The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Mark426]

Please critique my planned bulb configuration:
ATI 10bulb:
All ATI bulbs:

(front)
Blue+
Actinic
Blue+
Actinic
Blue+
Actinic
Blue+
Actinic
Blue+
Actinic
(back)

will blue+ and actinic cover all spectrums? I've heard of a few vendors that only use blue and actinic bulbs/led to get best coloration. Corals come in with great colors then fade because of too much white light in our tank.

As mentioned .... I dont think that will look good. Start with a simple and proven combo of 6 Blue+ and 4 Coral+ or at least 3 Coral+. Several tanks here with AWESOME colors use this combo or something very close.

 

[rtparty]

Looking for lighting ideas for a 210 mixed reef tank. How many 80 watt bulbs is ideal? I'm thinking of going with a ATI fixture since they are on sale. Thanks in advance.

8 bulbs would be ideal if the tank is 24" front to back

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I am ready (probably past time as they are about 30 months old) to replace bulbs on my fish only tank (mostly butterflyfish and two tangs). I have a 48", 6 bulb ATI fixture and am only running 4 right now due to an algae problem.

For a 4 bulb setup, how about 2 blue+, 1 coral plus, and 1 purple plus?

For using 6 bulbs, how about those 4 plus an actinic and a white?

Stay with ATI bulbs or go with Giesemann?

Thanks.

 

[rtparty]

I am ready (probably past time as they are about 30 months old) to replace bulbs on my fish only tank (mostly butterflyfish and two tangs). I have a 48", 6 bulb ATI fixture and am only running 4 right now due to an algae problem.

For a 4 bulb setup, how about 2 blue+, 1 coral plus, and 1 purple plus?

For using 6 bulbs, how about those 4 plus an actinic and a white?

Stay with ATI bulbs or go with Giesemann?

Thanks.

30 month old bulbs can definitely cause an algae outbreak.

I'd start with 2 blue and 2 coral plus and see what you think

 

[stancfii]

I just pulled the MH and went all t5 on my 40b. Running 2 B+, 1 P+, and a ge6500k. Crisp, icy white, with great all around color and not overly blue. Maybe a 12-14k. I love how the p+ balances the b+ and cancels out the noticeable green spike in the b+. Running them retrofit on LET miro-4 kits with HEP ballasts, bulbs 8" off of the water.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Thanks, Ryan. How about if I run all six bulbs? Right now, my 5th and 6th bulbs (that I haven't been running for a year) were midday 6000K.

Another coral plus and an actinic?

 

[rtparty]

Thanks, Ryan. How about if I run all six bulbs? Right now, my 5th and 6th bulbs (that I haven't been running for a year) were midday 6000K.

Another coral plus and an actinic?

If it's all fish I'd add a nice white bulb. The GE 6500k is nice and will help show the fish off. Maybe end up with something like 4 blue plus, 1 purple plus and 1 6500k.

That's an older school setup but worked nicely

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Ryan,

Thank you. It is nice of you to spend so much time helping with bulb selection.

Frank

 

[mandingCa]

Hey all.
I was trying to add a daylight bulb to my mix of Geissman t5's. Currently I am running 6 Geissman actinic and 2 pinks.

If like to replace one of the actinic a with a daylight, but the only t5ho I can find local is a Phillips 4100k.

Does anyone see any issues with this bulb?

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I would keep looking until I found a 6000-6500K bulb, which is a standard whitish-blue midday bulb. The 4100 might look a bit yellow.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

If it's all fish I'd add a nice white bulb. The GE 6500k is nice and will help show the fish off. Maybe end up with something like 4 blue plus, 1 purple plus and 1 6500k.

That's an older school setup but worked nicely

I ended up here with a slight modification - 3 blue+ (ATI), 1 purple+ (ATI), 1 coral+ (ATI), and a midday (6000K Geisemann).

 

[dsmooth]

Replace the AB special with a coral+ and see how you like it.

Thanks Markalot, I tried it out and am loving it.

 

[Jaystah]

What are the best bulbs to purchase for t5HO

 

[rezaktp]

Can't go wrong with ATI Blue Plus & Coral Plus depending how many bulbs you run maybe throw in a Purple Plus and/or Auqablue Special.

 

[Arkayology]

Can't go wrong with ATI Blue Plus & Coral Plus depending how many bulbs you run maybe throw in a Purple Plus and/or Auqablue Special.

Yup! I am using x3 blue+ and x3 coral+ on my ATI 6x24. I love it; it's blue but with a crisp white and just a little pink. I don't like the overly purple/pink tone of the purple+ it was a good option for me.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

What are the best bulbs to purchase for t5HO

ATI and Geisemann are very good and popular.

 

[jgraz]

So my new fixture is in, I and running a ATI 8x80w over a standard 180g tank. Assuming I can deal with the yellow/white look for a little while, how many GE 6500k tubes would be to many. I figure I would go for max growth for several months before switching back to traditional reef spectrums.

For what it's worth my intention was to run 6 B+ and 2 C+ before I got the idea about the 6500k in my head.
Thanks in advance

 

[Mark426]

Three 6500's would be my guess. Might not look as bad as you think, with the balance being Blue+. Guessing a 10K look......more or less.

 

[rtparty]

So my new fixture is in, I and running a ATI 8x80w over a standard 180g tank. Assuming I can deal with the yellow/white look for a little while, how many GE 6500k tubes would be to many. I figure I would go for max growth for several months before switching back to traditional reef spectrums.

For what it's worth my intention was to run 6 B+ and 2 C+ before I got the idea about the 6500k in my head.
Thanks in advance

I bet you could run all slots with 6500k bulbs. It will look bad and probably grow algae better than corals but I'm sure your corals would grow as well.

Grim used to say the best growth he ever got was a 50/50 mix of blue plus and Aquablue bulbs. So I can see something like 5 blue plus and 3 6500k being good for growth. Corals will also grow faster if they have food to eat as well

 

[stancfii]

1:1 blue+/ge6500 looks a lot like an xm10k without any supplementation.