The T5 Q&a Thread - split

Hi Master Grim....

I will be ordering my new ATI Sunpower for my 72 x 18 x 22 Sps reef tank. You recommended me 6 x 80 watts and want to be sure the bulb combination to place with the order for a 12 - 14K look:
• 4 Blue Plus
• 1 Purple Plus
• 1 Coral Plus
Just in case that is to blue for me then i should replace 1 Blue Plus for a GE 6500K and if it is to white or yellow then replace a Blue for a Coral Plus. Am i correct or any new configuration ????

Also what height above the water surface should i put the fixture?? Was thinking 8" but with loose of Par in months will have to bring it down.

Thanks in advance...
 
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Hello,

I have a 4x54W Aquaticlife T5 setup. I am currently running the following front to back:

ATI Blue +
Stock AquaticLife acintic (420/460)
Stock Aquaticlife 10K
Stock Aquaticlife Purple

Right now all bulbs are about 6 months old besides the ATI. Which combo could I go to to get more colors in my acan's and zoas? Right now they are kinda blah unless the LED's are on in the fixture.

Also, if its possible for some basic sps up top, it would be a real plus.

Thank you.
 
wcharon said:
Hi Master Grim....

I will be ordering my new ATI Sunpower for my 72 x 18 x 22 Sps reef tank. You recommended me 6 x 80 watts and want to be sure the bulb combination to place with the order for a 12 - 14K look:
"¢ 4 Blue Plus
"¢ 1 Purple Plus
"¢ 1 Coral Plus
Just in case that is to blue for me then i should replace 1 Blue Plus for a GE 6500K and if it is to white or yellow then replace a Blue for a Coral Plus. Am i correct or any new configuration ????

Also what height above the water surface should i put the fixture?? Was thinking 8" but with loose of Par in months will have to bring it down.

Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...

6 inches above the water.

Swap the coral plus for a GE if you think it's too blue.
 
indyjaco said:
Hello,

I have a 4x54W Aquaticlife T5 setup. I am currently running the following front to back:

ATI Blue +
Stock AquaticLife acintic (420/460)
Stock Aquaticlife 10K
Stock Aquaticlife Purple

Right now all bulbs are about 6 months old besides the ATI. Which combo could I go to to get more colors in my acan's and zoas? Right now they are kinda blah unless the LED's are on in the fixture.

Also, if its possible for some basic sps up top, it would be a real plus.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

3 blue plus and a purple plus. Montiporas up top would be a safe bet.
 
Is the ati purple+ just for aesthetics or does it promote coral growth aswell? Reason Im asking is because Im debating on what my 6th bulb will be in my new 6x54 bulb setup.

So far Im goin with
1 aquablue spec
1 coral+
2 blue+
1 tru actinic 03
after that I wanted a bulb that would both enhance colors aswell aid in growth so the debate is between the purple+ and coral+. If the purple+ does both Then thats my pick.

Also any recommendations on bulb placement would be appreciated aswell.
Its going to be a mixed reef (sps lps softies) tank if that factors in bulb placment.
 
Lateralus said:
Is the ati purple+ just for aesthetics or does it promote coral growth aswell? Reason Im asking is because Im debating on what my 6th bulb will be in my new 6x54 bulb setup.

So far Im goin with
1 aquablue spec
1 coral+
2 blue+
1 tru actinic 03
after that I wanted a bulb that would both enhance colors aswell aid in growth so the debate is between the purple+ and coral+. If the purple+ does both Then thats my pick.

Also any recommendations on bulb placement would be appreciated aswell.
Its going to be a mixed reef (sps lps softies) tank if that factors in bulb placment.
Click to expand...

If you are so concerned about growth why the actinic, they do little for growth. The purple will give you some but not as much as a blue plus. I'd go with 4 blue plus, the purple the coral plus
 
Yea that did cross my mind about the actinic and the answer is aesthetics lol. I just didnt want to have too many bulbs directed towards it.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
If you are so concerned about growth why the actinic, they do little for growth. The purple will give you some but not as much as a blue plus. I'd go with 4 blue plus, the purple the coral plus
Click to expand...


I was going to go with this combo in my 6 light fixture as well. which order would you put these in and which ones are best for dawn/dusk?
 
Raeloni said:
I was going to go with this combo in my 6 light fixture as well. which order would you put these in and which ones are best for dawn/dusk?
Click to expand...

Placement is common sense. Blue front and rear. Then you want the purple front of center so it's unique light strikes the viewing side of the corals. coal plus is a more neutral color so it isn't as important
 
Grimm, I was shown this thread today by a couple other members. I also have a lighting question. Whats better? I have a 6x39w T-5 HO fixture with 3x actinic bulbs and 3x 12000k bulbs. I have a Goniopora,bubble coral,kenya trees,paly zoas,eagle eye zoas, trumpet colony, branched hammer,watermelon mushrooms,green leather, pulsing zenia, GSP, hydnophora, a Blue/green/purple/red Tractaphyllia and a Sebae anemone. Would it be better to add another actinic bulb or should I add another 12000k bulb? My tank is a 40 Breeder.

The other members told me to swap out the actinics to use 3x ATI Blue plus bulbs and to get rid of a 12000k and get a Fiji purple. should I do this? What would you do?
 
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gobywonkenobi said:
Grimm, I was shown this thread today by a couple other members. I also have a lighting question. Whats better? I have a 6x39w T-5 HO fixture with 3x actinic bulbs and 3x 12000k bulbs. I have a Goniopora,bubble coral,kenya trees,paly zoas,eagle eye zoas, trumpet colony, branched hammer,watermelon mushrooms,green leather, pulsing zenia, GSP, hydnophora, a Blue/green/purple/red Tractaphyllia and a Sebae anemone. Would it be better to add another actinic bulb or should I add another 12000k bulb? My tank is a 40 Breeder.

The other members told me to swap out the actinics to use 3x ATI Blue plus bulbs and to get rid of a 12000k and get a Fiji purple. should I do this? What would you do?
Click to expand...

Throw away the actinics and use the Blue Plus and Fiji Purple. I'd do 4 Blue Plus with the Purple and 1 10K
 
gobywonkenobi said:
Grimm, I was shown this thread today by a couple other members. I also have a lighting question. Whats better? I have a 6x39w T-5 HO fixture with 3x actinic bulbs and 3x 12000k bulbs. I have a Goniopora,bubble coral,kenya trees,paly zoas,eagle eye zoas, trumpet colony, branched hammer,watermelon mushrooms,green leather, pulsing zenia, GSP, hydnophora, a Blue/green/purple/red Tractaphyllia and a Sebae anemone. Would it be better to add another actinic bulb or should I add another 12000k bulb? My tank is a 40 Breeder.

The other members told me to swap out the actinics to use 3x ATI Blue plus bulbs and to get rid of a 12000k and get a Fiji purple. should I do this? What would you do?
Click to expand...

On one of my 40 Breeders I'm running

Front
ATI BLUE Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

All my corals love it, but I do not have have any soft corals in there other than mushrooms. I have the lighting fixture about 12" above the water line because if I put it much lower it is too much light.
 
TropTrea said:
On one of my 40 Breeders I'm running

Front
ATI BLUE Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

All my corals love it, but I do not have have any soft corals in there other than mushrooms. I have the lighting fixture about 12" above the water line because if I put it much lower it is too much light.
Click to expand...

Could you shoot me a pic of what it looks like? Im also kicking around switching to a 380w metal halide. 250w HQI with 2 65w actinic pc's. I would switch the pc's to ATI bulbs though. Any thoughts?
 
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