The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[TropTrea]

I'm sure it has been asked many times in the 53 pages of this thread but...

I just got a ATI Sunpower 6x54 for my 75g mixed. Can you reccomend bulbs, placement and which ones are for dawn/dusk?

For bulbs I would recommend either of two options

1 GE 65,000 or an ATI Aqua Blue Special
1 ATI Purple Plus
4 ATI Blue Plus

The GE bulb will give a "Whiter" look so it is a little on personal preference. But whit the Aqua Blue Special you may lack a little in the reflective reds.

For Dawn to dusk. Again personal preference between running 2 ATI BLue Plus bulbs or 1 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Purple Plus.

For bubl placement I like the full spectrum bulb (either the GE or the Aqua Blue) in the third position from the front. Then have a Blue Plus on each side of it in position 2 and 4 from the front. Now depending on if you want ttwo Blue Plus bulbs or a Purple Plus in Dawn to dusk will determine position 5. If yYou put the Blue Plus in there then position 6 would be my purrple plus.

Now I am assuming 2 and 5 are your dawn to dusk positions.

 

[jacob.morgan78]

I have the 72" aquatic life fixture. 12 36" 39 watt bulbs in six rows. I'm curious if the bulb configuration has enough of the correct spectrum for my mixed reef. I wouldn't usually be concerned but I'm getting a maxima clam and want it to be healthy. I'm ordering it from live aquaria so I'm assuming they have it under metal halides. So is this ok? Can I get away with leaving the clam on the sand? It's a 6' 125 gallon tank.

Front
ATI Blue+
Aquatic Life Purple bulb
GE 6500K
ATI Blue+
ATI Coral+
ATI Blue+

Rows 2 and 4 are the twilight rows

Thanks for any guidance!!

 

[mos90]

i have the same fixture. i tried the purple on the twilight, i did not like it. it was to white for me so i have 2 blue+'s on 2&4.

as far as with all 6 bulbs on yours is about the same as mine. i have 10k in place of your 6500k. i love it. im guessing 15-18k ish.

how high do u plan to hang it? any tops? if u hang it at 8" above the water with no tops your clam should be fine. par should be 150ish on the sand.

 

[jacob.morgan78]

I took off the splash guard and I have screens to keep fish from jumping out from BRS.

I'm also using the legs to place the fixture on top if the aquarium.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have the 72" aquatic life fixture. 12 36" 39 watt bulbs in six rows. I'm curious if the bulb configuration has enough of the correct spectrum for my mixed reef. I wouldn't usually be concerned but I'm getting a maxima clam and want it to be healthy. I'm ordering it from live aquaria so I'm assuming they have it under metal halides. So is this ok? Can I get away with leaving the clam on the sand? It's a 6' 125 gallon tank.

Front
ATI Blue+
Aquatic Life Purple bulb
GE 6500K
ATI Blue+
ATI Coral+
ATI Blue+

Rows 2 and 4 are the twilight rows

Thanks for any guidance!!

Keep the clam up on the rocks under the lamps, about half way or so.

 

[ticklem]

Ok so its time for me to get a bigger tank and I am struggling about my choices on lighting. I had a Ecotech Radion on my 40 breeder for a couple month and decided to take it off and go back to my T5's. Basically the corner were just too dark for me. So my 5 bulb combo is 4 ATI blue +, 1 ATI purple Plus, 1 UVL Super Actinic. I love this lighting combo it puts off a nice 20K look and I keep clams/sps on the sand bed in my 16" deep tank and get great growth. I am definately a blue man as I have a very colorful tank and everything POPs at a 20K color.
So I am getting a 120 48"x24"x24" Perfecto and can't decide between these 3 options
1. 2 ecotech radions 20K setting
2. 2 ecotech Radions 14K settings with 2 ATI blue + t5's
3. New ATI 8x54watt dimmable T5 fixture with 6 ATI blue+, 1 Purple +, and 1 Coral +.

 

[sneaton]

i have a 75 gallon sps/lps tank.....i run a 6 bulb retro in a canopy and my bulbs are 11 months old so its time to change.....the old bulbs are 3 blue plus and 3 purple plus......i just picked up 3 blue + ,1 purple +,1 KZ 14K,and 1 giessman actinic.......what order should i put them in? dusk/dawn are slots 2 and 4..........can i change all at once? it would be hard to do 1 at a time since i have a canopy....i could do the back 3 at once and then one at a time from there pretty easy


thanks for the help

 

[TropTrea]

i have a 75 gallon sps/lps tank.....i run a 6 bulb retro in a canopy and my bulbs are 11 months old so its time to change.....the old bulbs are 3 blue plus and 3 purple plus......i just picked up 3 blue + ,1 purple +,1 KZ 14K,and 1 giessman actinic.......what order should i put them in? dusk/dawn are slots 2 and 4..........can i change all at once? it would be hard to do 1 at a time since i have a canopy....i could do the back 3 at once and then one at a time from there pretty easy


thanks for the help

Front
1 Actinic
2. Blue Plus
3. KZ 14K
4 Blue Plus
5 Purple Plus
6 Blue Plus

 

[TropTrea]

Ok so its time for me to get a bigger tank and I am struggling about my choices on lighting. I had a Ecotech Radion on my 40 breeder for a couple month and decided to take it off and go back to my T5's. Basically the corner were just too dark for me. So my 5 bulb combo is 4 ATI blue +, 1 ATI purple Plus, 1 UVL Super Actinic. I love this lighting combo it puts off a nice 20K look and I keep clams/sps on the sand bed in my 16" deep tank and get great growth. I am definately a blue man as I have a very colorful tank and everything POPs at a 20K color.
So I am getting a 120 48"x24"x24" Perfecto and can't decide between these 3 options
1. 2 ecotech radions 20K setting
2. 2 ecotech Radions 14K settings with 2 ATI blue + t5's
3. New ATI 8x54watt dimmable T5 fixture with 6 ATI blue+, 1 Purple +, and 1 Coral +.

You never said what size of a tankl the larger tank will be?

But from your options I would go with option number 3. 'hoewever I would not be happy with the Coral Plus as the only fuller spectrum bulb for my personal taste.

a Fouth OPtion would be combining a 1 4 Bulb T-5 fixture with two DIY LED strips one in the back and one in the front. using a 50/50 split between royal blue and blue LED's

 

[ReefMonkey13]

6 lamps. Don't know anything about the LED's you are running but I would assume with 6 lamps you'd be good.

Thanks Grim for your guidance and all that you do to help everyone with their questions.

Just got an ati sunflower 6bulb fixture. So what is the go to bulb combo for a 20kish look and good growth.

Thanks again

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim for your guidance and all that you do to help everyone with their questions.

Just got an ati sunflower 6bulb fixture. So what is the go to bulb combo for a 20kish look and good growth.

Thanks again

4 Blue Plus, 1 purple plus and a Coral Plus is WHAT i'D USE.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok so its time for me to get a bigger tank and I am struggling about my choices on lighting. I had a Ecotech Radion on my 40 breeder for a couple month and decided to take it off and go back to my T5's. Basically the corner were just too dark for me. So my 5 bulb combo is 4 ATI blue +, 1 ATI purple Plus, 1 UVL Super Actinic. I love this lighting combo it puts off a nice 20K look and I keep clams/sps on the sand bed in my 16" deep tank and get great growth. I am definately a blue man as I have a very colorful tank and everything POPs at a 20K color.
So I am getting a 120 48"x24"x24" Perfecto and can't decide between these 3 options
1. 2 ecotech radions 20K setting
2. 2 ecotech Radions 14K settings with 2 ATI blue + t5's
3. New ATI 8x54watt dimmable T5 fixture with 6 ATI blue+, 1 Purple +, and 1 Coral +.

If you have any DIY skills option 4, build your own LED system. If I can do it there isn't a whole lot of skill involved.

Of your listed choices I'd go with 3 but use 6 Blue Plus and 2 UVL 75/25. They are a mellow full specrum lamp that is tilted a little toward pink. The PAR from them is crap but the 6 blue plus should be more than enough for your tank.

 

[Lhewie]

Are the Aquatic Life T5 6 Lamp HO good for 55 gallon SPS? Just wondering..

 

[TropTrea]

Are the Aquatic Life T5 6 Lamp HO good for 55 gallon SPS? Just wondering..

Do to the fact your not talking abot a 24" tall tank yes you can get away with that on a 55 gallon. Unfortunatly there is not enough space for 8 bulbs with it only being about 13" front to back. SPS should do great in the top half of the tank possibly some even in the top 2/3's.

 

[918ReefCpl]

Proper bulb Choice for Aquaticlife 12x39w 72" fixture

Proper bulb Choice for Aquaticlife 12x39w 72" fixture

Currently we display an 125g Oceanic Tank with a Aquaticlife 12 x 39w x 72" fixture [T5 bulbs].

We would welcome any suggestions, comments, ideas as to what bulbs to place into this fixture and their proper positioning.
Any idea's what the one's marked with a (?) are/manufactured by would be helpfull...

Current Bulbs and Fixture position: (Rows 2 & 4 are dawn/dusk)
TANK Position A (Leftside) - Position B (Rightside)
1: Aquaticlife 10,000K - Aquaticlife 10,000K
2: Aquaticlife 420/460nm -Aquaticlife 420/460nm
3: Aquaticlife 10,000K - Aquaticlife 10,000K
******* (6) 2 bulb LED 'blue' nightlights *******
4: Aquaticlife 420/460nm - Aquaticlife 420/460nm
5: BMC TL5HE21W/B (?) - BMC TL5HE21W/B (?)
6: 03 Actinic PTI (?) - Aquaticlife 420/460nm

current occupants:
Invertebrates: Arrow crab (1), Emerald crab (1). 80lbs +live rock, snails (10?),hermits (30?), Hawaiian blue spot sea hare (1?), peppermint shrimp (5?), cleaner shrimp(2), 2 tuxedo urchin, 1 pencil urchin & 2 medium Nasarius.

Fish: include Yellow tang, 2 Adult Percula Clowns, 6 line wrasse, bicolor blenny, 2 FireFish, yellow goby, coral beauty, 2 blue streak cleaner wrasses.

LeathersToadstool/Devils hand, Blue and Green mushrooms (small) and a small zoa group.

Would like to add a GBTA and RBTA for our clowns and a bit of different GSP, ZOA's and then work our way up to clams & other corals.

:wavehand: THANK-YOU!!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Currently we display an 125g Oceanic Tank with a Aquaticlife 12 x 39w x 72" fixture [T5 bulbs].

We would welcome any suggestions, comments, ideas as to what bulbs to place into this fixture and their proper positioning.
Any idea's what the one's marked with a (?) are/manufactured by would be helpfull...

Current Bulbs and Fixture position: (Rows 2 & 4 are dawn/dusk)
TANK Position A (Leftside) - Position B (Rightside)
1: Aquaticlife 10,000K - Aquaticlife 10,000K
2: Aquaticlife 420/460nm -Aquaticlife 420/460nm
3: Aquaticlife 10,000K - Aquaticlife 10,000K
******* (6) 2 bulb LED 'blue' nightlights *******
4: Aquaticlife 420/460nm - Aquaticlife 420/460nm
5: BMC TL5HE21W/B (?) - BMC TL5HE21W/B (?)
6: 03 Actinic PTI (?) - Aquaticlife 420/460nm

current occupants:
Invertebrates: Arrow crab (1), Emerald crab (1). 80lbs +live rock, snails (10?),hermits (30?), Hawaiian blue spot sea hare (1?), peppermint shrimp (5?), cleaner shrimp(2), 2 tuxedo urchin, 1 pencil urchin & 2 medium Nasarius.

Fish: include Yellow tang, 2 Adult Percula Clowns, 6 line wrasse, bicolor blenny, 2 FireFish, yellow goby, coral beauty, 2 blue streak cleaner wrasses.

LeathersToadstool/Devils hand, Blue and Green mushrooms (small) and a small zoa group.

Would like to add a GBTA and RBTA for our clowns and a bit of different GSP, ZOA's and then work our way up to clams & other corals.

:wavehand: THANK-YOU!!!

I'd use 4 rows of ATI Blue Plus, 1 row of Purple Plus and 1 row of the Aquatic life 10K.

 

[918ReefCpl]

I'd use 4 rows of ATI Blue Plus, 1 row of Purple Plus and 1 row of the Aquatic life 10K.

What slot positions do you recommend for these bulbs / hours to run?
The Aquatic life 10K are not new & will be eligible for replacement soon....thoughts?
What color will this combination produce?
Thank you for all the suggestions & help!!! :idea:

 

[TropTrea]

What slot positions do you recommend for these bulbs / hours to run?
The Aquatic life 10K are not new & will be eligible for replacement soon....thoughts?
What color will this combination produce?
Thank you for all the suggestions & help!!! :idea:

Front
1 ATI Blue Plus
2 Aquatic life 10K
3 ATI Blue Plus
Blue LED's
4 ATI Purple Plus
5 ATI Blue Plus
6 ATI Blue Plus

You may need to modify this so you have either two Blue Plus or 1 Blue Plus and one Purple Plus on your dawn to dusk.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What slot positions do you recommend for these bulbs / hours to run?
The Aquatic life 10K are not new & will be eligible for replacement soon....thoughts?
What color will this combination produce?
Thank you for all the suggestions & help!!! :idea:

Then I'd use a Giesemann Aquablue which is a little more white than the ATI version which is blueish.

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

If you don't like having the purple plus in the dusk/dawn mix move it back a slot and put the blue plus in number 2

 

[skimmy]

been out of the t5 game for a bit...
is the giesemann actinic+ or ATI blue+
still the bluest bulb around??