The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[cayecaulker]

Too much Light?

Too much Light?

Hello T5 people!

I am in need of some advice...

I seem to change out my 54w bulbs out every 7-9 months. I have been doing this for 3-4 years. Lately I've been thinking about reducing the par over my aquarium. I currently run 12 54w bulbs over a 48 x 30 x 20 rimless. I'm starting to believe this is a bit "overkill". I have a SPS dominate tank and my corals grow well however the coloring is a little on the pastel-ish side. I've been doing the SPS thing for sometime and I know there's more involved than lighting (nutrients, H2o chemistry, etc.) however, I think lowering the intensity might aide in deeper coloration. I know I can raise the light fixture but the amount of light spilling over the sides would be unacceptable (wife).

I currently have this configuration:

Front
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
ATI Purple +
ATI Blue +
Middle
ATI Blue +
KZ New Gen
ATI Purple +
ATI Blue +
Back
ATI Blue +
KZ New Gen
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +

I really like the crisp color of my current combination (14,000K - 18,000K) however, as mentioned above, it really packs a powerful punch. Having said that, bringing the combination closer to 20,000k or more would be alright. I am not worried about growth (other parameters will take care of that) I just want more "depth" in coloration.

What would you recommend changing out? I do prefer ATI bulbs but would consider other options.

Thanks for taking the time to read my long-winded post! :spin2:

 

[Gyr]

Re 6 bulb ATI running four blue +, one coral plus, one purple plus

A little more blue but will look good

Yeah, I have found it to be a little too blue for my taste. I am thinking of swapping out one of the blue +. Would you recommend going with a second coral + ? I am wondering if that would give me enough PAR for my SPS dominant tank.

Thanks,

Kurt

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello T5 people!

I am in need of some advice...

I seem to change out my 54w bulbs out every 7-9 months. I have been doing this for 3-4 years. Lately I've been thinking about reducing the par over my aquarium. I currently run 12 54w bulbs over a 48 x 30 x 20 rimless. I'm starting to believe this is a bit "overkill". I have a SPS dominate tank and my corals grow well however the coloring is a little on the pastel-ish side. I've been doing the SPS thing for sometime and I know there's more involved than lighting (nutrients, H2o chemistry, etc.) however, I think lowering the intensity might aide in deeper coloration. I know I can raise the light fixture but the amount of light spilling over the sides would be unacceptable (wife).



I currently have this configuration:

Front
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +
ATI Purple +
ATI Blue +
Middle
ATI Blue +
KZ New Gen
ATI Purple +
ATI Blue +
Back
ATI Blue +
KZ New Gen
ATI Blue +
ATI Blue +

I really like the crisp color of my current combination (14,000K - 18,000K) however, as mentioned above, it really packs a powerful punch. Having said that, bringing the combination closer to 20,000k or more would be alright. I am not worried about growth (other parameters will take care of that) I just want more "depth" in coloration.

What would you recommend changing out? I do prefer ATI bulbs but would consider other options.

Thanks for taking the time to read my long-winded post! :spin2:

For the color Try swapping out the center most New Gen for a GE 6500K. For intensity swap out a couple Blue Plus for actinics

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re 6 bulb ATI running four blue +, one coral plus, one purple plus

Yeah, I have found it to be a little too blue for my taste. I am thinking of swapping out one of the blue +. Would you recommend going with a second coral + ? I am wondering if that would give me enough PAR for my SPS dominant tank.

Thanks,

Kurt

Be worth a shot

 

[Gyr]

Thanks, Grim.

 

[billy71]

Ok here is what I'm doing. Currently have 3 175 mh with PC actinic on my 210. I'm going to be making a canopy and I'm going inter grate my 3 mh into my canopy and I'm going to switch the actinics to 4 48" t5 actinics as they will overlap each other in the middle of the tank. Now do you think the actinics would be good or some aquablues. Also I will be using an icecap 660 that I have laying around. What do you think does this sound good!! Or any suggestion would be great.

 

[TropTrea]

Ok here is what I'm doing. Currently have 3 175 mh with PC actinic on my 210. I'm going to be making a canopy and I'm going inter grate my 3 mh into my canopy and I'm going to switch the actinics to 4 48" t5 actinics as they will overlap each other in the middle of the tank. Now do you think the actinics would be good or some aquablues. Also I will be using an icecap 660 that I have laying around. What do you think does this sound good!! Or any suggestion would be great.

If your going with T-5's then I would use just ATI Blue Plus bulbs.

However if I were suplementing Metal Hides today on a 210 gallon tank I would use home built strips of LED's one in the front angled to the rear and other in the rear angled to the front. With the 6' long tank I would us 6 Royal Blue and 6 Blue LED's on each strip. Run them with 1050 ma driver and you will be getting roughly 42 Watts of lighting out of each strip . The big thing is it would me much more blue concentrated than any of the T-5's bulbs so you will need less wattage. With the MH's they produce some UV light so you realy do not need to suplement any shorter wavelenghts than the Royal Blues do.

 

[mikesreef]

60 inch AYI bulbs on a 72 inch tank

60 inch AYI bulbs on a 72 inch tank

Having ATI T5 bulbs which are 60 inch on a 72 inch tank. Any problems with light on the 6 inch's on each side of tank. Being they don't make a T5 72 inch bulb want to know if anyone has done this and do they see any degreation of light on the sides. I know you can use 2-36 inch bulbs as an alternative....This is a fish only aquarium.....

 

[cpandrewschmidt]

Hi all,
I'm looking to supplement 180 gallon w/ my LED's w/ 4, 48in T5 bulbs. I feel I'm missing some of the spectrum. Locally I can get these from a guy. I don't know anything about t5's but are these parts I need? Wondering about the ballasts and if they are large enough for just a supplement? Looks like they are Phillips Advance, but I can't make out the model. Looks like CN-2554-002 ? Thanks

Andrew

 

[Reefahholic]

Hey Grim, should I get the 6 or 4 blub T5 for my 90/g? Also, what bulb combination would you do for which ever one you pick?

Here is the problem:

The 4 bulb has a 12" width. The 6 bulb has 16" width.

Will the light on the six bulb even penetrate through my overflow box? Or would it illuminate it too much? I don't want the inside of the overflow box lit up. You would be able to see the silicone, elbows, and gutter guard.

I'm thinking maybe the 4 blub due to the space from the overflow to the front glass of the aquarium is 12" exactly. The same size as a 4 blub set up.

Any thoughts? Suggestions.. Check out the pictures.

Also, I plan on doing a mixed reef, but not real heavy with corals. Just enough to be pretty.

Front view..

 

[lxeroxl]

Have a question on cooling overdriven t5s My canopy has two holes in the center that were there from previous owner. Would it be ok to throw 2 fans up there pulling air out and then place two fans on the back or sides blowing air in on the end caps.

My att 8x80 on my bigger tank has its fans slightly off center on the top so I figured this would also be ok on a retro. I would love to get away with just using the fans in the center due to noise concers The holes are sized for 120mm computer fans.

Any ideas to best cool the overdriven reto would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jaysreefworld]

I sure somewhere on here someone is talking about growth. But I'm considering using the ati pm 10x39w + 4x39w over my 3'x3'x2'h tank. This tank will be sps loaded mostly acros. Can anyone tell me the kind of growth rates they are getting.

Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Having ATI T5 bulbs which are 60 inch on a 72 inch tank. Any problems with light on the 6 inch's on each side of tank. Being they don't make a T5 72 inch bulb want to know if anyone has done this and do they see any degreation of light on the sides. I know you can use 2-36 inch bulbs as an alternative....This is a fish only aquarium.....

I've used them on a 125 and the 60" work fine. It's better if you can keep them 5 or 6 inches above the water so the light can spread but even closer works OK.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi all,
I'm looking to supplement 180 gallon w/ my LED's w/ 4, 48in T5 bulbs. I feel I'm missing some of the spectrum. Locally I can get these from a guy. I don't know anything about t5's but are these parts I need? Wondering about the ballasts and if they are large enough for just a supplement? Looks like they are Phillips Advance, but I can't make out the model. Looks like CN-2554-002 ? Thanks

Andrew

Just looking at the pictures they seem right. You have to match the ballast to the lamp so make sure they are 54 watt ballasts.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, should I get the 6 or 4 blub T5 for my 90/g? Also, what bulb combination would you do for which ever one you pick?

Here is the problem:

The 4 bulb has a 12" width. The 6 bulb has 16" width.

Will the light on the six bulb even penetrate through my overflow box? Or would it illuminate it too much? I don't want the inside of the overflow box lit up. You would be able to see the silicone, elbows, and gutter guard.

I'm thinking maybe the 4 blub due to the space from the overflow to the front glass of the aquarium is 12" exactly. The same size as a 4 blub set up.

Any thoughts? Suggestions.. Check out the pictures.

Also, I plan on doing a mixed reef, but not real heavy with corals. Just enough to be pretty.

Front view..

Nice setup.

One thing to consider is using a 4 lamp fixture over the tank and turning your overflow into a frag station using an extra light or LED strip assuming the plastic is thick enough it wouldn't show through, or you could run the frag lights opposite your tank lights like a refugium.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Have a question on cooling overdriven t5s My canopy has two holes in the center that were there from previous owner. Would it be ok to throw 2 fans up there pulling air out and then place two fans on the back or sides blowing air in on the end caps.

My att 8x80 on my bigger tank has its fans slightly off center on the top so I figured this would also be ok on a retro. I would love to get away with just using the fans in the center due to noise concers The holes are sized for 120mm computer fans.

Any ideas to best cool the overdriven reto would be greatly appreciated.

Just blow air in on the ends and it will vent out the center holes on it's own, no need for fans there.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I sure somewhere on here someone is talking about growth. But I'm considering using the ati pm 10x39w + 4x39w over my 3'x3'x2'h tank. This tank will be sps loaded mostly acros. Can anyone tell me the kind of growth rates they are getting.

Thanks in advance

You might want to try putting up a thread asking the question. I am sure you will get good growth but you might get some good pictures putting up a thread.

 

[Reefahholic]

OK, thanks my brother...

I never thought of turning the overflow into a small frag station. Sounds interesting.

One last question...:sad1:

Would you be so kind as to give your opinion as to the placement and bulbs you would run on your own tank if you were limited to only a 4 blub T5 fixture as I am. I want to get the most out of it as possible (Both color wise and light penetration). :worried2:

Like...
Front
1.?
2.?
3.?
4.?
Back

Thanks for all your help sir!

Nice setup.

One thing to consider is using a 4 lamp fixture over the tank and turning your overflow into a frag station using an extra light or LED strip assuming the plastic is thick enough it wouldn't show through, or you could run the frag lights opposite your tank lights like a refugium.

 

[lxeroxl]

Just blow air in on the ends and it will vent out the center holes on it's own, no need for fans there.

Thanks for the reply, never done a retrofit before and appreciate the help. Would the sides or the back be a better location for the fans or does it not matter as long as air gets in on the end caps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the reply, never done a retrofit before and appreciate the help. Would the sides or the back be a better location for the fans or does it not matter as long as air gets in on the end caps.

Blowing in from the back at the ends.