The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[eledile]

Watts don't matter, plain and simple. PAR is the important thing to consider.

The Aquatic Life will work but I would look into an ATI Sunpower.

Aquatic Life fixture - $399 on Marine Depot. Add in $150 for 6 new bulbs and you are at $549.

ATI Sunpower - $512 with bulbs from Reefgeek.

You will have a much better fixture with the ATI and selling an ATI down the road is pretty easy if need be. Not to mention that the ATI cools the bulbs much better than AL and you won't have to replace them quite as often.

So does that mean I wouldn't need 6 bulbs on there? Cause that's my main reason for suggesting the 6 bulb fixture. Would 4 bulbs do the trick for a tank that size? it's 24"x24"x20" It comes with 2 bulbs anyways, so I can always just add another fixture or hardwire the two together or retrofit them into one..I'm just looking into all my options at the moment and don't want to get set into stone on one...

 

[TropTrea]

Thanks Dennis.

You know one thing that's amazing to me is, despite how different the purple plus looks from the blue plus, their spectral graphs are practically identical!

If you look closely at the spectrum of the Purple Plus you will see a little bump in ther red range. To the visible eye that little bump is very powerful in changing the looks of things.

 

[ebman74]

Hi Grim,
I am running an 8X80w ATI power module and am putting an diy 60"X1.5" heat sink with 24 3W Cree royal blues on the front of the fixture. What combo would you recommend running 1-9, 1 being the leds? Also what do you think about the new ATI Coral Plus bulb?

Thanks!!!

 

[MentalNote]

rtparty and Grim, thanks for all the effort you two have put into this thread.

I was wondering what the current consensus is on how undervalued the Apogee Par meter rates blue light? I have the meter and just want to get an estimate on what type of percentage I should tack onto the reading.

I am currently running 4 blue plus, 1 PB, and 1 KZ New Generation.

Thanks.

 

[WayOfTheReef]

Just pulled the trigger on an ATI Sunpower 8x80 watt fixture. How long will my bulbs be good for with the active cooling? Am I good to only do every 12 months bulb changes with the Sunpower? I will be using the fixture over mainly SPS corals.

 

[rtparty]

So does that mean I wouldn't need 6 bulbs on there? Cause that's my main reason for suggesting the 6 bulb fixture. Would 4 bulbs do the trick for a tank that size? it's 24"x24"x20" It comes with 2 bulbs anyways, so I can always just add another fixture or hardwire the two together or retrofit them into one..I'm just looking into all my options at the moment and don't want to get set into stone on one...

24" front to back? 8 bulbs is the best in that case but you can get away with 6. No way 4 will ever cover that much real estate.

 

[rtparty]

Hi Grim,
I am running an 8X80w ATI power module and am putting an diy 60"X1.5" heat sink with 24 3W Cree royal blues on the front of the fixture. What combo would you recommend running 1-9, 1 being the leds? Also what do you think about the new ATI Coral Plus bulb?

Thanks!!!

I would do 5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and 1 GE 6500k. You could grab a Coral Plus to play with and see what you think.

 

[rtparty]

rtparty and Grim, thanks for all the effort you two have put into this thread.

I was wondering what the current consensus is on how undervalued the Apogee Par meter rates blue light? I have the meter and just want to get an estimate on what type of percentage I should tack onto the reading.

I am currently running 4 blue plus, 1 PB, and 1 KZ New Generation.

Thanks.

I have no idea on an actual number but I would bet if you took a reading with just the blue bulbs on, you could add 15% or so and probably be safe.

That is a total guess though as I don't remember Apogee giving an exact number ever. I have read 20% from some people but also seen 10% from others.

 

[rtparty]

Just pulled the trigger on an ATI Sunpower 8x80 watt fixture. How long will my bulbs be good for with the active cooling? Am I good to only do every 12 months bulb changes with the Sunpower? I will be using the fixture over mainly SPS corals.

I would start replacing 2-3 month starting at the 10 month mark. Especially the blue bulbs. Daylight bulbs can go a little longer than blue and actinic.

 

[WayOfTheReef]

thanks rtparty

 

[mikesreef]

Grim, Right now I have 1 blue plus, 1 purple plus, 1 aqua blue and 1 blue plus over my tank in that order. I would like to add 2 24" bulbs in the space betw een my over flows. What would you recommed, i was thinking 1 ge 6500 and then a blue plus...your thoughts. I have sps in that area and thought the GE would add to growth...

blue plus Front
purple plus
aqua plus
blue plus
GE65K
blue plus back

 

[creefer01]

36 inch fixture. That particular one is fine for a 40. 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple plus and a KZ New Generation for lamps

Grim.....what are your thoughts on placement?? I was thinking...

Back

Blue +
Blue +
KZ New Gen
Purple +
Blue+
Blue +

Front.

What say you?

 

[TropTrea]

Grim.....what are your thoughts on placement?? I was thinking...

Back

Blue +
Blue +
KZ New Gen
Purple +
Blue+
Blue +

Front.

What say you?

Not sure what Grim would say but I'd swap the purple to move it up one slot to the front between two blues. Ths would also give you a blue on each side of the KZ.

 

[TropTrea]

Grim, Right now I have 1 blue plus, 1 purple plus, 1 aqua blue and 1 blue plus over my tank in that order. I would like to add 2 24" bulbs in the space betw een my over flows. What would you recommed, i was thinking 1 ge 6500 and then a blue plus...your thoughts. I have sps in that area and thought the GE would add to growth...

blue plus Front
purple plus
aqua plus
blue plus
GE65K
blue plus back

That should work since the aqua blue plus is strong in the blue green's and the GE is strong in the "yellow" But keep in mind you will get more growth from the Blue POlus than the full spectrum bulbs. and the brighness of the GE in a 24" lenght will give you fall out on the ends that will probably be noticable.

 

[creefer01]

Not sure what Grim would say but I'd swap the purple to move it up one slot to the front between two blues. Ths would also give you a blue on each side of the KZ.

Thanks, Dennis. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim.....what are your thoughts on placement?? I was thinking...

Back

Blue +
Blue +
KZ New Gen
Purple +
Blue+
Blue +

Front.

What say you?

I'd flip the positions of the KZ and purple Plus lamps.

 

[Faisal1976us]

Hi ,,,

I going to 10 x 80w for my full SPS tank and I like bright light to see actual sps colors and better growth , we have only ATI bulbs , did you think ( 5 blue plus , 3 aqua blue plus , 2 purple plus ) will be ok ? ?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi ,,,

I going to 10 x 80w for my full SPS tank and I like bright light to see actual sps colors and better growth , we have only ATI bulbs , did you think ( 5 blue plus , 3 aqua blue plus , 2 purple plus ) will be ok ? ?

do 6 2 and 2 instead. It will be brighter than you think.

 

[Faisal1976us]

do 6 2 and 2 instead. It will be brighter than you think.

did you mean : 6 blue +
2 aqua blue +
2 purple + ?

 

[mikesreef]

Recommendations

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Troptray, What would you recommend instead of the GE6500?