The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Stylo328]

Hello and thank you. I am lighting a 405- gallon tank. Dimension as are 120" wide, 30" front to back and 28" deep. I will be using 10 t5 bulbs and a reefbrite strip.

The first two bulbs are in a Giesemann razor retro kit, followed by the reefbrite xho blue strip and then an 8-bulb ATI fixture.

The bulb combo I'm thinking is:

Blue +
Purple +

Reefbrite xho blue

Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
Blue +
Purple +
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +

Would appreciate your thoughts on bulb selection and order.

Thanks!



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[rtparty]

Hello and thank you. I am lighting a 405- gallon tank. Dimension as are 120" wide, 30" front to back and 28" deep. I will be using 10 t5 bulbs and a reefbrite strip.

The first two bulbs are in a Giesemann razor retro kit, followed by the reefbrite xho blue strip and then an 8-bulb ATI fixture.

The bulb combo I'm thinking is:

Blue +
Purple +

Reefbrite xho blue

Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
Blue +
Purple +
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +

Would appreciate your thoughts on bulb selection and order.

Thanks!



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Is it a fish only? Even then it will be a dark tank overall

 

[Stylo328]

Is it a fish only? Even then it will be a dark tank overall

No, not fish only. It's a full reef, SPS dominated. I'm sorry I didn't clarify in the original post, it will be two rows of the above. 20 t5 bulbs in total and two reefbrite strips.

Thanks.


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[rtparty]

No, not fish only. It's a full reef, SPS dominated. I'm sorry I didn't clarify in the original post, it will be two rows of the above. 20 t5 bulbs in total and two reefbrite strips.

Thanks.


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You should be good then IMO

 

[Stylo328]

Thanks! Any thoughts on bulb selection or order?


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[rtparty]

Thanks! Any thoughts on bulb selection or order?


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Looked good to me. Depending on what color you are aiming for will determine selection. For 10 bulbs I'd run at least 6 blue plus. Then throw in 2 purple and 2 coral plus. If that's too white take out a coral plus for another blue

 

[Stylo328]

Looked good to me. Depending on what color you are aiming for will determine selection. For 10 bulbs I'd run at least 6 blue plus. Then throw in 2 purple and 2 coral plus. If that's too white take out a coral plus for another blue

I'm hoping for that 20k look without slipping into the "Windex effect". I appreciate the advice.


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[Bpb]

Have you used radiums or other 20k halides before? They're a bit whiter than most people would think of as 20k. For 10 bulbs I'd personally run 5 blue+, 2 true actinic, one 6500k, 2 coral+. That will be what I would consider a 20k look. Just centrally locate that 6500k bulb as close to the middle as possible, the rest can be evenly spaced out to have one front one back to avoid asymmetric color banding (as in having a purple+ bulb up front. But not in the back, and 2 purple+ is too many imho). With this combo you'd have plenty of white in there for a very bright daylight period, but enough blue and violet to keep it on the cool end of the color spectrum which to me is what the radium my bulb looks like. It's a very cool/cold icy white look. Not necessarily BLUE


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[koral_lover]

+1 - a 20k halide look is very different from a "20k" t5 look....i have to run almost 1:1 white/blue T5 ratio to mimic my radium 20k halide on a m80 ballast....

 

[Stylo328]

Have you used radiums or other 20k halides before? They're a bit whiter than most people would think of as 20k. For 10 bulbs I'd personally run 5 blue+, 2 true actinic, one 6500k, 2 coral+. That will be what I would consider a 20k look. Just centrally locate that 6500k bulb as close to the middle as possible, the rest can be evenly spaced out to have one front one back to avoid asymmetric color banding (as in having a purple+ bulb up front. But not in the back, and 2 purple+ is too many imho). With this combo you'd have plenty of white in there for a very bright daylight period, but enough blue and violet to keep it on the cool end of the color spectrum which to me is what the radium my bulb looks like. It's a very cool/cold icy white look. Not necessarily BLUE


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I have, both Radiums and XM20k bulbs. I currently have an 8-bulb setup with this order F-B:

Reefbrite XHO Blue
Blue +
Purple +
Actinic
Blue+
Blue+
Blue+
Actinic
Blue+

The tank looks a little dull to me.

I was hoping the coral + would bring out a little more of the pink and red.



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[Bpb]

Yeah you have zero white bulbs in there lol. Even one coral + will help some


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[Dee12Dee12]

Hello I have a 210g(72x24x28) and debating on switching from 4 AI Vega to ATI 60'' 8x80w fixture. Anyone know how well this fixture will light my tank. I'd like to start a mixed reef.

Coming back to the hobby after a three year layoff. Just another hurricane sandy victim lol.

 

[rtparty]

Hello I have a 210g(72x24x28) and debating on switching from 4 AI Vega to ATI 60'' 8x80w fixture. Anyone know how well this fixture will light my tank. I'd like to start a mixed reef.

Coming back to the hobby after a three year layoff. Just another hurricane sandy victim lol.

It will be great for that tank!

For bulbs I'd start with something like 5 Blue Plus, 2 Coral Plus and 1 Purple Plus. Grab an extra Blue Plus and Coral Plus to play with

 

[Dee12Dee12]

It will be great for that tank!

For bulbs I'd start with something like 5 Blue Plus, 2 Coral Plus and 1 Purple Plus. Grab an extra Blue Plus and Coral Plus to play with

Thanks for the reply [emoji106]

 

[Mekesterson]

What's the best ATI 4 bulb combo?? I currently have 1 blue+, 2 actinic, 10k daylight.

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[rtparty]

What's the best ATI 4 bulb combo?? I currently have 1 blue+, 2 actinic, 10k daylight.

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What do you like? For a great 20k go with 2 blue plus, 1 actinic and 1 purple plus. For a more white look go with 2 blue plus and 2 coral plus

 

[Mekesterson]

What do you like? For a great 20k go with 2 blue plus, 1 actinic and 1 purple plus. For a more white look go with 2 blue plus and 2 coral plus

Thanks for the reply! I just ordered another blue+ and a purple+ a couple days ago. Should be here tomorrow. So I'll be using 2 blue+, purple+ and an actinic

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[drtrash]

I am looking at supplementing my led, what 2 (24w) bulbs would you recommend? I assume a blue + maybe 1 other to add what led is lacking

 

[rtparty]

I am looking at supplementing my led, what 2 (24w) bulbs would you recommend? I assume a blue + maybe 1 other to add what led is lacking

2 blue plus, 1 blue plus and 1 coral plus or 2 coral plus

 

[dmatt56]

anyone know where to find replacement fans for the Nova extreme pros?