The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[MadsDK]

Hey there! I could use a little help regarding my bulb combo. I have a 6 bulb t5 fixture with these Bulls:

3 x Giesemann Powerchrome - aquablue coral
2 x Giesemann Powerchrome - super actinic
1 x Giesemann Powerchrome - super purple

The light is a bit too White/ red for my taste and I would like some ideas to make the light a bit more bluish, if that males sense? Without loosing too much PAR.

 

[mhucasey]

Hey there! I could use a little help regarding my bulb combo. I have a 6 bulb t5 fixture with these Bulls:

3 x Giesemann Powerchrome - aquablue coral
2 x Giesemann Powerchrome - super actinic
1 x Giesemann Powerchrome - super purple

The light is a bit too White/ red for my taste and I would like some ideas to make the light a bit more bluish, if that males sense? Without loosing too much PAR.

You will need to swap in some blues. I would replace the Super actinics with Blue Plusses or Actinic Blues.

 

[Bpb]

I'd get a purple bulb. Try swapping out one of the coral plusses or blues with a Super Purple or Purple plus or Fiji Purple and that should whiten it up.

Swapped a coral+ for a purple+ today. WOW what a difference that single bulb swap made. I'm loving this color combo right. Reminds me of when I ran Radiums but just a tad bit warmer. Thanks for the recommendation. Cannot express how glad I am to be back with good ol' T5HO. After having done the lighting carousel I'm back to what I feel is the simplest and most effective light source for corals, especially sps.

I'll get around to posting some pics once I can find out how to get them to show up accurately. The iPhone makes it look like I filled the tank with windex which is nowhere close to the actual color.

It's crazy how there were areas of the tank that were so dark and shaded from the LEDs and center brace before that my brain went blind to them and it's nice having every cubic inch of the tank brightly illuminated.

I've also decided to clean up the back glass and hide all wires and go with no background. I am liking how the light shines on the back wall and transitions from bright up top to dimmer as you get deeper down the glass. It's a nice added dimension

 

[MrineLfRlz]

It's crazy how there were areas of the tank that were so dark and shaded from the LEDs and center brace before that my brain went blind to them and it's nice having every cubic inch of the tank brightly illuminated.

+1 I just switched back toT5's and won't be going back to LED anytime soon!

 

[cham]

I like a 20k looking tank, my 120 has a 8 bulb powermodule and with two Reefbrites, one XHO and one regular (all blues) my tank washes out too white with 4 blue+, 2 actinic, one purple plus and one coral plus. It's too bright and not as blue as I'd like it.

I don't want the windex of all Blue + but I was thinking about going with 4 blue + and 4 true actinic along with my two reefbrite strips.

Any spectrum issues with this in regards to SPS? If I don't like it I can always grab a coral + from the LFS

 

[timger]

Hi

My tank is 35" (90cm) x 23" (60cm) x 17" (45cm) in heigh.

Would you take 6x39w or 8x39w T5 fixture?
I hope I will go SPS dominated soon.

Thank you

 

[tony73]

8x39w is mandatory for you, if it's SPS dominated

 

[Daniel62]

What size fixture would you use for a 48" x 48" x 16" cube all sps Thanks

 

[jdm1114]

Hi

My tank is 35" (90cm) x 23" (60cm) x 17" (45cm) in heigh.

Would you take 6x39w or 8x39w T5 fixture?
I hope I will go SPS dominated soon.

Thank you

IF your tank is 23" front to back, a 6-bulb will be enough IMO

 

[jdm1114]

What size fixture would you use for a 48" x 48" x 16" cube all sps Thanks

I hang an 8-bulb next to another 6 or 8-bulb fixture to cover 48 inches front to back.

 

[timger]

IF your tank is 23" front to back, a 6-bulb will be enough IMO

Maybe 24" is correct, if that makes a difference? :b
The difference in price is so small, so it's not based on that the discussion is made

 

[shred5]

I am happy with my color spectrum, but wonder more about how long to run my fixture and at what intensity (ATI Dimmable).

I'm wondering if I should be running both channels at 100% for a certain period of time or continue down the path I have, which is:

My tank is primarily SPS.

Thanks,

Paul

Paul what kind of rock is that, it look like it stacks nice.

 

[shred5]

Maybe 24" is correct, if that makes a difference? :b
The difference in price is so small, so it's not based on that the discussion is made

18" -23" I recommend 6 bulbs, under 18" 4 bulb.
24" and over 8 bulb.

 

[timger]

18" -23" I recommend 6 bulbs, under 18" 4 bulb.
24" and over 8 bulb.

So, just to be safe, I should take 8 bulbs?

 

[timger]

I'm hopefully buying a sunpower 8x39w soon.
What would you guys recommend for SPS color and growth?
I like a blue-ish look, and nice and crisp
Thank you

 

[Bpb]

With ATI bulbs I think you would enjoy 2 actinics, 3 blue+, the 2coral+ an one purple+. It's blue but with all 8 running it's like a deep white. 16-18k I'd guess. I may be in the minority but the blue+ bulb is great but has too much of a turquoise look to it if you load up with too many. The actinics and purple+ help to tame that a bit and give it some balance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cali9dub]

Looking for some advice. Just got a 48" 4-bulb TEK Light fixture to put over my 67 Solana XL. I like the look that the 400w metal Halide 20k Radium bulbs put out and was wondering if a combination of 3-ATI Blue plus and 1-KZ New Generation would do the trick or is there a better combo? I will be splitting this fixture down the middle and incorporating my 3 Kessil A360WE's as well. The tank houses 98% sps, a couple s. gigantea nems and a Ritteri nem...so I have lots that love light! Thanks for your input guys/gals.

 

[cali9dub]

Oh...also, any suggestions where to get the T5's at a good price with reliable packaging for shipping? Thanks.

 

[mhucasey]

Oh...also, any suggestions where to get the T5's at a good price with reliable packaging for shipping? Thanks.

BRS and Marine Depot are good choices.

 

[cali9dub]

Cool. Hate to get a good deal on bulbs and have them show up busted. That would suck !