The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Michigan Mike]

Damn,I lost my words... Check this thread.http://http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1641235

You have SPS in the lower end of a tall tank, other people need to see this.

You keep SPS in the bottom half of a 30" high tank.

I've been saying a full length ATI fixture is great for SPS growers. Thank you for proving it. People need to see your tank, badass!

You think its not good enough?
It looks great to me.

I've heard of people growing SPS with ATI fixtures that are lower or not as long but with fixtures like this I want everyone to see it. 80w & 54w fixtures are very powerful.
Don't compare 24w x39w fixtures, especially if they have multiple bulbs.

 

[rtparty]

Sorry for the crappy pics, but here is a before and after. On January 2nd of this year I tore the entire display down and did a completely new aquascape. I had 29-various sps's and I only rescaped with 18-sps's when finished. I wanted a more open aquascape and I also wanted to allow each sps to get to full maturity without growing into each other. I am a sucker for sps's and it pained me to give up some sps's, but in two year I am hopeful to have a more natural full sps display.

Ok, ok, ok, back to the lighting topics. Prior I was running Radiums with VHO's. But now I switched to an ATI PM. I am not necessarily trying to get the Radium grow, but I am definitely into getting those T5 sps colors that you see in Europe, etc.

So that's my dilemma......

BTW: I know I need to ditch the canopy with an ATI fixture that spans the length of the tank. Just trying to find options to hang the fixture.

To be honest, Europeans don't ruin their tanks nearly as blue as we do. At least from what I've seen.

I would find an 8 bulb combo that you really like and run that most the time. Then throw in 2 ge6500 bulbs for pure growth that run for like 2 hours a day. On my six bulb unit I'm running 3 blue plus and 1 purple plus for 10 hours. For 2 hours I have a ge and ATI aquablue turn on strictly for midday looks and growth. I've been doing this for a week so far so too early to say how it will go.

I installed an actinic into my tank and it gives a really bluish/cyan color. Is it because I have a powermodule and the bulb is overdriven so it lights up brighter? I'm not getting that deep blue that I use to get with power compact actinics.

Sounds like an actinic plus bulb and not pure actinic. ATI does not overdrive the bulbs.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I installed an actinic into my tank and it gives a really bluish/cyan color. Is it because I have a powermodule and the bulb is overdriven so it lights up brighter? I'm not getting that deep blue that I use to get with power compact actinics.

ATI fixtures do not overdrive bulbs like icecap/coralvue ballasts.

 

[toofrigginswt]

ATI fixtures do not overdrive bulbs like icecap/coralvue ballasts.

gotcha.

 

[Michigan Mike]

If you had a exhaust fan blowing out on the end where your powermodule vents the hot air out you should be fine. The back is open so all it needs is a exhaust fan next to the fixture's vents, should be fine.

 

[Dummy]

Hey guys,

I need a small piece of advice from the experts. I have a 50g cube 24*24*20, I've been eyeballing the ATI 24 Inch Dimmable SunPower but I'm clueless on whether to go with 4 or the 6 bulb setup. Anyone have a similar setup? Any advice?

 

[Michigan Mike]

Hey guys,

I need a small piece of advice from the experts. I have a 50g cube 24*24*20, I've been eyeballing the ATI 24 Inch Dimmable SunPower but I'm clueless on whether to go with 4 or the 6 bulb setup. Anyone have a similar setup? Any advice?

Go with the 6x24.

 

[djnelson00]

T5 for 270 tank

T5 for 270 tank

Hey everybody,
I have been doing quite a bit of research into how to light a 270 (72"x36"x24") tank. I am just wondering if it is possible to light a tank this large with just t5 ho or vho or a combo of the two? I would like to here your input as to how many bulbs I would need along with what types for a good color combination?
Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[mwilliams62]

The T5 Q&a Thread - split

Sorry for the crappy pics, but here is a before and after. On January 2nd of this year I tore the entire display down and did a completely new aquascape. I had 29-various sps's and I only rescaped with 18-sps's when finished. I wanted a more open aquascape and I also wanted to allow each sps to get to full maturity without growing into each other. I am a sucker for sps's and it pained me to give up some sps's, but in two year I am hopeful to have a more natural full sps display.

Ok, ok, ok, back to the lighting topics. Prior I was running Radiums with VHO's. But now I switched to an ATI PM. I am not necessarily trying to get the Radium grow, but I am definitely into getting those T5 sps colors that you see in Europe, etc.

So that's my dilemma......

BTW: I know I need to ditch the canopy with an ATI fixture that spans the length of the tank. Just trying to find options to hang the fixture.

All I have to say is OMG I love your tank.... It is beautiful... and you have been growing all those SPS under T5's?

 

[rtparty]

Hey guys,

I need a small piece of advice from the experts. I have a 50g cube 24*24*20, I've been eyeballing the ATI 24 Inch Dimmable SunPower but I'm clueless on whether to go with 4 or the 6 bulb setup. Anyone have a similar setup? Any advice?

6x24 for sure and maybe the 8x24 if you can swing it. I'm not sure the price difference but the new powermodule In the four bulb setup would be awesome as well. Then you get LEDs and T5s.

Hey everybody,
I have been doing quite a bit of research into how to light a 270 (72"x36"x24") tank. I am just wondering if it is possible to light a tank this large with just t5 ho or vho or a combo of the two? I would like to here your input as to how many bulbs I would need along with what types for a good color combination?
Thanks a lot in advance.

Do you want a fixture or canopy? I would say 10 bulbs minimum either way you go.

It may be worth it to look into 3-250w halides with good reflectors and then a couple T5s to supplement.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I agree, when the tank's width gets around 24" or more I would look into halides instead of changing 10 or more T5 bulbs every year.

 

[djnelson00]

Ok. Thanks a lot. I'm planning on doing it in the wall with a small room on the backside. I was planning on having the top open and hanging the lights from the ceiling. I was also looking at maybe a DIY light setup rather than a premade fixture. Let me know what you think of this plan. Also what metal halides would you suggest along with the t5 supplements?

 

[Michigan Mike]

Ok. Thanks a lot. I'm planning on doing it in the wall with a small room on the backside. I was planning on having the top open and hanging the lights from the ceiling. I was also looking at maybe a DIY light setup rather than a premade fixture. Let me know what you think of this plan. Also what metal halides would you suggest along with the t5 supplements?

Probably 3 lumenmax large reflectors would be best for covering the width. Single ended 250w halides like 20k radium bulbs with 2 160w VHO Actinics or 4 80w T5 blue plus & purple bulbs.

 

[tegee]

All I have to say is OMG I love your tank.... It is beautiful... and you have been growing all those SPS under T5's?

Yes, I have been running an ATI PM for 3-months. My tank is actually looking much better (in regard to growth) then the pics I posted, which was a couple of months back.

I take fresh pics and post over the weekend........

 

[Thricelll]

Instead of starting a new thread I'd though I post here instead. I'm finding a light for my 48x24x12 frag tank. The eggcrate racks will be raised 5" so the corals will basically be sitting under 6 inches of water. My choices went down to the ATI sunpowers dimmable but I'm not sure which one. I was thinking of a 48" 4x54, 48" 6x54, or a 36" 6x39. This tank will be 100% SPS corals. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[rtparty]

Instead of starting a new thread I'd though I post here instead. I'm finding a light for my 48x24x12 frag tank. The eggcrate racks will be raised 5" so the corals will basically be sitting under 6 inches of water. My choices went down to the ATI sunpowers dimmable but I'm not sure which one. I was thinking of a 48" 4x54, 48" 6x54, or a 36" 6x39. This tank will be 100% SPS corals. Thanks in advance for any help.

6x39w in my opinion and raise it like 14" off the water for spread.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[Michigan Mike]

Instead of starting a new thread I'd though I post here instead. I'm finding a light for my 48x24x12 frag tank. The eggcrate racks will be raised 5" so the corals will basically be sitting under 6 inches of water. My choices went down to the ATI sunpowers dimmable but I'm not sure which one. I was thinking of a 48" 4x54, 48" 6x54, or a 36" 6x39. This tank will be 100% SPS corals. Thanks in advance for any help.

Check out page 9 on this link. You'll see PAR readings of a 6x39.
You won't have that fixture more than 9 inches above your tank- maximum.
.... unless it was 8x54 fixture, then it would be 14" above it.

I placed my 4x24 14" above my tank yesterday for a water change and its completely under lit at that height.

Anyway if you want SPS along the 48" length go with the 6x54.

 

[TropTrea]

Sorry for the crappy pics, but here is a before and after. On January 2nd of this year I tore the entire display down and did a completely new aquascape. I had 29-various sps's and I only rescaped with 18-sps's when finished. I wanted a more open aquascape and I also wanted to allow each sps to get to full maturity without growing into each other. I am a sucker for sps's and it pained me to give up some sps's, but in two year I am hopeful to have a more natural full sps display.

Ok, ok, ok, back to the lighting topics. Prior I was running Radiums with VHO's. But now I switched to an ATI PM. I am not necessarily trying to get the Radium grow, but I am definitely into getting those T5 sps colors that you see in Europe, etc.

So that's my dilemma......

BTW: I know I need to ditch the canopy with an ATI fixture that spans the length of the tank. Just trying to find options to hang the fixture.

Yes there is a considerable color difference between the two tanks from the pictures. Even taken with same camera the light intensity difference may shift the cameras color balance. It would also be good to know what you currently have for bulbs in this fixture to recommend changes. But I can try giving you some overall recomendations.

1. there is an apparent Wattage difference but that is understandable since T-5's and MH's do not put out the same amount of light per watt. Looking at color the MH's seem to be slightly stronger in the blue-violet while the T-5's seems stroinger in the blue-grreen range. An addion of a purple plus or two would help that out. Another option would be using an atinic however this would also decrease your overll visable light level.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Check out page 9 on this link. You'll see PAR readings of a 6x39.

I have looked at page 9 of this thread and cannot see any PAR readings.

 

[Thricelll]

I have looked at page 9 of this thread and cannot see any PAR readings.

I wasn't able to find it either, look up post 1709 on page 69. I was pretty shocked how high the readings were. I'm a little skeptical of the readings though. My 250 SE Radiums ran on a m80 ballast at 9 inches above waterline will only give 500 PAR in a very small spot under 5 inches of water.