The T5 Q&a Thread

[Tank2379]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15683006#post15683006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The Midwater is an Actinic White, the Twilight will be about the same as a blue plus. You really just need to play and see what you like. Maybe try the midwater in place of the GE, replace what I assume is an Aquablue Special with the Twilight and throw a Actinic in place of the front Blue Plus.

Thanks I will give them a Try later this afternoon...

 

[Guy340]

Grim,

Could I get a bulb combo that's close to 20K? Unit is an ATI 10bulbx54W.

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15683326#post15683326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefEng10
So... I got myself an icecap 660 used for $55! Going to use it to power bulbs to supplement my 250w phoenix 14k's. Think is it came with 2 sets of vho (t12) endcaps...

I am not sure I can fit 2x t12's and 2x t5's over my 90 without blocking some of the mh light... I have seen where you saw the vho actinic is still the best looking actinic.

If I went with 4 overdriven t5's, would 2x pure actinic + 2x blue plus really blow up the colours and fluorescence ? Going to use this for dawn / dusk as well as supplemental, although I imagine with the overdriving those blue+ will give some serious PAR as it is.

Thanks in advance

Yeah, give that a try, instead of 2 actinics I would try 1 and 1 UVL 75/25. It will add some red which should help bring out more colors when just the T5's are on and with the halide.

 

[jeremyreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15681681#post15681681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
They should be like 2 1/2 inches wide. If they are 3 then they are Tek reflectors.

they are 2.5" so i could fit 7. so for a 25" deep tank i should overdrive 4 with the 660, then drive the other 3 with what kind of ballast? it is for a mixed reef with sps and clam on sand. thanks grim wont bug you for a while

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15683352#post15683352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 818reefer
Hi Grimm

I'm running 4x 24inch t5's off a IC 660 one of the bulbs burnt out in 2 months is it poss its being way over driven. Is there any other good ballast that I can use and strech the life of the bulb. and if they are not over driven are the bulbs gonna look not as bright.. the bulb was black at the ends there is one other bulb that looks like the one that burnt but not as bad the one that burnt was a ATi the others I have are geismann.

Are you running a fan to cool at least one end of the lamps? If not add a fan blowing air in from the back down a row of endcaps with all the lamp labels installed at that end to cool the lamps. You gotta cool T5's when running the IC ballast.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15683700#post15683700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Guy340
Grim,

Could I get a bulb combo that's close to 20K? Unit is an ATI 10bulbx54W.

Thanks in advance.

I would try 8 Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and 1 UVL Actinic white. Grab a ATI Aquablue or two as spares and to add in to brighten the look if you want. The mix I listed will be very 20K.

 

[Guy340]

Thanks Grim.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15684105#post15684105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremyreef
they are 2.5" so i could fit 7. so for a 25" deep tank i should overdrive 4 with the 660, then drive the other 3 with what kind of ballast? it is for a mixed reef with sps and clam on sand. thanks grim wont bug you for a while

Yeah, that would be good. Reefgeek might have a ballast capable of running 3 lamps, its a 4 lamp ballast that is a spect T5 ballast that can be wired up for 3 lamps. Not sure if he stocks them but they are out there.

 

[blide]

Quick question for you Grim...

I replaced my 2 center bulbs (superactinic and aquasun) last month with 24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) and a 24W 12000K Aquablue Special and my pink birdsnest at the top of the tank started bleaching like crazy! So, after about 3 weeks I decided to change out the Aquablue with an Aquasun and it now seems to be recovering. Do you think the Aquablue Special just has more par or do you think it's just a color spectrum issue?

Thanks

 

[Lyfey]

Grim, I need help. My growth is little to none. I am sure once I get this issue correct, my corals will actually grow.

I am using a Nova Extreme PRO 8x54w T5 unit (only 6 bulbs work, a ballast blew) I have the spare ballast, havent put it in yet.

I am running:
2 Icecap twilight bulbs
1 Gman Actinic+
1 UVL 75.25
2 Gman Aquablue's (11k)

Order Front to back
Dead slot
twilight
Dead slot
UVL 75.25
Gman 11k
twilight
Gman 11k
Gman Actinic +

I have another 75.25 as a spare with some half dead current USA actinics and 10k's

Also, Where can I get the GE 6500k? Did you say i could get it at tractor supply store? There is one on my way home from work.
I want to buy a new light and when I do I am buying a ATI PM. I will buy a 60''x8 bulb for my planned tank. I will use the ATI on my 75gallon with overhang until my new tank is bought and setup. What would you reccomend I use on the 60'x8 so I dont fry everything in my 75? Could I only run 6 bulbs? Or should I run all 8 but use like 3-4 actinics to lower down the PAR? Thanks Grimalicious!

-Chris

 

[cardiffgiant]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15684637#post15684637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blide
Quick question for you Grim...

I replaced my 2 center bulbs (superactinic and aquasun) last month with 24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) and a 24W 12000K Aquablue Special and my pink birdsnest at the top of the tank started bleaching like crazy! So, after about 3 weeks I decided to change out the Aquablue with an Aquasun and it now seems to be recovering. Do you think the Aquablue Special just has more par or do you think it's just a color spectrum issue?

Thanks

The ATI aqua blue special has about 60% more PAR than the UVL super actinic (~340 vs ~210). The aquasun has more PAR than the actinic white (~345 vs ~290). The age of the bulbs would be a factor as well. Generally, (depending on the age) replacing old bulbs with the same model can shock some corals.

I try to replace mine two at a time, and try not to replace bulbs that are next to each other.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15684637#post15684637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blide
Quick question for you Grim...

I replaced my 2 center bulbs (superactinic and aquasun) last month with 24W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) and a 24W 12000K Aquablue Special and my pink birdsnest at the top of the tank started bleaching like crazy! So, after about 3 weeks I decided to change out the Aquablue with an Aquasun and it now seems to be recovering. Do you think the Aquablue Special just has more par or do you think it's just a color spectrum issue?

Thanks

Probably a little of both

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15684918#post15684918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lyfey
Grim, I need help. My growth is little to none. I am sure once I get this issue correct, my corals will actually grow.

I am using a Nova Extreme PRO 8x54w T5 unit (only 6 bulbs work, a ballast blew) I have the spare ballast, havent put it in yet.

I am running:
2 Icecap twilight bulbs
1 Gman Actinic+
1 UVL 75.25
2 Gman Aquablue's (11k)

Order Front to back
Dead slot
twilight
Dead slot
UVL 75.25
Gman 11k
twilight
Gman 11k
Gman Actinic +

I have another 75.25 as a spare with some half dead current USA actinics and 10k's

Also, Where can I get the GE 6500k? Did you say i could get it at tractor supply store? There is one on my way home from work.
I want to buy a new light and when I do I am buying a ATI PM. I will buy a 60''x8 bulb for my planned tank. I will use the ATI on my 75gallon with overhang until my new tank is bought and setup. What would you reccomend I use on the 60'x8 so I dont fry everything in my 75? Could I only run 6 bulbs? Or should I run all 8 but use like 3-4 actinics to lower down the PAR? Thanks Grimalicious!

-Chris

Not sure on tractor supply, worth a shot.

6x80 on the 75 would probably be OK if the fixture isn't too close to the tank. Or you could just use a couple actinics in the mix. Use 3 Blue Plus, 1 ATI Actinic, 1 Pro Color and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. If things look unhappy drop a blue plus for the second actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15684918#post15684918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lyfey
Grim, I need help. My growth is little to none. I am sure once I get this issue correct, my corals will actually grow.

I am using a Nova Extreme PRO 8x54w T5 unit (only 6 bulbs work, a ballast blew) I have the spare ballast, havent put it in yet.

I am running:
2 Icecap twilight bulbs
1 Gman Actinic+
1 UVL 75.25
2 Gman Aquablue's (11k)

Order Front to back
Dead slot
twilight
Dead slot
UVL 75.25
Gman 11k
twilight
Gman 11k
Gman Actinic +

I have another 75.25 as a spare with some half dead current USA actinics and 10k's

Also, Where can I get the GE 6500k? Did you say i could get it at tractor supply store? There is one on my way home from work.
I want to buy a new light and when I do I am buying a ATI PM. I will buy a 60''x8 bulb for my planned tank. I will use the ATI on my 75gallon with overhang until my new tank is bought and setup. What would you reccomend I use on the 60'x8 so I dont fry everything in my 75? Could I only run 6 bulbs? Or should I run all 8 but use like 3-4 actinics to lower down the PAR? Thanks Grimalicious!

-Chris

Not sure on tractor supply, worth a shot.

6x80 on the 75 would probably be OK if the fixture isn't too close to the tank. Or you could just use a couple actinics in the mix. Use 3 Blue Plus, 1 ATI Actinic, 1 Pro Color and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. If things look unhappy drop a blue plus for the second actinic.

 

[Lyfey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15685004#post15685004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
Not sure on tractor supply, worth a shot.

6x80 on the 75 would probably be OK if the fixture isn't too close to the tank. Or you could just use a couple actinics in the mix. Use 3 Blue Plus, 1 ATI Actinic, 1 Pro Color and 1 GE 6500K Daylight. If things look unhappy drop a blue plus for the second actinic.

Sorry grim to ask more.. but your the bestest!
On the current setup with the 6x54 with the bulbs I already have could you reccomend a combo? Every other bulb is on one power switch. If There is another combo worth buying (most of my bulbs are new) What would it be?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15685031#post15685031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lyfey
Sorry grim to ask more.. but your the bestest!
On the current setup with the 6x54 with the bulbs I already have could you reccomend a combo? Every other bulb is on one power switch. If There is another combo worth buying (most of my bulbs are new) What would it be?

If you are just looking for better growth the Twilights and 75/25 are lower PAR lamps. You could replace the 75/25 with a UVL Actinic white and gain some. The Twilights are probably not worth changing out at this point. The actinic pluses if more than 6 months old could be changed for ATI Blue Plus and get you some increases.

 

[TheHun]

Hi Grim,

i currently run ATI Sunpower (6X54w). Can you advise which bulb combination and photo-period are best for growing SPS? Coloration doesn't matter.


thanks,
Attila

 

[Kamao]

What bulb combo is best for 2x24w?

Thats what i have for now. Might add another 2x24w so that it will be 4x24w. Im going to keep mostly zoas and some shrooms. I want a combo that makes the color pop.

 

[Hawkdl2]

I have a 30"x30"x24" cube that will be lit with a SE MH 10K XM or 20K radium off a Galaxy ballast and housed in a Lumenmax Elite. I am leaning towards the XM 10K. I plan to supplement, if necessary, with 4 x 24" T5 lamps overdriven off an IC 660. Given I will be trying two different MH bulbs with fairly different coloration, do you have a suggestion for T5 bulbs to either specifically complement one or the other MH, or some that might be useful as testers to try with either. I happen to have two brand new Aquablue Plus bulbs already. I am not adverse to trying the new IC lamps. MH choices notwithstanding, I am not a huge fan of blue tanks. The tank is not yet up so I don't know how my current choices will look.

Thanks for any suggestions.


I should add sorry if this has recently been asked.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15685856#post15685856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheHun
Hi Grim,

i currently run ATI Sunpower (6X54w). Can you advise which bulb combination and photo-period are best for growing SPS? Coloration doesn't matter.


thanks,
Attila

Mixture of 4 ATI Blue Plus and UVL Actinic White and ATI Aquablue is what I would use. 12 hours a day with one or two hours of just 2 lamps in the morning and afternoon.