The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Mavrk]

I swapped the two front ones and it is a little more blue that way. I think that it is the aquablue that seems to be washing things out a little. That is why I think the coral+ (or GE 6500) would be a good alternative. Without coral, I wonder if I can play with actinic more. I know the anemones may need the par though.

 

[Mavrk]

Which actinic has the best color? I am thinking of getting one to play with.

 

[Mavrk]

Okay, I think the UVL Super Actinic is what I will get after reading back. I ordered a few extra bulbs to see if I can find what I am looking for.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Ya I actually like the design of having 1/4 on dawn/dusk and 2/3 for day bulbs.
I believe the UVL actinic has the most par as actinics go.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim
I have a tek 6 bulb fixture over my 40 breeder
Bulbs are
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+

It's mainly an sps tank but some lps how high should I put the light above the tank and what kin of light cycle, thanks

Bout 6 inches 10 to 12 hours for dusk/dawn and 5 to 8 hours with everything on

 

[The Grim Reefer]

go with cheaper bulbs like wavepoint. They do not have nearly as close of par compared to the ati bulbs.

Yeah but they don't last as long either. In a tek fixture the ATI output is fine for a 40B

 

[The Grim Reefer]

does anyone know how much a typical ATI bulb reduces its par after 6mths

Depends on the fixture. There is a mega thread called "it's about time to change lamps" or something like that where a guy has done extensive testing on lamps as they age.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am currently running 2 blue+, 1 Aquablue Special, and 1 Fiji Purple.

I was thinking of changing to 2 Blue+, 1 Purple+, and 1 ATI Coral+

Would that be a good combination? What order would they go in? I want to make sure that my RBTA pops, as well as my GBTA (which has neon green tips). Also, I have a flame angel and emperor angel that I'd really like bringing out their colors, but I imagine if my anemones brighten, so should the fish.

My other thought was to drop the purple+ and add another blue+ or perhaps an actinic (is UVL super actinic still the way to go on that?), but I remember running 3 blue+ and a 10000k that seemed to be missing something.

Thanks.

My first thought would be 3 blue plus and a purple plus.

 

[jcgautreaux]

Bout 6 inches 10 to 12 hours for dusk/dawn and 5 to 8 hours with everything on

So should I put a purple+ and a blue+ on for the 10-12 then the other four bulbs for 5-8 or two blue+ on for 10-12 and everything else on or does it not matter

And thank you btw

 

[The Grim Reefer]

So should I put a purple+ and a blue+ on for the 10-12 then the other four bulbs for 5-8 or two blue+ on for 10-12 and everything else on or does it not matter

And thank you btw

Whichever looks best to you

 

[1mbrews8]

Hey Grim! It is time to replace (past time actually ) my t5s and I am considering going LED, but still might do t5s one more go around. I have a 3 660s overdriving everything. One drives back 3 bulbs, one front 3 bulbs, and the last drives 2 middle bulbs for 8 60" t5s.

Currently, from back to front, I have:

Fiji Purple
Blue +
Blue +
GE 6500k
Aquablue special
Blue +
Fiji Purple
Blue +

It looks ok, but I might even like it a bit more Blue (even when i have the middle off and only the front or back, it still is not really that blue?).

What would you change/recommend? I have a mixture of lps, sps, etc.. I have actually had the canopy propped up because when I had it down at first, a lot of my chalices bleached due to the light being too strong? Thank you!

Mike

Grim,
missed me man! ) thanks for help in advance.. looking to order soon..

 

[Steve S]

Grim, 1st of all THANK YOU, Im sure I speak for everyone following....You give alot of great advice to this forum, and I know that takes alot of your time. THANK YOU ! Now to my question, and I know alot of folks say they have a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower and what do you recommend...well that is my question too. SPS dominate with LPS, zoas down lower. I want to make everyone (corals) is that possible? What combo do you recommend, front to back? It is a conventional 90 gallon 48 x 18 X ? high. Again, Thank you!

 

[Michigan Mike]

Grim,
missed me man! ) thanks for help in advance.. looking to order soon..

I'm no grim but the reason it's not blue enough for your dawn dusk is because your using 2 purples. For the three front try 2 blue plus and a purple and rear three use 3 blue pluses.
Try switching out the middle two bulbs for coral pluses.
That should be nice and blue when you run the front and back combos together for dawn/dusk then pop on your new 2 coral pluses and it will be more blue than it is now when all bulbs are on.
Blue
Blue
Blue
Coral
Coral
Purple
Blue
Blue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
missed me man! ) thanks for help in advance.. looking to order soon..

Blue +
Fiji Purple
Blue +
GE 6500k
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
Blue +

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, 1st of all THANK YOU, Im sure I speak for everyone following....You give alot of great advice to this forum, and I know that takes alot of your time. THANK YOU ! Now to my question, and I know alot of folks say they have a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower and what do you recommend...well that is my question too. SPS dominate with LPS, zoas down lower. I want to make everyone (corals) is that possible? What combo do you recommend, front to back? It is a conventional 90 gallon 48 x 18 X ? high. Again, Thank you!

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

everyone should be happy

 

[Michigan Mike]

1mbrews8- do you run the front and back sets together for your dawn/dusk? Or one at a time?

 

[coffeetwitch]

hey grim, sorry to make you repete yourself. ive read through this thing and still lost.

im putting a 6 bulb over a 90 gallon. want to do some lps, softies, and maybe sps up high. i like the look of the phoenix 14k hqi bulbs and would like to mimic that look while still getting the pop of actinic and par of 6500k.

what bulbs and order of them front to back if you could?

thanks.

 

[1mbrews8]

thanks grim!

^ Michagan Mike - i honestly cant remember exactly which come on first (they are all on now), but I believe it is the back 3 come on, then 30 min later, the front, then ~ 2.5 hours, the middle 2, all stay on for about 5 hours, then middle off, 30 min front? then 30 min back?

 

[Michigan Mike]

thanks grim!

^ Michagan Mike - i honestly cant remember exactly which come on first (they are all on now), but I believe it is the back 3 come on, then 30 min later, the front, then ~ 2.5 hours, the middle 2, all stay on for about 5 hours, then middle off, 30 min front? then 30 min back?

If that's how they start up etc... That would be sweet. First rear blues only, then the front set with the purple and blues to give you that brighter sunrise look. Then all on and it will be more blue than it is now. I use the ge6500 myself and its hard to make a blue tank with that bulb( with only 4 bulbs ) But whatever you like...Then ramping down in reverse, love it...having the purple bulb give you the sunset effect before its blues only.
Wish I could do that.:inlove:

 

[1mbrews8]

yup! ) just trying to see if it is worth keeping the t5s v/s going to LED... hard choice..