The T5 Q&a Thread

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Hey Grim,
I have a strange hodge podge light set up and am looking for suggestions for bulbs and replacement order. I have one 4x54w fixture with Individual reflectors and one 4x54with a single parabolic reflector. I have the SLR over the back (majority of the rock and corals) and the Parabolic light over the front half of a 75RR. The bulbs are (front to back) Aquatic Life actinic, Blue plus special, Actinic, 10k, AL actinic, 10k, actinic, blue plus special, actinic. They all need to be replaced (11-16 months burn) however they were placed on the tank used and I am concerned with light shock of the new intensity. I will be replacing them with mostly simmilar types of bulbs because I like color (except the Blue Plus Specials with reg Blue Plus).
What I am wondering is 1. What order should I replace in? 2. How long should I wait between new bulbs? 3. What actinic/10k bulbs would you suggest for longevity (growth has to take a back seat to budget here) 4. Any combo suggestions that you think would go well in my messed up little set up?
Thanks for your help and Thanks for your continues service of the RC community!
 
supertech99 said:
Hey Grim,
I have a strange hodge podge light set up and am looking for suggestions for bulbs and replacement order. I have one 4x54w fixture with Individual reflectors and one 4x54with a single parabolic reflector. I have the SLR over the back (majority of the rock and corals) and the Parabolic light over the front half of a 75RR. The bulbs are (front to back) Aquatic Life actinic, Blue plus special, Actinic, 10k, AL actinic, 10k, actinic, blue plus special, actinic. They all need to be replaced (11-16 months burn) however they were placed on the tank used and I am concerned with light shock of the new intensity. I will be replacing them with mostly simmilar types of bulbs because I like color (except the Blue Plus Specials with reg Blue Plus).
What I am wondering is 1. What order should I replace in? 2. How long should I wait between new bulbs? 3. What actinic/10k bulbs would you suggest for longevity (growth has to take a back seat to budget here) 4. Any combo suggestions that you think would go well in my messed up little set up?
Thanks for your help and Thanks for your continues service of the RC community!
Click to expand...

Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Or there abouts, You can tweak the positions to get Blue Plus in your dusk/dawn positions. You can sneak an actinic in place of a blue plus if you want but keep in mind the blue plus are the highest PAR output lamps there with the possible exception of the Aquablue.
 
Grim,

I'm purchasing a 48" AquaticLife T5 High Output Light with:
(2 - 54 watt 10k) (2 -54 watt 420/460 Actinic) 47.2 x 10.1 x 3.2

What bulbs do you recommend that would give the best light output? I'm not looking for a deep blue, but not a bright white. So the middle ground - if that helps. Oh, and I'm assuming the ones that come with the equipment are insufficent for my needs?

Thanks in advance and Happy/Merry holidays!
 
rgonzalez said:
Grim,

I'm purchasing a 48" AquaticLife T5 High Output Light with:
(2 - 54 watt 10k) (2 -54 watt 420/460 Actinic) 47.2 x 10.1 x 3.2

What bulbs do you recommend that would give the best light output? I'm not looking for a deep blue, but not a bright white. So the middle ground - if that helps. Oh, and I'm assuming the ones that come with the equipment are insufficent for my needs?

Thanks in advance and Happy/Merry holidays!
Click to expand...

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a UVL Actinic White. Be a little blue with a slight purple tint.
 
Nice! And this will help with coral growth and photosynthesis?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgonzalez
Grim,

I'm purchasing a 48" AquaticLife T5 High Output Light with:
(2 - 54 watt 10k) (2 -54 watt 420/460 Actinic) 47.2 x 10.1 x 3.2

What bulbs do you recommend that would give the best light output? I'm not looking for a deep blue, but not a bright white. So the middle ground - if that helps. Oh, and I'm assuming the ones that come with the equipment are insufficent for my needs?

Thanks in advance and Happy/Merry holidays!

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a UVL Actinic White. Be a little blue with a slight purple tint.



__________________
 
Last edited:
rgonzalez said:
Nice! And this will help with coral growth and photosynthesis?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgonzalez
Grim,

I'm purchasing a 48" AquaticLife T5 High Output Light with:
(2 - 54 watt 10k) (2 -54 watt 420/460 Actinic) 47.2 x 10.1 x 3.2

What bulbs do you recommend that would give the best light output? I'm not looking for a deep blue, but not a bright white. So the middle ground - if that helps. Oh, and I'm assuming the ones that come with the equipment are insufficent for my needs?

Thanks in advance and Happy/Merry holidays!

2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and a UVL Actinic White. Be a little blue with a slight purple tint.



__________________
Click to expand...

Yep.
 
OK I am ashamed to admit I have not changed the bulbs on my 8-bulb 48" Tek Light (over a 120 gallon mixed SPS/LPS/anemone reef) in about 5 years. However my tank is still going strong. Time to take advantage of a Boxing Day sale to get new bulbs. The bulbs available to me locally (in Canada) are:

Giessman: Midday, Aquaflora, Aquablue Plus, Actinic Plus and pure Actinic

URI (is this the same as UVL?): AquaSun, Actinic White, Super Actinic Blue, 75/25 and 454

AquaScience: 15000K, 17500K

Korallen-Zucht: Coral Light, Coral Light 2, Fiji Purple

I am not sure where to start as the most commonly recommended bulb on your thread (ATI Blue Plus) is not available to me. I want growth and color and my tank will be switching more towards SPS.
 
trilinearmipmap said:
OK I am ashamed to admit I have not changed the bulbs on my 8-bulb 48" Tek Light (over a 120 gallon mixed SPS/LPS/anemone reef) in about 5 years. However my tank is still going strong. Time to take advantage of a Boxing Day sale to get new bulbs. The bulbs available to me locally (in Canada) are:

Giessman: Midday, Aquaflora, Aquablue Plus, Actinic Plus and pure Actinic

URI (is this the same as UVL?): AquaSun, Actinic White, Super Actinic Blue, 75/25 and 454

AquaScience: 15000K, 17500K

Korallen-Zucht: Coral Light, Coral Light 2, Fiji Purple

I am not sure where to start as the most commonly recommended bulb on your thread (ATI Blue Plus) is not available to me. I want growth and color and my tank will be switching more towards SPS.
Click to expand...

No worries, I am adaptable :D

Front
Gmann Actinic Plus
URI 75/25
Actinic Plus
Midday
Actinic Plus
Actinic White
Actinic Plus
Actinic Plus

The 3 blue lamps (Actinic Plus) and one 75/25 will give you an eerie blue look with just enough red spectrum to make other colors pop during dusk/dawn. Overall the look should be between 15 and 20K with everything on.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
No worries, I am adaptable :D

Front
Gmann Actinic Plus
URI 75/25
Actinic Plus
Midday
Actinic Plus
Actinic White
Actinic Plus
Actinic Plus

The 3 blue lamps (Actinic Plus) and one 75/25 will give you an eerie blue look with just enough red spectrum to make other colors pop during dusk/dawn. Overall the look should be between 15 and 20K with everything on.
Click to expand...

Much appreciated Grim. That has to be the fastest response to a request for help I have ever gotten.
 
hey grim, What would be the best placement of these bulbs in my Tek5- X6 (cooling mod added) fixture?

aqua blue X2
Midday
Actinic Plus
Fuji purple
pure actinic


thanks much
 
Grim, what would be the best placement of the following bulbs in a six bulb 48'' ati unit for SPS dominated tank?

Five ati blue plus, one UVL actinic white, one GE 6500k, One UVL 75/25.

Switching from an 8 bulb unit to a six bulb unit.

Thanks.
 
The Grim Reefer said:
Front
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Or there abouts, You can tweak the positions to get Blue Plus in your dusk/dawn positions. You can sneak an actinic in place of a blue plus if you want but keep in mind the blue plus are the highest PAR output lamps there with the possible exception of the Aquablue.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the fast reply, have never used the 6500k bulbs before so I will be interested to see them. Anyone have any example pictures using these in the mix?
How long should I span out the replacement as to not shock the corals...one a month? one every week? Does it not matter? I am thinking that the difference in intensity will be dramatic.
 
all 17.5 k ?

all 17.5 k ?

I live in the sticks and have to order everything online,and get it shipped.I use to run an equal mix of ATI blue+ and specials and luved the color.Well can't get ATI anymore:( so i went to aquascience for tubes.I am running an equal mix of 22k and 15k and can deal with the color.One of the online retailers have a sale on all T5 tubes.I use 8x 54 watters and they no longer carry the aquascience 22k.Would it be ok to run all 17.5k aquascience,would i get a nice blue tint. Thanks in advance.
 
mikesin said:
hey grim, What would be the best placement of these bulbs in my Tek5- X6 (cooling mod added) fixture?

aqua blue X2
Midday
Actinic Plus
Fuji purple
pure actinic


thanks much
Click to expand...

Front
Actinic Plus
Fiji Purple
Aquablue
Midday
Aquablue
Pure Actinic

About the best I can do for you with that mix of lamps
 
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