The T5 Q&a Thread

[rtparty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15585271#post15585271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lyfey
Grim. Whats the difference besides par between a blue bulb and an actinic? Basic question but I really dont know.

The color of the bulb and the light spectrum it puts out. Actinic light is violet and in the 420nm wave length. Blue bulbs have a lot of actinic in them but have a lot more blue.

Go to reefgeek.com and look at the spectral graphs for an actinic bulb and an ATI Blue Plus.

Blue bulbs also have a ton more PAR like you said.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15585033#post15585033 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speeddemonlsr
Any pictures or studies on the new uvl bulbs?

The 454 looks like a Blue Plus. I haven't seen the indigo sun yet. With the move happening I am not in the position to be messing around with stuff right now.

 

[jgsensor]

Hey Grim, any info on T5 on a 30" deep tank? I have a 375g 96x30x30 that I am debating on trying to go all T5 instead of running MH. It's a mixed reef with the lights mounted roughly 12" above the water line. I currently have 3x250w 14K MH (may switch back to 400W) and 4x39W T5 for actinic. Would T5 penetrate the 30" depth enough or would I be better off sticking with the MH?

 

[bubba1170]

I can't seem to find any LFS that sells ATI. Is there another brand that is comparable?

Looking for ATI 54W Blue Plus

thanks

 

[E.intheC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15586931#post15586931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bubba1170
I can't seem to find any LFS that sells ATI. Is there another brand that is comparable?

Looking for ATI 54W Blue Plus

thanks

Most LFS's that I've seen have only sold the current bulbs..
Online's the way to go for bulbs

 

[bubba1170]

I picked up a couple of Helio bulbs. Any major draw backs to Helio's vs ATI?

My only issue is the shipping costs are so darn much and shipping bulbs doesn't seem the best bet.

 

[tdawgnjlo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15582837#post15582837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would use the Ice Cap to run 4 lamps in reefgeek reflectors and use the Triads to run the other 4 lamps. Overdrive the 4 center lamps on the Ice Cap.

For the 150 gallon 60 inch wide x 24 inch deep x 24 inch tall tank in my original question, would it be better to go with 3-80 Watt T5's on a 660 ballast with Reef Geek reflectors as center lamps, and then 4 normally drive 54 Watt T5's on RG reflectors on triads or 430 ballasts. Remember, I already own the 660 ballast and 3 triad ballasts with 6 bulb 54 watt Reef Geek retro with RG reflectors.

Or would your original recommendation work just as well.

 

[ufdent98]

Grim - Q for a Mantis tank

Grim - Q for a Mantis tank

Grim,
I'd like to echo all the thanks people have expressed for your time and consideration helping us all have tanks that look great.

Question:
I've got 2x24W T5 bulbs over a 26g bowfront set to house a N. Wennerae Mantis shrimp. An old A4 by icecap for someone else ballast.

I'm going to be adding soft stuff, mostly zoas.

What is the darkest/deepest blue bulbs for the tank that will support zoanthids?

That is, I want lamps that aren't "bright" but will help the colors on the mantis and the coral.

Mantis shrimp link:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...name=n_wennerae

Thanks,
steve

 

[dram537]

Hi, I'm setting up a 200g 72Lx24Wx30H, mostly for soft corals. Can someone direct me to a good and sufficient T5 fixture for my tank?

Thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15586708#post15586708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgsensor
Hey Grim, any info on T5 on a 30" deep tank? I have a 375g 96x30x30 that I am debating on trying to go all T5 instead of running MH. It's a mixed reef with the lights mounted roughly 12" above the water line. I currently have 3x250w 14K MH (may switch back to 400W) and 4x39W T5 for actinic. Would T5 penetrate the 30" depth enough or would I be better off sticking with the MH?

If you got something like the 8 lamp 60" ATI Powermodule and sat it right on the tank you would likely have more PAR than with most 250 setups. If what you have now works you gotta think long and hard before making a big change.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15589125#post15589125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bubba1170
I picked up a couple of Helio bulbs. Any major draw backs to Helio's vs ATI?

My only issue is the shipping costs are so darn much and shipping bulbs doesn't seem the best bet.

The original Helios super blue was a cool lamp. Later version I tested wasn't nearly as good. That has been a while so I don't know if they have since improved the lamp or not. The Gieseman Actinic Plus or Aquascience 22000K Blue, UVL 454 or Ice Cap Twilight are all Blue lamps with a similar look to the ATI with PAR that is at least in the same time zone,

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15589202#post15589202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tdawgnjlo
For the 150 gallon 60 inch wide x 24 inch deep x 24 inch tall tank in my original question, would it be better to go with 3-80 Watt T5's on a 660 ballast with Reef Geek reflectors as center lamps, and then 4 normally drive 54 Watt T5's on RG reflectors on triads or 430 ballasts. Remember, I already own the 660 ballast and 3 triad ballasts with 6 bulb 54 watt Reef Geek retro with RG reflectors.

Or would your original recommendation work just as well.

Yeah, you really don't need to use the 60" lamps. Only 3 isn't going to make enough of a difference at the ends to make it worth the expense of using the longer lamps. If you are going to use them I would do 6 which would then give you enough output to have high light critters in the last 6 inches on each side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Grim - Q for a Mantis tank

Re: Grim - Q for a Mantis tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15589536#post15589536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ufdent98
Grim,
I'd like to echo all the thanks people have expressed for your time and consideration helping us all have tanks that look great.

Question:
I've got 2x24W T5 bulbs over a 26g bowfront set to house a N. Wennerae Mantis shrimp. An old A4 by icecap for someone else ballast.

I'm going to be adding soft stuff, mostly zoas.

What is the darkest/deepest blue bulbs for the tank that will support zoanthids?

That is, I want lamps that aren't "bright" but will help the colors on the mantis and the coral.

Mantis shrimp link:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...name=n_wennerae

Thanks,
steve

2 ATI Blue Plus lamps will work fine. Make sure you hook a heat sink up to that ballast. It will die if you don't. The Ice Cap heat sink is just a rectangle channel of aluminum that sits between the ballast and what you mount it to.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15590037#post15590037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dram537
Hi, I'm setting up a 200g 72Lx24Wx30H, mostly for soft corals. Can someone direct me to a good and sufficient T5 fixture for my tank?

Thanks in advance

8 x 60 watt ATI Powermodule from reefgeek or if you have more lower light corals the Aquactinics Constellation.

 

[SleepyJ]

Hi Grim,
I have a 75 gallon with a Aquactinics TX5. The tank is fairly new, but I plan on stocking mostly SPS with some LPS. What would you suggest for a 14K kind of look? Thanks

 

[teog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15560224#post15560224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teog
Hi Grim,
I have a 12g 2x24 tank, its going to be a mix reef, nore sps though.

Have a NEP 6x54 and nova slr 2x54. This gives me a total of 8 bulbs over this tank. In order to fit the NEP in the canopy, I had to cut it down and remove the fans out of it.

Ive ordered two fans from a pc site and will be mounting them in the rear of the canopy for cooling. How do you think this will impact the bulbs?

Also I have access to giesemann bulbs locally so I wanted to stick with them exclusivley What bulb combo would you recommend?

Thanks,
teog

Hey grim, it a 120 gallon tank. Sorry for the typo. Dimensions are 24x24x48.

Still needing all giesemann bulbs. Do you recommend the same bulbs? Why the Aqua Flora bulb?

Thanks

Do you still recommend the same bulbs?

 

[OrrG]

Hey Grim. I just ordered a 48" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule for my 90 gallon. I went with 4 ATI Blue Plus, a 6500k GE, and a UVL Actinic White. Currently I'm using an Outer Orbit Pro with two 150 watt Phoenix 14k halides and 3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 Figi Purple 54 watt T5s. T5s were on for 12 hours and halides for 8 hours. My tank is SPS in the top half, LPS in the lower half.

How much light acclimation do think I will need when I switch out the fixtures? I know I'm going to get a crap load more par but what do you recommend? Slowly lower the fixture over a few weeks or slowly increase the time the lights are on, or both? Thanks for your help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15590560#post15590560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SleepyJ
Hi Grim,
I have a 75 gallon with a Aquactinics TX5. The tank is fairly new, but I plan on stocking mostly SPS with some LPS. What would you suggest for a 14K kind of look? Thanks

3 ATI Blue Plus, one UVL Actinic White and 1 GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15590757#post15590757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teog
Hey grim, it a 120 gallon tank. Sorry for the typo. Dimensions are 24x24x48.

Still needing all giesemann bulbs. Do you recommend the same bulbs? Why the Aqua Flora bulb?

Thanks

Do you still recommend the same bulbs?

The aquaflora lamp will add in some red. Still the same lamps. Just be careful where you put high light critters.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15590903#post15590903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OrrG
Hey Grim. I just ordered a 48" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule for my 90 gallon. I went with 4 ATI Blue Plus, a 6500k GE, and a UVL Actinic White. Currently I'm using an Outer Orbit Pro with two 150 watt Phoenix 14k halides and 3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 Figi Purple 54 watt T5s. T5s were on for 12 hours and halides for 8 hours. My tank is SPS in the top half, LPS in the lower half.

How much light acclimation do think I will need when I switch out the fixtures? I know I'm going to get a crap load more par but what do you recommend? Slowly lower the fixture over a few weeks or slowly increase the time the lights are on, or both? Thanks for your help.

If you can do it keeping the same photo period and just lowing the fixture a few inches a week would be my choice.