The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Would that be to much?

I doubt it.

 

[Tank2379]

Thanks Grim :thumbsup:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi,
I'm upgrading to a 120 gallon reef tank with the dimensions 48"x24"x24". I plan on it being mostly SPS dominated, but with softies such as mushrooms and zoas and LPS on the bottom to middle of the tank. I have narrowed my choices down to three T5 light fixtures due to the black color (The big woman vetoed a silver fixture).

1. Aquactinics Constellation 7x54w *$680.00, comes with mounting brackets*
2. TEK elite 6x54w *474.00+50.00 mounting brackets = 524.00*
3. TEK elite 8x54w *580.00+50.00 mounting brackets = 630.00*

I don't think the TEK 6x54w will be enough power for me to be satisfied forever, but at 150 dollars less than the Aquactinics I'm considering it...

The Aquactinics seems about perfect, but it is more expensive than the more powerful TEK 8x54w

The TEK 8x54w is cheaper, but only by 50 dollars. I would probably rather get more power, but I don't want to cook my lower light coral.

Which would you guys recommend?

Thanks so much!

Because you want room for shrooms and what have you the Constellation probably makes the most sense.

 

[jtrim123]

I need to order new bulbs for my T5 Unit. It is a 6 bulb Suntek 6x54 T5. I need some input on Brand, Color, and order of the bulbs for a mixed reef.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for the recommendation Grim. I made one change to the 6th row and did this:
(Front)
Row 1-ATI blue +
Row 2-KZ fiji purple
Row 3-UVL Super Actinic
Row 4-ATI Blue +
Row 5-ATI Blue +
Row 6-ULV Actinic White
Row 7-ATI Blue +
(Back)

Row 3&5 just came on and I love the look so far. With this arrangement, what would you recommend for a photo period. I was going to do this:
11:30 am Row 3,5 ON
2:00 pm Row 1,4,7 ON
4:00 pm Row 2,6 ON
8:00 pm Row 2,6 OFF
9:00 pm Row 1,4,7 OFF
9:30 pm Row 3,5 OFF

That looks fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry for asking again. What Kelvin rating would this bulb combination simulate. I just don't want it to be too blue. I want it to be bluer than my 10k/actinic system now, so that my corals ''pop''.

18 to 20K. Swap out a blue plus with a ATI Aquablue if you are after a more 14K look.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, as always thanks for the info. The kit I'm looking at is 2 hellolights 4 bulb retro's they each only use 1 ballast for 4 bulbs. How would that change things?

I'd maybe look further. I've heard bad things about the reliability of the 4x54 ballasts.

You could wire things so you get the 4 blue plus on the dusk/dawn cycle.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I need to order new bulbs for my T5 Unit. It is a 6 bulb Suntek 6x54 T5. I need some input on Brand, Color, and order of the bulbs for a mixed reef.

Depending on how its wired you might need to change positions to get Blue Plus for the dusk/dawn

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic WHite
Blue Plus
GE daylight 6500K
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[skip2142]

Hey guys, I'm sure this has been covered a bazillion times before, but it's kinda hard to find stuff with like 100 pages of material. Currently I am running a 4x24W system with 2 ATI Aquablue Specials and 2 ATI Blue Plus. I would like a bit more 'pop' out of my corals and was thinking about replacing one of the Aquablue Specials with a Fiji Purple bulb to really bring out some more colors. My only concern is that the color will be waaaay too 20k-ish, as where I am striving for somewhere between 16-18k (if possible). Any help?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey guys, I'm sure this has been covered a bazillion times before, but it's kinda hard to find stuff with like 100 pages of material. Currently I am running a 4x24W system with 2 ATI Aquablue Specials and 2 ATI Blue Plus. I would like a bit more 'pop' out of my corals and was thinking about replacing one of the Aquablue Specials with a Fiji Purple bulb to really bring out some more colors. My only concern is that the color will be waaaay too 20k-ish, as where I am striving for somewhere between 16-18k (if possible). Any help?

The Fiji won't make it look any more blue, just perhaps a hint of a purple tint.

 

[Felixc395]

18 to 20K. Swap out a blue plus with a ATI Aquablue if you are after a more 14K look.

Alright, how would I get somewhere inbetween 14 and 20, around a 16k?

 

[hazmat319]

I had a 6 bulb Tek over my 90 gallon in Texas. I sold off my entire setup because hubby got relocated to Connecticut. I'm here and I'm ready to get started again. I want to get it exactly how I want it this time. Do it right the first time.

I downgraded a bit to a 75 gallon. Normal 48x18x21 dimensions. I can't decide which fixture to go with especially now that I have 3 less inches on depth. I will go with some clams and easy SPS but still want my softies too.

So I can go with the new Tek Elite or upgrade to an ATI or Aquactinics. Emotionally I want to do LED's or the powermodule....logically I should go with the TEK since it was fine for the 90 it should be fine for a 75. Then I think the TX5. Anybody have any suggestions for an indecisive reefer? Grim? Thanks!

 

[newsalt]

That looks fine.

Thanks Grim. All the bulbs are on. I love the look.

 

[skip2142]

The Fiji won't make it look any more blue, just perhaps a hint of a purple tint.

Is is good at pulling different colors that the Blue+ doesn't pull?? I may just end up going with another Blue+ since I love to see the florescence in corals.

 

[Nemo Niblets]

Thanks very much Grim. With the Constellation, would it allow me to keep a full blown SPS only reef in the future with clever coral placement?

 

[dmilne85]

alright, im gonna hop on board and ask everyone what kind of bulb combination's they recommend. Currently I have a 36x36 tank lite with 12 t5s in individual reflectors over driven by icecap ballast. tank is mostly sps and i like a 20k(bluer) look. i need to replace my bulbs right now and my sps seem to be a bit on the washed out/pale side and im wondering if its too much light. so i wanna start fresh, so if grim, or anyone else has a reccomendation of what would work for a 12bulb setup, please let me know. thanks in advance!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Alright, how would I get somewhere inbetween 14 and 20, around a 16k?

The Aquablue as I osted

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I had a 6 bulb Tek over my 90 gallon in Texas. I sold off my entire setup because hubby got relocated to Connecticut. I'm here and I'm ready to get started again. I want to get it exactly how I want it this time. Do it right the first time.

I downgraded a bit to a 75 gallon. Normal 48x18x21 dimensions. I can't decide which fixture to go with especially now that I have 3 less inches on depth. I will go with some clams and easy SPS but still want my softies too.

So I can go with the new Tek Elite or upgrade to an ATI or Aquactinics. Emotionally I want to do LED's or the powermodule....logically I should go with the TEK since it was fine for the 90 it should be fine for a 75. Then I think the TX5. Anybody have any suggestions for an indecisive reefer? Grim? Thanks!

6 lamp ATI Sunpower would be my STRONG reco if you plan clams.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Is is good at pulling different colors that the Blue+ doesn't pull?? I may just end up going with another Blue+ since I love to see the florescence in corals.

Yep, pink or purple will come out a lot better

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks very much Grim. With the Constellation, would it allow me to keep a full blown SPS only reef in the future with clever coral placement?

Sure