The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Jeff_NJ]

If I were doing this system myself I would put the LED's in the front and back with the LED's angled to the oposite side of the tank to give a deep shimmer effect from them.

Interesting... so angling the LED's will give me better shimmer? How exactly does that work out?

I also would run the 6 Royal Blues and 6 Blues on each of these runs for a nicer color effect in dawn to dusk.

Would you suggest 12 on the front and 12 on the back, alternating between Blue and RB?

Then for your T-5's put an ATI blue Plus and ATI Purple Plus on one circuit. the other 6 bulbs for mid day I'd go with one more Purple Plus, 1 GE 6,500K and 4 more ATI Blue Plus bulbs.

This is an expensive ballast setup, BUT I am intrigued. How exactly would you time this out from a dawn to dusk perspective? What comes on first, second, last, and for what duration? Then same for dusk.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have an ATI Sunpower unit (6 X 39W). Following your advice, I am using the following ATI tube combination:

front
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
6500K
Blue plus
Blue plus

I am happy with this combination.

I started the unit 6" above the water surface. It is now 5" above the surface. My tank is 18" high.

My questions are:

1. Shall I lower the unit down to 4"?
2. How long should I leave all six tubes for?

Although the growth is great. I am not entirely happy with the coloration of my SPS corals.

Thanks

No need to go lower. I'd leave 6 on 5 to 9 hours a day, it really depends on your personal preference, some people like viewing the dusk/dawn setting more.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim (or anyone else who wants to chime in),

I've got a 4 bulb (54w) T5 retro kit over my 75 and picked up four different color bulbs per the recommendation of my LFS....

Front of tank
Geisemann Pure Actinic
Geisemann AquaBlue+
Geisemann Midday
Geisemann Actinic+
Back of tank

So far, I like the color I'm seeing from this placement but do you have a better recommendation for position/location?

Thanks in advance!

I'd lose the Actinic up front and add another Actinic Plus. Positions are fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim et all,

I am building a new 150 - 48x24x30. I am planning on using a T5 / LED hybrid system. I do plan on SPS, but will try to keep any SPS in the top half of the tank.

If I ran an 8 T5 TEK Retrofit and 24 Cree RB's..... ( I hope to have enough room in the canopy for the following config - or something like it)

FRONT
-----------------T5-----------------
-----------------T5-----------------
-----------------T5-----------------
-----------------T5-----------------
---LEDs---LEDs---LEDs----LEDs------
-----------------T5-----------------
-----------------T5-----------------
-----------------T5-----------------
-----------------T5-----------------
BACK

Would this work out and if so, what bulbs would you select and in what order?

The Cree's will be controlled by an ALC on my RKE. Here I will take care of sunrise / sunset.

Edit: I would be looking for coloration similar to a 14K Phoenix with Actinic supplementation.

Thanks for any feedback!

Front
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
LED's
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[Richocet83]

I'd lose the Actinic up front and add another Actinic Plus. Positions are fine.

Will do. Thanks for the help!

 

[Jstn]

Currently in my TEK I am running ATI Blue+, KZ figi purple, ATI AB special, ATI Blue+ F2B,

I want more of that blue look but dont want to loose color of my coral. IF you have to loose one bulb for an addition blue which one would you remove, the AB special or the figi?

TIA

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Currently in my TEK I am running ATI Blue+, KZ figi purple, ATI AB special, ATI Blue+ F2B,

I want more of that blue look but dont want to loose color of my coral. IF you have to loose one bulb for an addition blue which one would you remove, the AB special or the figi?

TIA

Pull the AB for a Coral Plus or 3rd Blue Plus.

 

[Jstn]

Thank you, is the coral plus really that much blue(er) than the AB special?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Less white is a better way to put it. If you want a lot more blue do another blue plus

 

[Jstn]

I see, I may just try that, but i guess its best to keep the figi. I figure i need a new blue plus soon, just swap it out for my ab special and see how I like the results.
Thank you sir.

 

[gonebad395]

what to use

what to use

I got a tek 8 bulb fixture and would like a blue tint and good growth this will be on 75 mixed reef clams sps lps what will work on and in what order thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I got a tek 8 bulb fixture and would like a blue tint and good growth this will be on 75 mixed reef clams sps lps what will work on and in what order thanks

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[gonebad395]

Who are the makers of the bulbs you just posted kinda new the bulb changes

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Who are the makers of the bulbs you just posted kinda new the bulb changes

GE is general electric, the rest are ATI.

 

[gonebad395]

Thanks man you have been a great help

 

[gonebad395]

Hey grim before I hit buy on this 48" tek for my 75g my buddy is saying a 36" ati 8 bulb would me alot better what do you think he seems to think it will light just as well with less spill over and I could still do the clams sps and lps.

 

[gonebad395]

Well grim I went with a 6 bulb tek and as in the post above im still looking for the same light blue with good growth so how many blue and purple pluses for the 6 bulb set up and is there a ati bulb like the ge. 6500

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Well grim I went with a 6 bulb tek and as in the post above im still looking for the same light blue with good growth so how many blue and purple pluses for the 6 bulb set up and is there a ati bulb like the ge. 6500

4 blue plus
1 purple plus
1 GE 6500K for a 14K look, ATI Aquablue for a little more blue, ATI Coral Plus for 18Kish look and a 5th Blue plus for a very blue deepwater look. Any will have plenty of PAR.

 

[gonebad395]

Thanks so front to back would be blue purple blue white blue blue?

 

[Dis 1]

48" AquaticLife 6 bulb T5

48" AquaticLife 6 bulb T5

Hey grim, i was wondering what bulb combo would you suggest for this fixture?
in my tank i have mostly softies, a few lps, and a big squamosa clam rite now