The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[sheppard]

Im also wondering if I should go with ATI bulbs on my 40 breeder. Right now I just have 4 10000K and 2 Actinic. Would that be good enough for SPS?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Im also wondering if I should go with ATI bulbs on my 40 breeder. Right now I just have 4 10000K and 2 Actinic. Would that be good enough for SPS?

Yes. 4 Blue Plus 1 purple Plus and a Coral Plus

 

[masonicman]

Hey Grim reefer, Please help

These are the T5s I have in my AquaticLife 4 bulb fixture. I'm looking for the correct line up for the best look and coral health. The fixture has to zones. From front to back, zone 1 is bulbs position 1 and 3 and zone 2 is bulbs position 2 and 4. My questions are the following.

54W 12000K Aqua blue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI
54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
(HO, T5) Super Actinic R 54W UV lighting


1) Which zone should be dusk to dawn?
2) Which bulbs should be in dusk to dawn zone and in which order?
3) Is the 12K Aqua blue special too bright along with my other bulbs? I have SPS and LPS. Seems real bright white.
4) What should zone 2 bulb order be?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim reefer, Please help

These are the T5s I have in my AquaticLife 4 bulb fixture. I'm looking for the correct line up for the best look and coral health. The fixture has to zones. From front to back, zone 1 is bulbs position 1 and 3 and zone 2 is bulbs position 2 and 4. My questions are the following.

54W 12000K Aqua blue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI
54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
(HO, T5) Super Actinic R 54W UV lighting


1) Which zone should be dusk to dawn?
2) Which bulbs should be in dusk to dawn zone and in which order?
3) Is the 12K Aqua blue special too bright along with my other bulbs? I have SPS and LPS. Seems real bright white.
4) What should zone 2 bulb order be?

Zone 2 for dusk dawn with the lamps you are currently using in that order. I'd ditch the actinic for another Blue Plus.

 

[masonicman]

Zone 2 for dusk dawn with the lamps you are currently using in that order. I'd ditch the actinic for another Blue Plus.

Hey Grim reefer what do you think about this line up with ditching the 54W 12000K Aqua blue Special also?

54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI: Zone 1
54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI Zone 2
54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent: Zone 1
54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI Zone 2

 

[gobywonkenobi]

Any thoughts on UVL Super Actinic White along with 4x ATI Blue+ and 1x Purple+? Or should I switch the Purple+ for a KZ Fiji Purple?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Any thoughts on UVL Super Actinic White along with 4x ATI Blue+ and 1x Purple+? Or should I switch the Purple+ for a KZ Fiji Purple?

Change the Actinic white to a KZ New Generation

 

[gobywonkenobi]

Thanks Grim. Do you have any pictures of what this combo would look like? PAR readings also?

 

[Michigan Mike]

Hey Grim reefer what do you think about this line up with ditching the 54W 12000K Aqua blue Special also?

54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI: Zone 1
54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI Zone 2
54W Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent: Zone 1
54W Blue plus T5 HO Fluorescent-ATI Zone 2

I just tried that combo in my sunpower. It's pretty awesome. The corals have a more neon glow to them and have a lighter and brighter color/glow effect.
Usually have a ge6500 in but replaced it with another blue plus and liked it but I'm going or a truer color and higher PAR so I put he ge6500 back in.
My corals were closed in the pic but you can see the lighter color of the frogspawn and the zoos in the bottom left that were starting to open up.

[/IMG]

Compared to blue plus, ge6500,blue plud,Fiji purple-

[/IMG]

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Yall do understand that using a more white lamp in the mix doesn't decrease fluorescence right?

Think of it this way, If you light a single christmas light in a dark room it looks pretty bright until you turn on the main light. It's all a matter of taste.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I guess that's what you got out of what I said?

 

[masonicman]

Michigan mike,
The top picture are the three blue plus right? The bottom picture looks the best. In the bottom photo, what's the bulb line up from the front of the fixture to the back?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I guess that's what you got out of what I said?

Not specifically, just a general comment which is why I didn't quote your post.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Michigan mike,
The top picture are the three blue plus right? The bottom picture looks the best. In the bottom photo, what's the bulb line up from the front of the fixture to the back?

Top pic
B
Blue+
blue+
blue+
Fiji purple
F
Maybe having the Fiji purple as the second bulb in would be better.
I do like the blue look just not all the time,if you like the blue look it is a nice combo.

Bottom pic
B
Blue plus
Ge6500
Blue plus
Fiji purple
F

 

[Michigan Mike]

Not specifically, just a general comment which is why I didn't quote your post.

Ahh, no harm, no foul.

 

[Lateralus]

Is there another bulb similar in spectram to ATI purple plus with better par and does a better job bringing out reds?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Is there another bulb similar in spectram to ATI purple plus with better par and does a better job bringing out reds?

Not that does better I'd say. Fiji Purple does about the same thing

 

[clugo]

Hey grim. Which t5 fixture would you could with for a 48x28x20 rimless tank that will be mostly sps. with some lps?

Thanks.

 

[masonicman]

Thanks Mike, ordered more blue plus on Friday. Going to try both combos.

 

[wyattroa]

Just curious as to how big of a footprint a 24in 6 bulb ATI sunpower can cover..Looking to have a mixed tank..but mostly some sps..