The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Bpb]

Interesting. Those numbers are about perfect fornwhat I would want honestly. I wonder what the two extra bulbs and extra height are adding or taking away. What bulb combo do you use (not that it matters much most the ati bulbs are in the same ballpark)


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[reefslugs]

T5

T5

I have been playing around with bulb combo's. On a six bulb fixture has anyone tried ATI two B+ two P+ and two coral+ ?

B+
P+
coral+
coral+
P+
B+

Man I can say the coral colors really pop, but I don't know if it's good for them. By using this combo I get away from the windex look.

 

[rtparty]

I have been playing around with bulb combo's. On a six bulb fixture has anyone tried ATI two B+ two P+ and two coral+ ?

B+
P+
coral+
coral+
P+
B+

Man I can say the coral colors really pop, but I don't know if it's good for them. By using this combo I get away from the windex look.

That's a lot of red in that mix. Probably not an ideal combo but run it and see how the corals respond

 

[Paulvd]

Advise bulb combo

Advise bulb combo

Hello,.

Tomorrow i wil receive my ati sunpower 6x39W.
What would be the best bulb combo for my 66 gallon (35"/90cm) tank? I have LPS corals and specialy zoanthus. There will be no SPS in the future. (Blue color no problem)

Any advise will be great!

 

[rtparty]

Hello,.

Tomorrow i wil receive my ati sunpower 6x39W.
What would be the best bulb combo for my 66 gallon (35"/90cm) tank? I have LPS corals and specialy zoanthus. There will be no SPS in the future. (Blue color no problem)

Any advise will be great!

That's going to be a ton of light for an LPS and Zoa tank. Mount it high, like 12" at least. Make sure to acclimate slowly as well.

2 Blue Plus, 2 Actinic, 2 Coral Plus and grab a Purple Plus just in case. Might want to grab an extra blue plus too. Then you can easily play around and see what you like. Try each combo for a few days so your eyes adjust to everything.

 

[Paulvd]

That's going to be a ton of light for an LPS and Zoa tank. Mount it high, like 12" at least. Make sure to acclimate slowly as well.

2 Blue Plus, 2 Actinic, 2 Coral Plus and grab a Purple Plus just in case. Might want to grab an extra blue plus too. Then you can easily play around and see what you like. Try each combo for a few days so your eyes adjust to everything.

I was also afraid that it will be to much light. The current light is not enough at the moment.
The lamp that i will get today is equiped with new 3x Blue plus and 3x Blue special. I will buy the extra bulbs you have mentioned and try some combo. For this type of lamp and corals i need more blue light or my corals receive to much?

Thanks for your advise.

 

[pdiehm]

thinking about geting a t5 fixture. been recommended I look at a 6x80W for my 60x18x26 tank.

Plan is mostly LPS and softies, but in the future eventually SPS. Want them to pop, and using the ATI recommendation of 4 blue+, 1 Purple + and 1 Coral + will that pop or should I swap out one of the blue+ for an actinic?


Additionally, I think the 6x80 will be a ton of light, is 4x80 an option? Last thing I want to do is bake the LPS that I eventually get with too much light.

 

[rtparty]

I'd go with a 6*54w if you don't plan to upgrade to a 72" tank

 

[pdiehm]

I'd go with a 6*54w if you don't plan to upgrade to a 72" tank

Now if I have plans to do sps down the road, will the 54W be enough light? Well 6x54?

 

[janci]

Now if I have plans to do sps down the road, will the 54W be enough light? Well 6x54?

6 bulbs will be sufficient for a 18" wide tank.
You might consider to take the 6x80W but if you do not plan any rockwork and corals close to the side windows you should be fine.

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[pdiehm]

Now could I use the sides for lower light corals such as some lps encrusting like Favias or possibly torches/frogspawn (I know aren't encrusting)

If I go with the 48" would I have to have it higher off the water than say the 60"?


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[rtparty]

Now could I use the sides for lower light corals such as some lps encrusting like Favias or possibly torches/frogspawn (I know aren't encrusting)

If I go with the 48" would I have to have it higher off the water than say the 60"?


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Not necessarily. The 60" just wastes a lot of light lighting up your side glass

 

[Ssteve]

Anyone running several actinic bulbs in a 4 or 6 bulb fixture?

I was watching a video where Jason fox was saying he runs pretty much just actinic t5's on his systems. It got me thinking of adding more actinic bulbs to my 6 bulb fixture.

https://youtu.be/oFih0XkoHd8

 

[rtparty]

Anyone running several actinic bulbs in a 4 or 6 bulb fixture?

I was watching a video where Jason fox was saying he runs pretty much just actinic t5's on his systems. It got me thinking of adding more actinic bulbs to my 6 bulb fixture.

https://youtu.be/oFih0XkoHd8

Where does he talk about it? I don't want to watch a 90 minute video for a 2 second blurp...

To answer your question:

Actinic bulbs aren't nearly as low PAR as we thought for years. They aren't far behind the Blue Plus actually. They also have ~100% PUR. They can make the tank look dimmer overall but I would run 2 Blue Plus, 2 Actinic and 2 Coral Plus in a heartbeat. Maybe switch a Coral Plus for a Purple Plus even.

 

[rogergolf66]

How many hours of life will a t5 go? Run with ATI fixture fans always worked

 

[rtparty]

How many hours of life will a t5 go? Run with ATI fixture fans always worked

Probably 2500 to 3000 hours depending. Blues wear out quicker. Less then ideal cooling will also kill bulb life. Even with working fans on an ATI, it doesn't mean the bulbs are kept at the correct temperature.

 

[Tripod1404]

This would probably be the oddest number but what would you recommend for 3 bulb combination. Right now I use 2xAti coral plus and 1x Ati blue plus. I also have a current usa marine pro led fixture. I have 3 bulbs because two 2 bulb fixtures plus and the led fixture dont fit. So I use two 2 bulb fixture plus one 1 bulb fixture and the led fixture.

 

[rtparty]

This would probably be the oddest number but what would you recommend for 3 bulb combination. Right now I use 2xAti coral plus and 1x Ati blue plus. I also have a current usa marine pro led fixture. I have 3 bulbs because two 2 bulb fixtures plus and the led fixture dont fit. So I use two 2 bulb fixture plus one 1 bulb fixture and the led fixture.

Either what you have or 2 blue plus and 1 coral. Depends on what color you want

 

[austinl]

Hey guys, looking for an 8 bulb recommendation for 8x39w

Was thinking something like this
4 Blue plus
2 Actinic
1 Coral plus
1 Purple plus


Or can/should I add another actinic somewhere. Would also like a dawn to dusk bulb recommendation.

This is going over a 40x24x18 tank

Thanks everyone.


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[rtparty]

Hey guys, looking for an 8 bulb recommendation for 8x39w

Was thinking something like this
4 Blue plus
2 Actinic
1 Coral plus
1 Purple plus


Or can/should I add another actinic somewhere. Would also like a dawn to dusk bulb recommendation.

This is going over a 40x24x18 tank

Thanks everyone.


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That will look good. I'd grab one extra Coral Plus just in case.

Schnitzel has an incredible tank and uses 6 Blue Plus, 1 Coral Plus and 1 Purple Plus. With 8 bulbs I do like at least one Actinic but two makes a great dusk/dawn option.