The T5 Q&a Thread

[cykenp]

Hey Grim,

I keep going back and forth on which setup to use for my 90 gal SPS only (maybe clams) tank. I am currently deciding between the TEK 8 bulb, ATI 6 or 8 bulb, and Aquactinics 7 bulb Constellation fixture. I've seen that based on your PAR tests, it ranks TEK(8)<Aquactinics(7)<ATI (6 or 8). Is that correct?

However, I can't decide what is good for a 90 SPS tank or what is overdoing it. I know ATI sells a 10 bulb 48in fixture, and I'm sure that is more than I need.
I can get a 2 year old TEK (worried about ballast life) cheap, but I'm not a big fan of how it has no fans to cool down. I'm leaning towards getting an ATI 6 bulb, but I like how the Constellation has 3 switches and 7 bulbs to play with. ATI 8 bulb might be overkill?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice!!

 

[scott11]

I was running 2x250 Phx 14K bulbs. I just added a few T5,
Blue +
pure antinc
aquablue

The aqua blue is in the way back. I love the look of the blue + and the pure antinic. I think it looks better than my MH, and gives better depth to the tank. I really like the deep blue/purple coloration.

I an thinking of getting rid of the MH and going with a 8x54 retro. What bulbs should I use to keep my growth equal to the MH, but also achieve the blue/purple look I like?

 

[BaNDiTo_RoX]

Hey Grim,

I might be getting one of these and would like to know if it's enough for a 40g breeder.

36" 4x39W Powermodule
ATI Actinic
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
AquaBlueSpecial

It has Zoas,SPS,LPS and would love to see the color pop and growth.

thx in advance

 

[maynardjames]

hey grim, any reports or reviews on new icecap bulbs? which one will match or come close to a blue plus?

 

[cchase231]

I am doing some planning for a tank upgrade. Tank will be 60x24x25, will be mainly SPS and some LPS. Would the Sunpower 60" 6 bulb do it? i was thinking of maybe going with a 48" 8 or 10 bulb powermodule, or should I just spring for a 8 or 10 bulb 60"? I think I like the 48" 8 or 10 option the best, but just wanted to get your thoughts.
Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15421862#post15421862 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Croman
Grim,

Currently I am running the following cofiguration:
Lights are 5" high from the water's line. I find the colors of SPS are very dull or faded almost beached like. Parameters are good.
My current light configuration is:

Note all bulbs are Giesemann

Front
54W Actnic +
54W AquaBlue
54W AquaBlue
39W Actinic +
39W UVL Aqua Sun
39W Actinic +

39W are used because I have a DAS tank and my over flow is huge. Color is great looks like a white light but I am wondering there is not enough blue?

How about this configuration:

Front
Actinic +
UVL 75/25
Actinic +
Giesemann Midday 6000K
AquaBlue Plus
Actinic +

I have mostly SPS on top and Shrooms and softies on the bottom.

Here is a current pic of my tank:

I would maybe do a Actinic White instead of the 75/25 but other than that I think it will do well.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15421881#post15421881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cykenp
Hey Grim,

I keep going back and forth on which setup to use for my 90 gal SPS only (maybe clams) tank. I am currently deciding between the TEK 8 bulb, ATI 6 or 8 bulb, and Aquactinics 7 bulb Constellation fixture. I've seen that based on your PAR tests, it ranks TEK(8)<Aquactinics(7)<ATI (6 or 8). Is that correct?

However, I can't decide what is good for a 90 SPS tank or what is overdoing it. I know ATI sells a 10 bulb 48in fixture, and I'm sure that is more than I need.
I can get a 2 year old TEK (worried about ballast life) cheap, but I'm not a big fan of how it has no fans to cool down. I'm leaning towards getting an ATI 6 bulb, but I like how the Constellation has 3 switches and 7 bulbs to play with. ATI 8 bulb might be overkill?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice!!

Either the 6 lamp ATI or the Constellation. I THINK clams would be fine under the Constellation. I KNOW they will under the ATI. If you stick with larger clams they would probably do fine under either.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15421960#post15421960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott11
I was running 2x250 Phx 14K bulbs. I just added a few T5,
Blue +
pure antinc
aquablue

The aqua blue is in the way back. I love the look of the blue + and the pure antinic. I think it looks better than my MH, and gives better depth to the tank. I really like the deep blue/purple coloration.

I an thinking of getting rid of the MH and going with a 8x54 retro. What bulbs should I use to keep my growth equal to the MH, but also achieve the blue/purple look I like?

The Blue Plus has about as much PAR as any other T5 lamp out there so you can go heavy with them

For 8 lamps I would try this

Front
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus
Pure Actinic
Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

The 75/25 lamps will add a little red so you will pick up pink colors and purples better. I would do a 2 stage dusk/dawn. have the first stage with the actinic and a blue plus and the second adding in another blue and a 75/25.

This shot is running a 75/25 and blue plus only

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15421994#post15421994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BaNDiTo_RoX
Hey Grim,

I might be getting one of these and would like to know if it's enough for a 40g breeder.

36" 4x39W Powermodule
ATI Actinic
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
AquaBlueSpecial

It has Zoas,SPS,LPS and would love to see the color pop and growth.

thx in advance

Should be plenty.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15422366#post15422366 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maynardjames
hey grim, any reports or reviews on new icecap bulbs? which one will match or come close to a blue plus?

The twilight is the same as the 454 UVL lamp which is their blue. Doesn't match the PAR as the Blue Plus and Actinic Plus lamps but looks nice. The only difference between the IC lamps and UVL is the IC have beefed up electrodes to make them hold up better to being overdriven. I don't overdrive my lamps so I am making arrangements to throw the lamps in a solar flare fixture so I can do a long term test.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15422661#post15422661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cchase231
I am doing some planning for a tank upgrade. Tank will be 60x24x25, will be mainly SPS and some LPS. Would the Sunpower 60" 6 bulb do it? i was thinking of maybe going with a 48" 8 or 10 bulb powermodule, or should I just spring for a 8 or 10 bulb 60"? I think I like the 48" 8 or 10 option the best, but just wanted to get your thoughts.
Thanks

I would do the 8 lamp 48" PM. Unless you want high light critters end to end you don't have to have the longer lamps, just use the last 6" or so at each end for lower light critters,

 

[1morecoral]

Hey Grim,

I really appreciate all your time and info you have invested in t5 lighting here. I have ordered a ATI Sunpower 48" 6-bulb fixture with 4-ATI Blue Plus bulbs, 1-UVL Actinic White and 1- GE 6500K DaylightBulb. Will go with the following arrangement:

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

I currently have a 90 gal (48x24tallx18), Current Dual Satellite Power Compact fixture (6000K/10000K dual daylight and 420/460 dual actinic bulbs). Photo period:10 hours actinic and 8 hours for daylight bulbs. It is a mixed reef tank with mushrooms on the bottom, LPS corals mid tank and birdsnest, pocilla pora, a couple of plating montiporas and just recently a few acro frags which are mounted in the top 6"- 8" of water. Not wanting/really can't move them, but i don't want to burn them or stop their growth either as they seem to be doing good.

Finally here are my questions:

How far above the water should I hang the fixture to start with and a possible time frame for lowering it?

Should my photo period change to start with?

Also, in time how low could I lower the fixture to the top of the tank?

Sorry for the long read to get to my questions but your help would be great!
Thanks

 

[Beaun]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15419714#post15419714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
No, too much heat

So you suggest not using the acrylic guard on Tek fixtures. Do they suffer from water problems if they get splashed or is it ok that they get splashed from time to time?

 

[rholguin]

Hello, need bulb advice. My brother owns a 14 bulb consrellation fixture. What bulbs would you recommend and in what order. thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15424935#post15424935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1morecoral
Hey Grim,

I really appreciate all your time and info you have invested in t5 lighting here. I have ordered a ATI Sunpower 48" 6-bulb fixture with 4-ATI Blue Plus bulbs, 1-UVL Actinic White and 1- GE 6500K DaylightBulb. Will go with the following arrangement:

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

I currently have a 90 gal (48x24tallx18), Current Dual Satellite Power Compact fixture (6000K/10000K dual daylight and 420/460 dual actinic bulbs). Photo period:10 hours actinic and 8 hours for daylight bulbs. It is a mixed reef tank with mushrooms on the bottom, LPS corals mid tank and birdsnest, pocilla pora, a couple of plating montiporas and just recently a few acro frags which are mounted in the top 6"- 8" of water. Not wanting/really can't move them, but i don't want to burn them or stop their growth either as they seem to be doing good.

Finally here are my questions:

How far above the water should I hang the fixture to start with and a possible time frame for lowering it?

Should my photo period change to start with?

Also, in time how low could I lower the fixture to the top of the tank?

Sorry for the long read to get to my questions but your help would be great!
Thanks

You may need to tweak the lamp positions to get 2 blue plus in your dusk/dawn positions

If try to keep the same photoperiod and just start with the fixture higher up, like 8 or 10 inches. I would lower it a inch every few days and just watch the critters to see how they react.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15424986#post15424986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Beaun
So you suggest not using the acrylic guard on Tek fixtures. Do they suffer from water problems if they get splashed or is it ok that they get splashed from time to time?

Just wipe them down every few days. If you keep the fixture at least 4" aove the water you shouldn't get much splashing.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15425002#post15425002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rholguin
Hello, need bulb advice. My brother owns a 14 bulb consrellation fixture. What bulbs would you recommend and in what order. thanks.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus

 

[PogoMonogo]

whats your opinion of the UVL 454 bulb. Good stand in for a blue plus? terrible bulb? Also, what about the KZ Fiji purple? you gave me this mix to try:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

but i was wondering what you thought about mixing those other 2 in there. thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15427082#post15427082 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PogoMonogo
whats your opinion of the UVL 454 bulb. Good stand in for a blue plus? terrible bulb? Also, what about the KZ Fiji purple? you gave me this mix to try:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
Blue Plus

but i was wondering what you thought about mixing those other 2 in there. thanks.

You could try the Fiji in place of the 75/25's. The 454 look nice but don't have as much PAR as the ATI or Giesemann lamps but looks nice.

 

[aquaboy620]

Hey grim. I finally got my lights. 2 x 36" ATI powermodules 8 x 39 watt T5s over my 240 gallon. I wanted to know how many inches away from the tank they should be. I used to have 2 x 250 watt MH 20k with 4 x 39 T5s for actinics. they used to sit at about 6 inches from the tank. I have 8 ATI actinic blue plus' and I believe 2 x GE 6500k daylights and 6 other bulbs which 2 are white and 4 are purplish in color. my tank has a 10,000k look to it now.