The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[loviticus]

6 bulb t5

6 bulb t5

grim I was directed to find and talk to u by reefers direct in saint cloud I have a six bulb t5 system with built in timer and need to know the best bulb combo. for best color pop and growth front

front three are linked to one time and back three to the next time
thanks grim for any advise

 

[ryan1985]

great thread... found it while searching for some T5 bulb replacement suggestions. I’m running a 76g half circle tank and about to replace my bulbs. Figured I’d see if anyone has suggestions before doing so. Toward the rear of the tank I have a 36” six-bulb fixture with:

x2 39W Wave Point "Reef Wave"
x1 39W Wave Point "Blue Wave"
x1 39W Wave Point "Super Blue Wave"
x2 39W Unknown brand 10k

And toward the front of the tank I have a 24” four-bulb fixture with:

x1 24W Wave Point "Reef Wave"
x2 24W Wave Point "Blue Wave"
x1 24W Unknown brand 10k

Kind of a lot of lights/watts for a tank running mostly softies, right? 330 total watts. Anyway, I’m fairly happy with the bulb colors and growth, but being a true addict, would like to tinker. First off, I will be upgrading to ATI bulbs, there doesn't seem to be a question about that. Ideally I will have something a tad more blue (for daylights) than my current setup, not sure if the below gameplan will accomplish that? I know a lot of this will come down to personal preference, but I’m open to suggestions. I’m thinking about going with this for my 36” fixture:

x2 36" 39W ATI Purple Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Reef Wave")
x1 36" 39W ATI Blue Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Blue Wave")
x1 36" 39W ATI Blue Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Super Blue Wave")
x2 36" 39W AquaSun UV Lighting Company 10K (to replace my generic 10k)

And this for my 24” fixture:

x1 24" 24W ATI Purple Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Reef Wave")
x2 24" 24W ATI Blue Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Blue Wave")
x1 24" 24W AquaSun UV Lighting Company 10K (to replace my generic 10k)

It’s my understanding ATI doesn’t make a 10k light, which is why I put down the Aquasun’s.

Thoughts, suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[RebelReef]

Grim, would a 10x54 Power Module be overkill on a 18" tall 25" front to back mixed reef? I'd say about 70% sps the rest low light lps. There will be 15" from water line to the sand bed. Bulbs I'm thinking 2 actinic, Fiji pink, 2 ab spec and 5 blue plus. Hoping to hang light about 12" above the water line. Thanks.

 

[TropTrea]

Grim, would a 10x54 Power Module be overkill on a 18" tall 25" front to back mixed reef? I'd say about 70% sps the rest low light lps. There will be 15" from water line to the sand bed. Bulbs I'm thinking 2 actinic, Fiji pink, 2 ab spec and 5 blue plus. Hoping to hang light about 12" above the water line. Thanks.

I could easily consider this overkill dependent upon your bulb selection. My selection for bulbs with this fixture would be

Front
1-ATI Blue Plus
2-ATI Coral Plus
3- ATI purple Plus
4- ATI Atinic
5- ATI Blue Plus
6- ATI Coral Plus
7- ATI Atinic
8 -ATI Blue Plus
9- ATI Blue Plus
10 ATI ATinic

Now dependent on your personal color taste you can mix and match the ATI Coral Plus with ATI Aquablue Specials, and GE 6,500K's. The first will give you the bluest look and that last would give you the brightest look.

Dependent on your fixture you may want to move some of the bulbs around idealy the dawn to dusk bulbs wiould be 2 Atinics, one Blue Plus, and 1 purple plus.

 

[TropTrea]

great thread... found it while searching for some T5 bulb replacement suggestions. I'm running a 76g half circle tank and about to replace my bulbs. Figured I'd see if anyone has suggestions before doing so. Toward the rear of the tank I have a 36" six-bulb fixture with:

x2 39W Wave Point "Reef Wave"
x1 39W Wave Point "Blue Wave"
x1 39W Wave Point "Super Blue Wave"
x2 39W Unknown brand 10k

And toward the front of the tank I have a 24" four-bulb fixture with:

x1 24W Wave Point "Reef Wave"
x2 24W Wave Point "Blue Wave"
x1 24W Unknown brand 10k

Kind of a lot of lights/watts for a tank running mostly softies, right? 330 total watts. Anyway, I'm fairly happy with the bulb colors and growth, but being a true addict, would like to tinker. First off, I will be upgrading to ATI bulbs, there doesn't seem to be a question about that. Ideally I will have something a tad more blue (for daylights) than my current setup, not sure if the below gameplan will accomplish that? I know a lot of this will come down to personal preference, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm thinking about going with this for my 36" fixture:

x2 36" 39W ATI Purple Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Reef Wave")
x1 36" 39W ATI Blue Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Blue Wave")
x1 36" 39W ATI Blue Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Super Blue Wave")
x2 36" 39W AquaSun UV Lighting Company 10K (to replace my generic 10k)

And this for my 24" fixture:

x1 24" 24W ATI Purple Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Reef Wave")
x2 24" 24W ATI Blue Plus (to replace my Wave Point "Blue Wave")
x1 24" 24W AquaSun UV Lighting Company 10K (to replace my generic 10k)

It's my understanding ATI doesn't make a 10k light, which is why I put down the Aquasun's.

Thoughts, suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I would replace the 36" Aqua Sun in your list to a ge 6,500K, then on your 24" replace the Aqua Sun with another ATI Blue Plus

 

[ryan1985]

I would replace the 36" Aqua Sun in your list to a ge 6,500K, then on your 24" replace the Aqua Sun with another ATI Blue Plus

thanks! i'll give it a whirl and see what happens. my bulbs are pretty old so it should be really cool to see how well the corals respond to better lighting.

 

[mwilliams62]

Has anyone ever experienced their ATI fixtures getting rusted?????????

 

[cassklar]

Hello all I just joined the t5 club came from LEDS my question is I have just installed my 6 bulb t5 ATI dimmable sunpower I had 3 AI SOL BLUES before I am very happy with the sunpower a lot more brighter sorry the question is how high should I have Theese lights hung I have leave bulbs on 50 hours before dimming is there a recommended height for Theese units thanks

 

[ryan1985]

I would replace the 36" Aqua Sun in your list to a ge 6,500K

Dennis, I am currently running TWO of 36" generic 10k bulbs... do you think I should replace BOTH of these with the 6,500k GE's? just making sure you caught that I had 2 of these.. thanks

 

[Photobug]

How high to suspend the T5s?

How high to suspend the T5s?

I know I can raise and lower the light to get what I want, but need a starting point, because I am going to hang a board from the bottom of the light fixture to the top lip of the tank to deal with glare coming from the fixture into the eyes of the viewers of the tank. I can change the height of this board but that will result in extra holes in the light fixture, I would rather not have.

The tank is a 55gallon with a 48x12x19 profile. The tank is mixed reef with mostly softys (GSP, xenia, torch, frogspawn, mushrooms, a few montipora).

The lights fixture is a 48x12 with 8 bulbs but I only use 4 of the bulbs and a one piece of shiny sheet metal for a reflector. I want to put individual reflectors but can't find any to fit.

What should I choose as my initial height?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,
I'm stuck deciding whether to go ATI Sunpower or DIY LET kit. Im thinking about going 6 bulbs (this is going over a 40 breeder). Which path should i go? Is the DIY LET t5 kit any good/comparable to the ATI (the one from reefgeek)?

Plus is this a good combo?
GE 6500k x1
Coral plus x1
purple plus x1
blue plus x3

Im trying to avoid the super blue look and going for a whitish blue color that that doesnt wash ou the coral colors.

I'd do the ATI. Lamp mix should be good

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Still deciding on what type (LED, MH, or T5) of lights to get, but what do you suggest for a fixture and bulbs for a SPS dominant mixed reef tank 245 gallons 72"Lx30"Dx26"H. I looked at the Aquaticlife 12 bulb but may be took weak as its 468 watts. I do have an Neptune Apex to control the lights.

I want the best I can afford without overpaying.

10 lamp powermodule would handle that easy. LED's would work but be real spendy.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Almost time for new bulbs on my 8 bulb TEK. I really am wanting to try and mix in a coral plus bulb into the mix and am looking for suggestions. My tank is an SPS dominant standard 120. My current lineup is :
Front

Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
GE6500
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

Back

I have liked the look I have now but want to tinker. It wouldnt bother me to have en ever so slightly bluer look when all of the lights are on. Was thinking of just replacing the rear purple plus bulb with a coral plus. What would this do to my look? Bluer or whiter? I am pretty sure I would like to keep the GE6500 in the mix. Thanks!

Joe

Be slightly more blue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim,

Ordered a new 8x54w ATI PM for a new SPS tank, im transferring all my SPS to the new tank soon but need help on what bulbs to get. Never kept SPS under t5, the SPS were under 400w radions with VHO actinic supps. I was getting good growth but the color was a little too white for me, feel like my corals could have been more colored up. Could you suggest a combo that would be a bit more blue and help acheive this?
Thanks

5 Blue Plus 1 Coral Plus and 2 Purple Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

grim I was directed to find and talk to u by reefers direct in saint cloud I have a six bulb t5 system with built in timer and need to know the best bulb combo. for best color pop and growth front

front three are linked to one time and back three to the next time
thanks grim for any advise

4 Blue Plus 1 Purple Plus and 1 Coral Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, would a 10x54 Power Module be overkill on a 18" tall 25" front to back mixed reef? I'd say about 70% sps the rest low light lps. There will be 15" from water line to the sand bed. Bulbs I'm thinking 2 actinic, Fiji pink, 2 ab spec and 5 blue plus. Hoping to hang light about 12" above the water line. Thanks.

Should be OK. I'd use Coral Plus instead of Aquablue lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello all I just joined the t5 club came from LEDS my question is I have just installed my 6 bulb t5 ATI dimmable sunpower I had 3 AI SOL BLUES before I am very happy with the sunpower a lot more brighter sorry the question is how high should I have Theese lights hung I have leave bulbs on 50 hours before dimming is there a recommended height for Theese units thanks

They can be as low as you wish. I wouldn't go over about 12 inches above.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I know I can raise and lower the light to get what I want, but need a starting point, because I am going to hang a board from the bottom of the light fixture to the top lip of the tank to deal with glare coming from the fixture into the eyes of the viewers of the tank. I can change the height of this board but that will result in extra holes in the light fixture, I would rather not have.

The tank is a 55gallon with a 48x12x19 profile. The tank is mixed reef with mostly softys (GSP, xenia, torch, frogspawn, mushrooms, a few montipora).

The lights fixture is a 48x12 with 8 bulbs but I only use 4 of the bulbs and a one piece of shiny sheet metal for a reflector. I want to put individual reflectors but can't find any to fit.

What should I choose as my initial height?

4 inches or so above the water.

 

[M Woodhill]

Hey Grim

I'm now running a combo that I really like. But the problem is I can't find any supply in Ottawa of GE 39w 6500k

Can I switch to KZ combo from back to front:

New generation 14000k
Coral light 10000k
Superblue 20000k
New generation 14000k
Coral 10000k
New generation 14000k
Fuji purple
New generation 14000k

thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim

I'm now running a combo that I really like. But the problem is I can't find any supply in Ottawa of GE 39w 6500k

Can I switch to KZ combo from back to front:

New generation 14000k
Coral light 10000k
Superblue 20000k
New generation 14000k
Coral 10000k
New generation 14000k
Fuji purple
New generation 14000k

thanks

Change the position you have listed as a superblue now to a second Fiji Purple and the 4 slots that are new generations to Super Blues so you have 4 super blues 2 fijis and 2 coral lights.