The T5 Q&a Thread

[steely185]

I think I finally found my perfect color combo for my 40 breeder. Everything pops now. I found a nice 20K look with the following setup in my TEK fixture:

(Front)

ATI blue +
KZ fiji purple
ATI blue +
Giesemann Actinic+ (about the same as a blue +, little less par)
UVL super actinic
ATI blue +

(Back)

The highest part of my rock work sits under the super actinic too prevent too much par on the highest corals. Tank still gets plenty of par. Love the color. It's close to that of a radium 20K. The tank is not overly actinic looking at all.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What, no picture

 

[steely185]

If I can take one that accurately depicts the color with the point and shoot that I have, then I will post one.

 

[steely185]

Blues have a bit more blue to them but the other colors are pretty accurate. Slightly bluer tint to the tank. Sorry for the poor quality of photo.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Nice!

 

[dbg7798]

Constellation fixture tripping GFCI outlet

Constellation fixture tripping GFCI outlet

Grim,

If I recall correctly you have had a Constellation fixture in the past. A quick question: did you have your fixture plugged in to a GFCI outlet?

I have recently plugged my fixture into one and it is tripping out. It appears that one power cord (the left switch) when plugged in trips it out. The other two are OK.

I have heard that electronic ballasts can have a current leakage which exceeds the limit of the GFCI, but it seems unusual that it appears one power cord is causing the problem and the other two work OK.

Just wondering about your or other members experience with multiple electronic ballasts on a GFCI...

Thanks for all you support in this thread, I am very happy with the bulb recommendation you gave me a while back!

 

[camlov2]

I am running a 50 gallon (36x18x18) tank which contains SPS and a clam. About a year ago I asked and you recommended the following.

Aquactinics

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

It looks great but I was wondering if you would make any changes to your recommendation at this point (due to further testing or new bulbs on the market)?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

If I recall correctly you have had a Constellation fixture in the past. A quick question: did you have your fixture plugged in to a GFCI outlet?

I have recently plugged my fixture into one and it is tripping out. It appears that one power cord (the left switch) when plugged in trips it out. The other two are OK.

I have heard that electronic ballasts can have a current leakage which exceeds the limit of the GFCI, but it seems unusual that it appears one power cord is causing the problem and the other two work OK.

Just wondering about your or other members experience with multiple electronic ballasts on a GFCI...

Thanks for all you support in this thread, I am very happy with the bulb recommendation you gave me a while back!

I didn't have the issue. Contact Tom at Aquactinics. Just for giggles try ONLY turning on the switch giving you the problem and see what happens. Another thought would be to turn on all the switches with the unit unplugged and then plug it in and see if the GFCI trips. Could just be an arcing switch.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am running a 50 gallon (36x18x18) tank which contains SPS and a clam. About a year ago I asked and you recommended the following.

Aquactinics

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

It looks great but I was wondering if you would make any changes to your recommendation at this point (due to further testing or new bulbs on the market)?

If you like the overall look just swap out the Aquasun for a UVL Actinic White. About the same PAR and the color is a little more subdued and has actinic kick to it.

 

[nl146]

Grim, you were recommended to me by somebody on another forum. I have a 46G bowfront in which I want to have a variety of coral and a couple of fish. I also have a 36" CADlight fixture with 4 (36W) 6500K midday and 2 03 true actinic blue bulbs, but I'm not getting the "eye popping" color combo I'm looking for. The tank is more yellow than white. What bulb combination would you recommend that would give a more intense blue, but also white for clear viewing and enough of the spectrum for photosynthesis. Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, you were recommended to me by somebody on another forum. I have a 46G bowfront in which I want to have a variety of coral and a couple of fish. I also have a 36" CADlight fixture with 4 (36W) 6500K midday and 2 03 true actinic blue bulbs, but I'm not getting the "eye popping" color combo I'm looking for. The tank is more yellow than white. What bulb combination would you recommend that would give a more intense blue, but also white for clear viewing and enough of the spectrum for photosynthesis. Thanks.

Do 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White, and then use one of your 6500K's and a Actinic. I think you will like the look. You could do an ATI Aquablue (bright white with slight blue tint) instead of the Actinic. More growth and a little brighter but still no hint of yellow.

 

[nl146]

Do 3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL Actinic White, and then use one of your 6500K's and a Actinic. I think you will like the look. You could do an ATI Aquablue (bright white with slight blue tint) instead of the Actinic. More growth and a little brighter but still no hint of yellow.

Great, thanks! How would the combo work? Meaning four of which and two of which together?

 

[intenseimage]

3 454, 2 Indigo sun and a Actinic White on the first

2 454. 1 Indigo and a 75/25 on the little one.

Previously you had recommended the above bulb combos for my tanks. The top selection was for my main display and was recommended for growth/color. If I wanted to shift more to color should I simply swap the Actinic White for a 75/25 (like you mentioned in the lower set for my frag tank)? And if so, would that still be enough for a BTA and clams?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Great, thanks! How would the combo work? Meaning four of which and two of which together?

Run either an actinic and blue plus or two blue plus on the 2 lamp set for dusk/dawn.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Previously you had recommended the above bulb combos for my tanks. The top selection was for my main display and was recommended for growth/color. If I wanted to shift more to color should I simply swap the Actinic White for a 75/25 (like you mentioned in the lower set for my frag tank)? And if so, would that still be enough for a BTA and clams?

I would maybe drop 1 indigo sun for another 454.

 

[Av8bluewater]

4 lamp 39 watt ATI Sunpower fixture with 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a UVL Actinic White lamp.

I think I'm going to go with this combo...
I have a hellolights retro, 4 X 24W for my 20 Gallon temporary tank.

I like blue but want to bring out pinks and orange too. Thanks.

Looks like BRS has good deals on these.

 

[Ricunger]

Grim,

last question i swear... i have decided on the tek 24" 4 bulb fixture. What bulbs should i run to get nice color & growth?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

last question i swear... i have decided on the tek 24" 4 bulb fixture. What bulbs should i run to get nice color & growth?

Thats what they all say

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

 

[Ricunger]

Thats what they all say

Front
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

:dance: Thanks Grim!

 

[pardalis]

Hey Grim I posted a ballast, bulb question in this forum would you mind taking a look?