The T5 Q&a Thread - split
- Thread starter eagle9252
- Start date
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
Well....I ordered my bulbs for my 60-gl cube and my 40-gl frag tank (both 6-bulb fixture.
I ordered: 3-blue+, 1-actinic, 1-purple+ and 1-coral+. I am going to install next week and let you know how it looks. I may order one more actinic to play with.
BTW: do you recommend bulb order for the bulbs listed above? I do not do dawn/dusk and just go complete on/off for the ATI PM 6 x 24w. So just need a good overall bulb placement front to back to get good color combination.
MANY THX for your help........
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
How many bulbs and what overall color do you like?
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
Since you don't bother with dawn/dusk then ...
B
Actinic
Blue
Coral
Blue
Purple
Actinic
F
The actinics do have a less washed out look than blue bulbs, the violet is a nice color for dawn/dusk. I've noticed it seems to give the overall look a little lavender-ish fluorescent pop to the water color, its unique. Its not natural looking but I have a bunch of freshwater & planted tanks so I like having a big difference between my fresh & salt tanks. I can't see actinics with a ge6500 being very useful but with a majority of blue bulbs or 20k look its a nice addition.
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rtparty
Raise The Reef!
bizz
New member
Hey everyone I'm currently getting a tank made it is 30"x24"x20"
W D H
Would a ATI 8 bulb be to much or should I just get a 6 bulb ? And I'm probably getting the Dimmable sunpower. Does anyone have any feedback on the dimmable sunpower ?
What are the Advantags / Disadvantages of a 8 bulb v.s 6 ?
W D H
Would a ATI 8 bulb be to much or should I just get a 6 bulb ? And I'm probably getting the Dimmable sunpower. Does anyone have any feedback on the dimmable sunpower ?
What are the Advantags / Disadvantages of a 8 bulb v.s 6 ?
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
8 bulb will be perfect.
Pros:
Better spread, more bulb combos, better customization and good if you upgrade
Cons
More power, more bulbs to replace
Ok guys I need some advice here. I am in the build process. I could not decide or find the right led system for me as I have been really unimpressed with the led units that I have seen in person, so I decided to stick with the tried and true t5's. I just got my 24" 8 bulb dimmable sun power and it is freaking beautiful. I bought a bunch of bulbs to try and I am looking for recommendations on the bulb configuration. Here's what I bought:
5 x ati blue +
2 x ati purple +
2 x ge 6500k
2 x ati coral +
1 x ati true actinic
1 x kz coral light 10k
I am hoping to get recommendations for a 10k look a 12k look and a 14k look. I am wanting to showcase a large light loving anemone like a gig or ritteri, with other corals as well. The anemone would be the center piece. I'm kind of leaning towards a 10k-12k look for an optimal spectrum for the anemone. The tank dimensions are 36"l x 30"w x 20"t. Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
5 x ati blue +
2 x ati purple +
2 x ge 6500k
2 x ati coral +
1 x ati true actinic
1 x kz coral light 10k
I am hoping to get recommendations for a 10k look a 12k look and a 14k look. I am wanting to showcase a large light loving anemone like a gig or ritteri, with other corals as well. The anemone would be the center piece. I'm kind of leaning towards a 10k-12k look for an optimal spectrum for the anemone. The tank dimensions are 36"l x 30"w x 20"t. Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
These are just "close-enough" recommendations.
10k (might need to use a Coral PLus in place of one of the blues)
4 Blue Plus
2 GE 6500k
1 KZ Coral Light
1 Purple Plus
12k - replace a GE with a Coral Plus
14k
4 Blue PLus
1 Actinic
2 Purple Plus
1 GE 6500k
IF the 14k is closer to 16k then pull a blue for a Coral Plus
Those are honestly the best I can do as I've never tried for a 10 or 12k with 8 bulbs.
The light fixture has 6 rows of bulbs for a total of 12 bulbs. As far as a color, the only color I have knowledge of is the color that the factory bulbs provide. I'm not sure of my options.
bayoupr
New member
I will be pulling the plug on an ATI 6 bulb sunpower. I am looking for a 16-18k look. Any recommendations for the type of bulbs needed to acheive this look. Also I am not impressed with the purple plus bulbs. A friend of mine is running the same fixture I am looking to purchase and his line up goes like this;
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+
He has been running this for a month now and along with me he sees no difference in Reds and Pinks popping compared to the SOL Blues he ran. He has a Pink Squared Anthias that now looks orange colored? Forgot to add that I will be running a FOWLR and down the line adding some softies and maybe sone easy to keep LPS but no SPS this time. Don't feel like setting my cal reactor back up and everything else needed for SPS. Trying to keep it simple this time.
Blue+
Blue+
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+
He has been running this for a month now and along with me he sees no difference in Reds and Pinks popping compared to the SOL Blues he ran. He has a Pink Squared Anthias that now looks orange colored? Forgot to add that I will be running a FOWLR and down the line adding some softies and maybe sone easy to keep LPS but no SPS this time. Don't feel like setting my cal reactor back up and everything else needed for SPS. Trying to keep it simple this time.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
What you're seeing and experiencing is exactly what I spoke of on the last page: too much blue and green. You just don't see the full range of colors. Also, reds and pinks aren't the easiest colors to keep.
Having one purple bulb in a mix of six isn't going to do a ton if reds and pinks are your main priority either. That one bulb is only covering 35-40% of the tank. So unless the pink coral is directly under it, the blue will wash it out.
On a fowlr I would try this
3 blue, 1 actinic, 1 ge 6500, and 1 purple plus. I would buy two extra bulbs as well, another blue plus and an ATI aquablue. That way you can really play around and you can use the extra bulbs later down the road.
TropTrea
New member
Personl preference here and the layout of the tank will cause a lot of variences here. The key though I would suggest is the BLUES in the first and last position. Then another blue between the GE and Purple. Try the GE in position 2 and position 5 there will be a considerable difference in totl effect between these two positions and pick the one that you personly like the best.
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