The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15517038#post15517038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaWave523
Grim,

Right now, I have 3 blue plus, 1 White actinic and 1 GE 6500K (i'm getting another bulb sent since it broke during shipment and i have the option to pick something else other than another blue plus). Anyways, as you can see from the image below, it doesn't make much of a difference when all the lights are on. I want this shimmer metal halide effect that seems like its real sunny outside. I think having the 4 blue plus bulbs, it's not appearing that way. Can someone suggest a better combo? I like the blueish look, but when its the middle of the day, I would like to seem like the tank has that majestic,shimmery sunny day look. I was thinking one 10,000k bulb would do the trick? As you can see below both T5's, I used only 1 96Watt Compact lighting and it a difference.

Right now I have:

one GE 6500k
one White Actinic
three blue plus
(??? waiting for the company to send me a new bulb that crack during shipment) <---any suggestion what I can pick?


T5- Only dusk and dawn lights are on:

T-5All lights are on:

Compact - one 96 watt: (taken before I rearranged my rocks a couple weeks ago )

Do a second GE 6500K Daylight

 

[Mr..Tang]

The Grim Reefer

I would guess that you are the T5 guru here.. I hope so!! I need help. I have the nova extreme pro with stock bulbs. I have this fixture above my 30 gall breeder that is setup as a sps frag tank. All my colonies and frags have all turned brown. My sps in my main display are doing much better. So one would assume that is from the lights. This fixture has been working now for around 4 monthes and I still have the orginal bulbs that came with it new. I wonder what you would suggest as a bulb combo that would be perfect for growing out sps frags...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks

Tang

 

[Mr. Right]

Hey Grimm, you've probably answered this 100x, but what bulbs would you recommend to run in a Current Sundial 4X24?
I currently have:
Geissman Aqua blue (I change it with SPS Blue Life 15K)
ATI Blue Plus
Aqua sun (I change it w/ a 75/25)
ATI Blue Plus

My tank is mixed but LPS/SPS heavy(I keep SPS up high.). I LOVE the color but was wondering if the growth could be improved with a different bulb lineup, any thoughts?
Here some pic's of my setup

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1647370


Also, I was wondering if addition of two more bulbs would be more inconvenience than beneficial? I want to "add-on" to my fixture probably using some type of brackets, then more than likely suspend the light over the tank. What do you think?

 

[sfboarders]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15514649#post15514649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The cheaper HO Kit. The VHO uses the Ice Cap ballast which is bucks.

Hi Grim, Thanks for the response!

What is the difference between the Universal AccuStart Triad and IceCap ballast besides the price?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15518280#post15518280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr..Tang
The Grim Reefer

I would guess that you are the T5 guru here.. I hope so!! I need help. I have the nova extreme pro with stock bulbs. I have this fixture above my 30 gall breeder that is setup as a sps frag tank. All my colonies and frags have all turned brown. My sps in my main display are doing much better. So one would assume that is from the lights. This fixture has been working now for around 4 monthes and I still have the orginal bulbs that came with it new. I wonder what you would suggest as a bulb combo that would be perfect for growing out sps frags...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks

Tang

Try 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and 1 UVL Actinic White. Should be a nice boost in PAR>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15518979#post15518979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr. Right
Hey Grimm, you've probably answered this 100x, but what bulbs would you recommend to run in a Current Sundial 4X24?
I currently have:
Geissman Aqua blue (I change it with SPS Blue Life 15K)
ATI Blue Plus
Aqua sun (I change it w/ a 75/25)
ATI Blue Plus

My tank is mixed but LPS/SPS heavy(I keep SPS up high.). I LOVE the color but was wondering if the growth could be improved with a different bulb lineup, any thoughts?
Here some pic's of my setup

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1647370


Also, I was wondering if addition of two more bulbs would be more inconvenience than beneficial? I want to "add-on" to my fixture probably using some type of brackets, then more than likely suspend the light over the tank. What do you think?

It looks like trhat you are using is doing a good job. I wouldn't change a thing. You could try lowering the fixture down some if possible to get better growth. Even a couple inches helps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15519071#post15519071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfboarders
Hi Grim, Thanks for the response!

What is the difference between the Universal AccuStart Triad and IceCap ballast besides the price?

The Ice Cap overdrives the lamps. Unless you plan a bunch of clams on the sand you don't need to overdrive on a tank less than 24" tall or so.

 

[Mr. Right]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15519111#post15519111 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
It looks like trhat you are using is doing a good job. I wouldn't change a thing. You could try lowering the fixture down some if possible to get better growth. Even a couple inches helps.

Thanks for the input and comments! I will lower the light down and see what that does. I don't have the splash gaurd on the fixture now; I'm thinking with lowering it I'd put it back on. Will this cancel the purpose of lowering it?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15519939#post15519939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr. Right
Thanks for the input and comments! I will lower the light down and see what that does. I don't have the splash gaurd on the fixture now; I'm thinking with lowering it I'd put it back on. Will this cancel the purpose of lowering it?

I don't know about the sundial but a Nova Pro loses output when you take off the shield because it messes with the cooling.

 

[Mr. Right]

Hmmm. I'll put it back on and take my legs of the light. Thanks again! I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[cykenp]

THanks for your suggestion grim!

Just wondering, since I'm considering getting the Constellation like you, which bulbs do you run in your setup? And what kind of look does it give?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15520255#post15520255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
THanks for your suggestion grim!

Just wondering, since I'm considering getting the Constellation like you, which bulbs do you run in your setup? And what kind of look does it give?

I am currently between tanks but when I was running th constellation my favorite look was 4 blue plus, 1 GE 6500K, 1 UVL Actinic White and 1 UVL 75/25. Look way sweet.

 

[yetti22]

Hey Grim,

I'm wanting to upgrade the bulbs on a Current 4x24 T5 fixture, thats on a 20 Gallon 14" tall tank. I'm aiming mostly for soft corals and some LPS as well.

Would this combination be ok?

Geisemann Actinic+
UVL Aquasun
Geisemann Actinic+
UVL Super Actinic

I'm looking at only Geisemann and UVL bulbs, as that is what they carry where I'm purchasing...

Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15520705#post15520705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yetti22
Hey Grim,

I'm wanting to upgrade the bulbs on a Current 4x24 T5 fixture, thats on a 20 Gallon 14" tall tank. I'm aiming mostly for soft corals and some LPS as well.

Would this combination be ok?

Geisemann Actinic+
UVL Aquasun
Geisemann Actinic+
UVL Super Actinic

I'm looking at only Geisemann and UVL bulbs, as that is what they carry where I'm purchasing...

Thanks in advance

That should be nice.

 

[Chibils]

Hey Grim. I'd like to do this with Geisemann bulbs only, as my lfs only carries D-D (and my other lfs don't carry any decent bulbs... The GLO lamps are popular around here). If the results are that big of a difference, I can go online. Maybe one of each?

What's the difference between the Aquablue+, Aquablue Special, and Blue Plus (mfg aside)? Since my fixture is four-bulb and has two individual switches, I'd like to have something along the lines of 12k/actinic, for a 14-17k look with all on. I do have clams and would like to get into sps. There has been a visible growth spurt in every coral in my tank in switching from my 175w halides in LumenBrights, and this is using the stock 2x10K 2xactinic AquaticLife lamps.

 

[Mr..Tang]

Grim

Thanks for the input!! I'll post a pics of before and after with your suggestion!

 

[jackthestrat]

Can someone please post a link to the very first page of this monstrosity of a thread? After spending two hours yesterday trying to get to the beginning, and opening like 30 tabs in my browser, I've just gotten completely frustrated.

 

[boxer385]

Originally posted by boxer385
Grim Reefer i have a question i have a 150gal tank 60inches by 24 by 24. i'm doing a DYI system using (2) icecap 660 and (1) icecap 430. i'm using 80 watts bulbs.

I'm purchasing my bulbs from reefgeek and i have the following
(3) ATI BLUE PLUS
(1) GE 6500K DAYLIGHT

Grim i need 3 more should it be (1) procolor and (2) ATI Aquablue?

FYI this will be a 7 bulb system? lmk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Unless you want to create a less blue look I would do the Pro Color, an Aquablue and and Blue Plus. That is still going to be a little less blue than you have now.

Grim Reefer shoukd i dump the daylight bulb so that i can more of the blue look?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15521276#post15521276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
Hey Grim. I'd like to do this with Geisemann bulbs only, as my lfs only carries D-D (and my other lfs don't carry any decent bulbs... The GLO lamps are popular around here). If the results are that big of a difference, I can go online. Maybe one of each?

What's the difference between the Aquablue+, Aquablue Special, and Blue Plus (mfg aside)? Since my fixture is four-bulb and has two individual switches, I'd like to have something along the lines of 12k/actinic, for a 14-17k look with all on. I do have clams and would like to get into sps. There has been a visible growth spurt in every coral in my tank in switching from my 175w halides in LumenBrights, and this is using the stock 2x10K 2xactinic AquaticLife lamps.

The Aquablues are about the same thing, a 50/50 lamp that is white with a slight blue tint. The Actinic Plus and Blue Plus are also about the same thing. .In your case do 2 Actinic Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 Midday. Use the actinic Plus for dusk/dawn.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15521657#post15521657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jackthestrat
Can someone please post a link to the very first page of this monstrosity of a thread? After spending two hours yesterday trying to get to the beginning, and opening like 30 tabs in my browser, I've just gotten completely frustrated.

I am not sure if the first page even exists any more. I think it was 2004 or early 05.