The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[smogl00]

Could ne if they are crapy fixtures. Good ones not so much but a little.

Fixture is a Current USA Sundial, not the best- think that could be it?

 

[TropTrea]

Sorry for the long post, but I have been out of the reef game for about 8 yrs and recently set up a 29g - 30"Lx12"Wx18"D with my old Eclipse System 3 hood modded with a 65w PC 50/50. I realize the hood is junk and have built a custom canopy 14" tall that is very ventilated to replace it. I have shrooms, LPS, and zoas right now, but would like to try my hand at SPS in the upper 1/3 of the tank

My question is that after reading through hundreds of threads on lighting the last couple months I am still torn on what I should do. If anyone could give a quick bit of advice one way or another I would greatly appreciate it.

Option 1 - DIY LED setup with 24 LED's - 12 RB, 2 CB, 2 UV XP-E on one driver and 8 NW XP-G on the other driver - I'm unsure of the color and have heard mixed coral growth and burn results, but like the dimmability

This is probably the option I would take starting from scratch. However if your driving the led's at 1050 ma you do have over kill. Also if your using Neutral wites 4 of them is all you need. I would use a selection of 4 Neutral Whites, 2 Cyans, 8 Blues, and 8 Royal Blues. Run the 8 Royal Blues and 2 Cyan's on one 700 ma Driver and the rest on a 1050 ma driver.

Option 2 - ATI Sunpower 4x24 - Blue+, Purple+, Coral+, Blue+ - Of all the pics and vids I've seen the T5's produce the best looking color, although lack the shimmer effect

This set up sounds good. But a lot here is on your personal color taste. Your options are the full spectrum bulb between the coral +, Aqua Blue Plus, a 10,000K bulb and a GE 6,500K. The first will give you a bluer look and as you go through the other bulbs each will make it slightly brighter than the prior.

cost wise remember your running more wattage than the LED's and need to replace the bulbs annualy? With the LED's they are virtualy maintance free for about 5 or more years.

Option 3 - Aqua Medic Ocean Light Plus 150W HQI + 2x24w T5HO - Radium 20K with 2 Blue+ (or maybe actinic since PAR isn't an issue just need dawn/dusk?) - I have seen Radium 20K personally and love the color, growth, plus the shimmer effect.

Thius may be overkill for a 29 gallon. 200 watts of lights is a lot for a small tank. Then remember you have to replace bulbs annulay again to keep them at there peak.

All are about the same initial cost, and I'm ready to pull the trigger just need a push in the right direction and possibly weigh in on these color combo's. Also heat really isn't an issue...just pure aesthetics 1st and growth 2nd. Thanks in advance

 

[syedjilani]

subscribed

 

[kevin32]

I have a 4x T5 Fixture. Which one would work out best for visual effect.



1.

Front:
-Blue +
-Purple +
-Coral +
-Blue +
End:


** BTW is the purple + and Coral + place in the right order or should it be the other way around?




2.

Front:
-Blue +
-Coral +
-Blue +
-Blue +
End:




3.

Front:
-Blue +
-Purple +
-Blue +
-Blue +
End:



What you guys think?

 

[JoeinMo]

Should be OK but I'd probably go with an ATI fixture.

4,6 or 8 bulb?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Fixture is a Current USA Sundial, not the best- think that could be it?

Yeah, the current ballasts aren't all that great, least not the one's i've come across.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a 4x T5 Fixture. Which one would work out best for visual effect.



1.

Front:
-Blue +
-Purple +
-Coral +
-Blue +
End:


** BTW is the purple + and Coral + place in the right order or should it be the other way around?




2.

Front:
-Blue +
-Coral +
-Blue +
-Blue +
End:




3.

Front:
-Blue +
-Purple +
-Blue +
-Blue +
End:



What you guys think?

3 I think

 

[The Grim Reefer]

4,6 or 8 bulb?

6

 

[kevin32]

BTW, is white light (full spectrum light) required for good coral growth?

Is purple plus consider a white light?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

BTW, is white light (full spectrum light) required for good coral growth?

Is purple plus consider a white light?

Nope. People can argue the point till they are blue in the face but I've seen too many tanks do will under 20K halides that are as blue as a blue plus that had outstanding growth. All coral receive blue light, only the stuff in the top 15 feet or so of the ocean see much on the way of the other colors.

 

[kevin32]

Nope. People can argue the point till they are blue in the face but I've seen too many tanks do will under 20K halides that are as blue as a blue plus that had outstanding growth. All coral receive blue light, only the stuff in the top 15 feet or so of the ocean see much on the way of the other colors.

Will this combo give it a 20k look?

Front:
-Blue +
-Purple +
-Blue +
-Blue +
End:


Or would Coral Plus make it look more 20k along with the 3x Blue plus?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Will this combo give it a 20k look?

Front:
-Blue +
-Purple +
-Blue +
-Blue +
End:


Or would Coral Plus make it look more 20k along with the 3x Blue plus?

That should be fine.

 

[kevin32]

That should be fine.

Thanks Grim

 

[Da Maui life]

Aloha Grim

Need your wisdom and advice. I'm changing out my t5 bulbs with ATI and Korallen I know colors are ones preference but do you think the color will look good and is the location fine?



Front
ATI Blue+
ATI 12000k Aquablue Special
Korallen Fiji purple
ATI blue+

 

[gdaustin]

Thanks for the reply Grimm. I was looking thru this thread and was wondering what the difference between the following options would be.

Option 1;
4 blue plus
1 aquablue
1 GE 6500k

Option 2;
4 blue plus
1 purple plus
1 KZ new generation

Option 3;
4 blue plus
1 purple plus
1 GE 6500k

I was originally going to go with option 2 as I see that combo seems to be reccommended a lot. Grimm suggested option 1 as wanted a white look. Can someone let me know what difference each of these combos would give. I finally found a place that has all these options available in 80watts.

 

[staindsoul]

I probably should have posted this in here first.

Will this set up be even remotely close enough for corals/nems down the road on my tank build? or am i way off base.

4-24" 24 watt T5s

I can add a 1-150 watt mh to this if necessary or would the 4 t5ho be enough. I know the tank depth is a issue.

The tank is a standard 37. 30x12x22

The fixture can be mounted whatever distance I wont right now. (Building a cabinet)

and what color set up should I run? I want a middle ground look between blue and white.

 

[Joe0813]

Hey everyone I posted in the lighting section and was referred over heeerre. I have a aquatic life 6 bulb t5 and two of my bulbs blew. I want to upgrade all my bulbs and i was wondering what you guys use for this light fixture. Pictures would also help so I can see how it looks. Thanks everyone

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey everyone I posted in the lighting section and was referred over heeerre. I have a aquatic life 6 bulb t5 and two of my bulbs blew. I want to upgrade all my bulbs and i was wondering what you guys use for this light fixture. Pictures would also help so I can see how it looks. Thanks everyone

Typical 5 lamp mix. 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and a Coral Plus. Will look a tad more blue than your stock lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I probably should have posted this in here first.

Will this set up be even remotely close enough for corals/nems down the road on my tank build? or am i way off base.

4-24" 24 watt T5s

I can add a 1-150 watt mh to this if necessary or would the 4 t5ho be enough. I know the tank depth is a issue.

The tank is a standard 37. 30x12x22

The fixture can be mounted whatever distance I wont right now. (Building a cabinet)

and what color set up should I run? I want a middle ground look between blue and white.

2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus and 1 Aquablue for lamps. If it's a good fixture you can keep anything in that tank under them. A cheap one you can still keep most corals properly placed.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the reply Grimm. I was looking thru this thread and was wondering what the difference between the following options would be.

Option 1;
4 blue plus
1 aquablue
1 GE 6500k

Option 2;
4 blue plus
1 purple plus
1 KZ new generation

Option 3;
4 blue plus
1 purple plus
1 GE 6500k

I was originally going to go with option 2 as I see that combo seems to be reccommended a lot. Grimm suggested option 1 as wanted a white look. Can someone let me know what difference each of these combos would give. I finally found a place that has all these options available in 80watts.

1 will look more 14K, 2 more 20K and 3 will be 14K with a more warm hue to it.