The T5 Q&a Thread - split

[Bpb]

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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I have almost that exact same bulb combo, except I scrapped the purp+ and run:

2 coral
2 actinic
4 blue

Love the color

Sometimes I consider swapping both coral+ bulbs for some giesemann 6500k tropics just because I love the 10k mid day shallow water white look. But part of me also just says to leave well enough alone and let the bulbs do their work. I'd definitely suggest two actinics though. They boost a valuable part of the spectrum and just because they're "dim" visually doesn't mean they're weak. For my dawn dusk I use an actinic in front and blue+ in back. It looks spectacular


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[Bpb]

I guess I'll follow my previous post with the question...do you guys think that changing out my two coral+ bulbs to 6500k bulbs would offer any improvement in growth all other things left the same? Or would it just look different.

4 blue+
2 actinic
2 coral+

Vs

4 blue+
2 actinic
2 6500k

Yes I'm aware of how white it would look at I'm ok with that


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[rtparty]

I guess I'll follow my previous post with the question...do you guys think that changing out my two coral+ bulbs to 6500k bulbs would offer any improvement in growth all other things left the same? Or would it just look different.

4 blue+
2 actinic
2 coral+

Vs

4 blue+
2 actinic
2 6500k

Yes I'm aware of how white it would look at I'm ok with that


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If you like the whiter look, you'll love it.

Back when this thread was huge and rolling, almost all of used the GE 6500k bulbs for at least one slot.

We tended to run 4 blue, 1 daylight and 1 pink bulb. Back then, the best pink bulbs were made by UVL. ATI, Gmann and KZ didn't bring their pink bulbs out until much later.

 

[Bpb]

Would you expect much difference in growth of sps between the two bulb selections? I know when running metal halides I had much more rapid growth from xm 10k than I had with radiums


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[rtparty]

Would you expect much difference in growth of sps between the two bulb selections? I know when running metal halides I had much more rapid growth from xm 10k than I had with radiums


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Couldn't say for sure but I would expect good growth from that combo. Might grow some extra zooxanthella algae with the daylight bulbs

 

[Bpb]

Food for thought. Appreciate it. Realistically I'm always growth minded first color second. Though my results tend to be the opposite. I won't be happy till sps are growing at a nuisance rate. Then I'll just frag.

I realize lighting is probably third on the importance list when dealing with growth, especially with sps, but parameters and flow aren't much of a mystery at this point. Stable alk, lots of food, very little waste, lots of varied flow with no dead spots. Simple enough


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[austinl]

Hey guys thanks for the replies. In what order would you guys put the bulbs?

If I'm not mistaken slot 3/6 are my dusk to dawn slots.

Using the proposed 4B+ 2TA and 1 P+ and 1 CP+

I may pick up a few Geisemann as well as I may have found a local store finally.


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[janci]

A not bulb question...
How many amps does a 8x54W fixture draw from the net?
Should I count only with the consumption of the bulbs or do the ballast also add to the equation?
If yes, how do I find out?
I have a Giesemann Matrixx Dimtec 8x54W.

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[austinl]

Hey guys thanks for the replies. In what order would you guys put the bulbs?

If I'm not mistaken slot 3/6 are my dusk to dawn slots.

Using the proposed 4B+ 2TA and 1 P+ and 1 CP+

I may pick up a few Geisemann as well as I may have found a local store finally.


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Also what would be the best way to perform the burn in?

I figure slot 3/6 is east to run 10 hours per day.

But how would you do the other slots? The tank was previously lit with 2 Radion XR15 Gen 4s

Would you do like 4-6hours per day? Or would you rotate bulbs in?


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[austinl]

I guess I'll follow my previous post with the question...do you guys think that changing out my two coral+ bulbs to 6500k bulbs would offer any improvement in growth all other things left the same? Or would it just look different.

4 blue+
2 actinic
2 coral+

Vs

4 blue+
2 actinic
2 6500k

Yes I'm aware of how white it would look at I'm ok with that


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I picked up a tropic and am going to try swapping the purple + for it, that is if it looks too purple.

So basically
4 B+
2 Actinic
1 C+
1 Tropic


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[jonray]

Does anybody know if the dimmable ati sunpower units can be taken apart to powder coat them as I want mine white?

 

[rtparty]

Does anybody know if the dimmable ati sunpower units can be taken apart to powder coat them as I want mine white?

Yes. Dave at nanobox does this all the time

 

[jonray]

Many thanks.

 

[rtparty]

Many thanks.

Just know on a new fixture, you void the warranty. If used, not a big deal. Depending​ on hope old it is, I'd replace all ballasts while you have it apart

 

[jonray]

I'm going to get a second hand one anyway. In case I mess it up. I'm sure there's a video or thread of someone dismantling one on the internet.

 

[chercm]

i am currently running SPS tank and this is the current arrangement of the t5 tubes

front
blue+
coral+
actinic
aquablue special
purple+
blue+
coral+
blue+


i prefer to be a more blue looking tank :

8-Bulb combination
5 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

what is the best arrangement to get the colour from sps ?

 

[chercm]

i am currently running SPS tank and this is the current arrangement of the t5 tubes

front
blue+
coral+
actinic
aquablue special
purple+
blue+
coral+
blue+


i prefer to be a more blue looking tank :

8-Bulb combination
5 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

what is the best arrangement to get the colour from sps ?

anyone ?

 

[Bpb]

I don't think there's necessarily a "best" to be honest. If there was we would all run an identical bulb combo. We all have different preferences. I think either of your proposed combos would work fine. I do take issue with the purple+ bulb just because it is more of an aesthetic bulb with a lot of wasted energy that isn't used for growth. But it is an attractive bulb for sure.


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[chercm]

U mean to take majority blue plus ???


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[paal]

Is there a 'dark blue' T5 available?
Not a pure actinic bulb, but something like an ATI blue plus with less power in the green and turquoise spectrum.