception that I went back to the GE 6,500 instead of the the Aqua Blue Special. When I went to 5 Blue Plus's and the Aqua Blue special it looked a little too Blue in my personal taste. With the GE that I pulled out years ago because I thought it was too yellow though against Atinics it worked out much better with the 5 Blue Plus bulbs.
Poeticlydead
New member
Hey Grim, I was getting ready to order new bulbs and noticed the new coral plus bulb - haven't seen one my self yet and wanted to get your thoughts on it.
I run a 48" x 54watt 6 bulb T5 fixture over my 90 gallon
I've been running
4 - blue+
1 - purple+
1 - aquablue+
Any reason to change?
I run a 48" x 54watt 6 bulb T5 fixture over my 90 gallon
I've been running
4 - blue+
1 - purple+
1 - aquablue+
Any reason to change?
Last edited:
TropTrea
New member
If you go with the new Coral Plus as a single replacement for an aqua blue plus expect your tank to look a little more blue. I believe these are designed as a general purpose bulb mimicking the color you would get with one blue + and one aqua blue Special.
BowieReefer84
New member
I recently aquired a aquactinics solar flare (http://www.aquactinics.com/pages/Solar_Flare.php)
It overdrives the 48" 54w bulbs with it's icecap ballasts.
I am wondering what the best combo would be for this fixture for getting good par and a nice 14k"ish" color. I have heard that the UVL bulbs are meant to be overdriven? This is my first T5 fixture, and would appreciate your insight. Thanks so much for your contributions on the forum.
It overdrives the 48" 54w bulbs with it's icecap ballasts.
I am wondering what the best combo would be for this fixture for getting good par and a nice 14k"ish" color. I have heard that the UVL bulbs are meant to be overdriven? This is my first T5 fixture, and would appreciate your insight. Thanks so much for your contributions on the forum.
toddanddaneen
New member
6 bulb combo
6 bulb combo
Hi I just bought a 6 bulb aquatic life fixture for my 40 breeder I don't like the color of the bulbs it came with also my lfs stocks giessman and kz bulbs but no ati. I would like to get a good combo and stick with what my lfs stocks thanks
6 bulb combo
Hi I just bought a 6 bulb aquatic life fixture for my 40 breeder I don't like the color of the bulbs it came with also my lfs stocks giessman and kz bulbs but no ati. I would like to get a good combo and stick with what my lfs stocks thanks
TropTrea
New member
The two 10.000K are probably putting ut more full spectrum light than he needs. But the Atinics are not giving him enough blue light. So I would simply add ATI's Blue Plus for his T-5's.
TropTrea
New member
Hi I just bought a 6 bulb aquatic life fixture for my 40 breeder I don't like the color of the bulbs it came with also my lfs stocks giessman and kz bulbs but no ati. I would like to get a good combo and stick with what my lfs stocks thanks
If you cannot get the ATI's then I would go with the KZ bulbs. 4 of their Super Blues, 1 Fiji Purple. an ther third bulb either a New Generation if you like a deeper blue look, or their Coral 10,000H if you like a crisper white look.
Start with a Super blue in the front than put the Full spectrum bubl in the second slot, followed by another Blue and then the Purple.
Austin_Scuba
New member
This thread is awesome.
I'm looking for an 8 bulb combo for my custom 85g. It's 36"L x 23"W x 24"H. It's going to be a mixed tank but I'd like to keep SPS and have clams on the substrate like in my previous tank with halides. I purchased an 8 bulb 36" ATI Sunpower fixture, and I figure by raising it to a foot over the water I should have the light spread for a 23"W tank but still enough light for the 24" height?
I was thinking this combo:
FRONT
ATI blue plus
ATI blue plus
ATI aqua blue 11k
ATI purple plus
ATI blue plus
ATI purple plus
ATI aqua blue 11k OR a 6.5k daylight bulb
ATI blue plus
Thoughts?
I'm looking for an 8 bulb combo for my custom 85g. It's 36"L x 23"W x 24"H. It's going to be a mixed tank but I'd like to keep SPS and have clams on the substrate like in my previous tank with halides. I purchased an 8 bulb 36" ATI Sunpower fixture, and I figure by raising it to a foot over the water I should have the light spread for a 23"W tank but still enough light for the 24" height?
I was thinking this combo:
FRONT
ATI blue plus
ATI blue plus
ATI aqua blue 11k
ATI purple plus
ATI blue plus
ATI purple plus
ATI aqua blue 11k OR a 6.5k daylight bulb
ATI blue plus
Thoughts?
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Lower it to 8" and go with 5 ATI blue plus, 2 ATI purple plus and 1 ge 6500k. grab an ati coral plus to play with as well.
BowieReefer84
New member
Help please... Also, what height should I hang this over tank, and how far down can I keep acros?
So I finally got an ati sunpower. It came with an acrylic shield. Any reason I need to keep the shield on? I'm thinking since its only got the one fan to leave it off. Also, planning on mounting it 8" over water line, unless someone reccomends different. It's a 48" fixture for a 72 bow front of that matters.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
DO NOT REMOVE THE SHIELD!
It is there on purpose and is part of the cooling feature that ATI uses. You will severely hamper the cooling and in turn have worse performance and shortened bulb life.
Goodness, do I ever need your help Grim!
Goodness, do I ever need your help Grim!
:wavehand:Hi Grim!
I'm just a mess and here's why... I have a coralife 72" retro in my canopy that has 4 96W CF's and 3 150W MH's. Par at the bottom is 80-90 and almost 170 at 12". I've lost more corals than I care to think about because of not knowing they were dying from the lack of light!:sad1: The tank is 72"Lx18"Wx24Deep. I need new lighting and am afraid to buy thinking I won't buy what's needed for a mixed reef (SPS, LPS and softies). I've researched til I'm blue in the face:headwalls: The lighting "has" to go in the canopy. I like LEDS "but" the cost, some people like them and some don't and they are changing daily! T5's are proven, offer good Par, lots of color combinations, etc....
Can you guide this senior woman toward new T5 lighting? I can't find a 72"retro" and I probably can't put it in but maybe could find someone who could:thumbsup: I've measured the best I could and from the top of the canopy to water line is about 10"...so looking at what, 34" to the bottom of the tank?! I have 4 fans in the canopy...2 bring in fresh air and the other 2 on the opposite end blow out. Could I mount a fixture or 2 36" fixtures in it? Fixtures would be easier for me but would I have a huge heat issue? Please help
Goodness, do I ever need your help Grim!
:wavehand:Hi Grim!
I'm just a mess and here's why... I have a coralife 72" retro in my canopy that has 4 96W CF's and 3 150W MH's. Par at the bottom is 80-90 and almost 170 at 12". I've lost more corals than I care to think about because of not knowing they were dying from the lack of light!:sad1: The tank is 72"Lx18"Wx24Deep. I need new lighting and am afraid to buy thinking I won't buy what's needed for a mixed reef (SPS, LPS and softies). I've researched til I'm blue in the face:headwalls: The lighting "has" to go in the canopy. I like LEDS "but" the cost, some people like them and some don't and they are changing daily! T5's are proven, offer good Par, lots of color combinations, etc....
Can you guide this senior woman toward new T5 lighting? I can't find a 72"retro" and I probably can't put it in but maybe could find someone who could:thumbsup: I've measured the best I could and from the top of the canopy to water line is about 10"...so looking at what, 34" to the bottom of the tank?! I have 4 fans in the canopy...2 bring in fresh air and the other 2 on the opposite end blow out. Could I mount a fixture or 2 36" fixtures in it? Fixtures would be easier for me but would I have a huge heat issue? Please help
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
Great fixture on paper. Problem is in real life the Ice Cap ballasts just hammer the lamps. If it were mine I would change out the ballasts to standard T5's and use 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple plus and 1 GE 6500K. If you leave the IC ballast in use an ATI Aquablue in place of the GE 6500K
The Grim Reefer
Ready for some NOBALL!!!
:wavehand:Hi Grim!
I'm just a mess and here's why... I have a coralife 72" retro in my canopy that has 4 96W CF's and 3 150W MH's. Par at the bottom is 80-90 and almost 170 at 12". I've lost more corals than I care to think about because of not knowing they were dying from the lack of light!:sad1: The tank is 72"Lx18"Wx24Deep. I need new lighting and am afraid to buy thinking I won't buy what's needed for a mixed reef (SPS, LPS and softies). I've researched til I'm blue in the face:headwalls: The lighting "has" to go in the canopy. I like LEDS "but" the cost, some people like them and some don't and they are changing daily! T5's are proven, offer good Par, lots of color combinations, etc....
Can you guide this senior woman toward new T5 lighting? I can't find a 72"retro" and I probably can't put it in but maybe could find someone who could:thumbsup: I've measured the best I could and from the top of the canopy to water line is about 10"...so looking at what, 34" to the bottom of the tank?! I have 4 fans in the canopy...2 bring in fresh air and the other 2 on the opposite end blow out. Could I mount a fixture or 2 36" fixtures in it? Fixtures would be easier for me but would I have a huge heat issue? Please help
Get a 80 watt 6 lamp LET retro from Reefgeek with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and a GE 6500K Or a 6x80 Sunpower fixture. With 10" you can hang the fixture in the canopy, just make sure you have at least 2" between the top of the fixture and the top of the canopy, leave your fans as is except make sure you have your exhaust fans running on the same side of the canopy as the exhaust side of the fixture
This lighting is 60 inches long but works fine on a 72" tank, you just can't place high lighting critters in the last 8 inches or so at each end of the tank.
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