The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15659745#post15659745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chris88
Hi grim,

Does the aqua science 17,000k duo have a lot of red in it? It appears to have a little but i am wondering if i can get enough red from this bulb to not botther using a fiji purple?

I didn't see a lot of red in it when I tested them. Unless they've changed something since then I would go with the fiji

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: a few starting questions

Re: a few starting questions

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15660682#post15660682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MikeFisher1972
IC 660 how many 80w T5 can i run on it ?

I know on a 430 IC i can run two 80w T5 slightly over run.

I have a six bulb T12 VHO with 3 IC 660 running on my 125g reef. 3 super atinic and 3 atinic white
I dont have any SPS yet i do have some LPS and a bunch of zoanthids and a lot of shroums and a nem..

What would you do for a 125g tank?
chang out all the vho OR use some super atinic T12 from what i have ?
so if you could give me a run down of either all T5 or a mix of T5 and T12 and how you would put them in order.

on stock i have five 660 IC and two 430 IC.
I have all the end caps for T5 or T12.
and i dont mind changing it out either way just want the best par and color. i like it blue when i ran MH I ran 400w 20K with super atinic.


thank you for your help

You can run 3 80 watt lamps on a 660.

I would run 3 T5's on one ballast 2 T5's and a VHO actinic on a second. You should be able to fit the 5 T5's with Aqua Illumination reflectors which are 2 1/2 inches wide with the one VHO. You might be able to Squeeze in 5 T5's on two ballasts and 2 VHO actinics on a 3rd ballast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15661009#post15661009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PRDubois
Is it worthwile to have a 6500k bulb in a 4 bulb fixture over a 72 bow

If you like the look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15661237#post15661237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSU_Spartan
Grim,
I am considering going with a 48inch 8 bulb fixture over a 4ft wide x 4ft long x 1ft deep SPS frag tank. I want to have a good balance between color and growth. Any advice on which bulbs and what order I should consider?

The ATI Blue Plus and Aquablues have among the best PAR of any T5 lamp so you could run a mix of those or use the Blue Plus with a couple of UVL Actinic WHites which will add in some red.

 

[MSU_Spartan]

Thanks for the advice

 

[jason2459]

Grim hope the move went well.


Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to pull out the main colors in my tank between the fish and corals that will be in there. Greens, Reds, and Oranges.

I have a Current Sundial 4bulb t5 on a standard 55g right now that controls alternating bulb pairs. Right now I have the default 460nm slimpaqs go on for an hour then the slimpaq 10ks and reverse at night. Seems bland to me right now, though I don't have much in the tank yet. Down the road when that unit breaks (sooner then later hopefully) I'll retro fit a 4 bulb t5 kit in my canopy.

Any suggestions for the current setup and would that change with a retrofit slightly more flexible configuration?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15661331#post15661331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jason2459
Grim hope the move went well.


Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to pull out the main colors in my tank between the fish and corals that will be in there. Greens, Reds, and Oranges.

I have a Current Sundial 4bulb t5 on a standard 55g right now that controls alternating bulb pairs. Right now I have the default 460nm slimpaqs go on for an hour then the slimpaq 10ks and reverse at night. Seems bland to me right now, though I don't have much in the tank yet. Down the road when that unit breaks (sooner then later hopefully) I'll retro fit a 4 bulb t5 kit in my canopy.

Any suggestions for the current setup and would that change with a retrofit slightly more flexible configuration?

Throw a few ATI Blue Plus and a UVL actinic White in your current fixture. So much for bland

 

[MikeFisher1972]

this bulbs and runn them like this?

this bulbs and runn them like this?

so you are saying use two IC 660 balasts.

2 ATI blue +
2 KZ Fiji purple
1 ATI Blue +
1 VHo super atinic
1 ATI Aqua blue
2 ATI Blue +

or is there a different mix that you wouold use.
thank you again

 

[coraladdict]

Hi Grim

I have a mix reef with an 8 lamp T-5 fixture on a 48x24x24.
What new lamp configuration would you recommend for a dusk to dawn effect with a nice blue/white crisp colour?
Thanks

 

[killarsox]

Hey Grim,

I have a 125g reef tank, with a 72"Current Extreme fixture 12x39 Watt T5's. I'm currently running the stock bulbs that came with the fixture, the colors dont really pop at all from my tank. My tank it mainly lps, and zoanthids. I'd like to upgrade to some nice bulbs any suggestions on bulbs an layout? Thanks

 

[anstine]

Looking at building a 135 mixed reef with some sps. can I get enough T5 under the canopy to sustain/grow these types of corals. Have a link to a fixture that would have 12 - 60" staggered bulbs. 12 x 80w I believe.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: this bulbs and runn them like this?

Re: this bulbs and runn them like this?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15661942#post15661942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MikeFisher1972
so you are saying use two IC 660 balasts.

2 ATI blue +
2 KZ Fiji purple
1 ATI Blue +
1 VHo super atinic
1 ATI Aqua blue
2 ATI Blue +

or is there a different mix that you wouold use.
thank you again

I doubt you will fit 8 T5's in there. Use 7 and yes 2 660's and use a 430 for the VHO Actinic and a Blue Plus for dusk/dawn, should look sweet.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15662160#post15662160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coraladdict
Hi Grim

I have a mix reef with an 8 lamp T-5 fixture on a 48x24x24.
What new lamp configuration would you recommend for a dusk to dawn effect with a nice blue/white crisp colour?
Thanks

Try a UVL 75/25 and ATI Aquablue for dusk/dawn. For the other 6 lamps use 4 Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White and a GE 6500K Daylight. Grab an Aquablue as a spare so you can play with a little different mix if you think this is a little too blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15662418#post15662418 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by killarsox
Hey Grim,

I have a 125g reef tank, with a 72"Current Extreme fixture 12x39 Watt T5's. I'm currently running the stock bulbs that came with the fixture, the colors dont really pop at all from my tank. My tank it mainly lps, and zoanthids. I'd like to upgrade to some nice bulbs any suggestions on bulbs an layout? Thanks

Try 4 rows of ATI Blue Plus, 1 of UL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylights.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15662506#post15662506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anstine
Looking at building a 135 mixed reef with some sps. can I get enough T5 under the canopy to sustain/grow these types of corals. Have a link to a fixture that would have 12 - 60" staggered bulbs. 12 x 80w I believe.

a 6 x 80 watt ATI Sunpower or Powermodule would work or a 6 lamp Aqua Illumination retro from reefgeek would work.

 

[IBASSFSH]

How many 46"-48" bulbs can a IceCap 660 power? What color combos would be best say over a 120-150 gallon live rock and fish tank. Maybe some corals down the road.

 

[tas5tas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663066#post15663066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IBASSFSH
How many 46"-48" bulbs can a IceCap 660 power? What color combos would be best say over a 120-150 gallon live rock and fish tank. Maybe some corals down the road.

4 54w bulbs per ballast. I would do a combo of......

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun

 

[TreyK]

Okay I have decided on getting the ATI sunpower unit for my 29 gallon tank which measures approx. 30x12x18.

Should I get the 4x24 unit or the 6x24 unit?

Or should I step up to the 39 watt unit?

Also a suggestion on bulbs.

 

[tas5tas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15663480#post15663480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TreyK
Okay I have decided on getting the ATI sunpower unit for my 29 gallon tank which measures approx. 30x12x18.

Should I get the 4x24 unit or the 6x24 unit?

Or should I step up to the 39 watt unit?

Also a suggestion on bulbs.

A 4x24 bulb unit is plenty. As for bulbs.....what are you planning on keeping?? If you are keeping LPS, Zoas, and softies.....you would be best off going with a combo of 2- ATI Blueplus, 1- UVL Super Actinic and 1- ATI Aquablue Special to try and keep par numbers down. If you are going to keep SPS though.....go with 3- ATI Blueplus and 1- ATI Aquablue Special...you won't be sorry.

 

[MSU_Spartan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15661237#post15661237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSU_Spartan
Grim,
I am considering going with a 48inch 8 bulb fixture over a 4ft wide x 4ft long x 1ft deep SPS frag tank. I want to have a good balance between color and growth. Any advice on which bulbs and what order I should consider?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15661285#post15661285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The ATI Blue Plus and Aquablues have among the best PAR of any T5 lamp so you could run a mix of those or use the Blue Plus with a couple of UVL Actinic WHites which will add in some red.

One quick follow-up... do you think one 8 bulb fixture would be sufficient to light the 4ft x 4ft frag tank? Thanks agains for your feedback.