The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

so for this combo should the bulbs be placed like this....fixture is a nova extreme pro.

front

blue +
actinic white
blue +
aqua blue special
blue +
blue +

Yep

 

[bruster9000]

Yep

thanks for all your help.

 

[rs1831]

Hey Grim,

Here's a current picture of my setup. I'm just wondering with the way I have my corals if a Aquactinics Constellation would be a good light for my tank. Its a 75 gallon. Currently I'm using 2x250 halides and I would like to change to t5's.

Thanks,
Roland

<a href="http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x265/rs1831/?action=view&current=IMG_8089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x265/rs1831/IMG_8089.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim,

Here's a current picture of my setup. I'm just wondering with the way I have my corals if a Aquactinics Constellation would be a good light for my tank. Its a 75 gallon. Currently I'm using 2x250 halides and I would like to change to t5's.

Thanks,
Roland

<a href="http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x265/rs1831/?action=view&current=IMG_8089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x265/rs1831/IMG_8089.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Nice tank!

I would keep the fixture no more than a few inches above the tank but yes, I think that would work fine.

 

[jrp1588]

My ATI Sunpower finally came in. This light is awesome! Very quiet and built like a tank. I used this bulb combo

ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+

Here's a decent full tank shot. It's very blue, but I actually quite like the look

colony of zoas with my old light combo

same zoas under current combo.

Thanks for all the advice grim!

 

[dancewithethan]

ATI Blue + vs Aqua Blue special

ATI Blue + vs Aqua Blue special

Grim

Which of the two has more par?

Blue + or Aqua blue special

Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

My ATI Sunpower finally came in. This light is awesome! Very quiet and built like a tank. I used this bulb combo

ATI Blue+
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+

Here's a decent full tank shot. It's very blue, but I actually quite like the look

colony of zoas with my old light combo

same zoas under current combo.

Thanks for all the advice grim!

Nother nice tank.

If that Fiji Purple is in back try moving it forward and see what you think.

The right lights make those crappy Zoas not so crappy after all :lmao:

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim

Which of the two has more par?

Blue + or Aqua blue special

Thanks

They are really close. I am guessing here but I would bet there isn't 5% difference between the two one way or another

 

[rs1831]

Nice tank!

I would keep the fixture no more than a few inches above the tank but yes, I think that would work fine.

Thanks! Would you go in a different direction?

 

[philosophish]

Anyone try a 4 blue+ 2 Ge combo? I wonder if the extra blue would be balanced with the better red/orange color rendering of the ge bulbs.

Would love to see a picture if anyone has it, or can link me to it

 

[jrp1588]

thanks grim. I might try to switch the 2nd blue plus with the fiji sometime. And I got those zoas free from a buddy, I don't look a gift horse in the mouth, but they look pretty darn cool under the new lights!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks! Would you go in a different direction?

No, that sound good. Maybe the ATI sunpower but either will do the job. If noise is a concern the ATI is quieter but neither will drive you out of the room.

 

[rs1831]

No, that sound good. Maybe the ATI sunpower but either will do the job. If noise is a concern the ATI is quieter but neither will drive you out of the room.

Do you think that it will seem like as much light as the 2x250's that I am currently using?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Anyone try a 4 blue+ 2 Ge combo? I wonder if the extra blue would be balanced with the better red/orange color rendering of the ge bulbs.

Would love to see a picture if anyone has it, or can link me to it

I have done it, it looks good. It all comes down to personal taste.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Do you think that it will seem like as much light as the 2x250's that I am currently using?

Might seem a lt brighter depending on your halide system

 

[mnml]

Hi Grim,

Need your critique on my combo. Tank is 20" deep, fixture is 8" above water line. 90% SPS - 10% LPS.

ATI powermodule 8x54w

front
blue+
ge 6500K
blue+
uvl actinic white
kz fiji purple
blue+
ge 6500K
blue+

Thanks!

 

[sin05_omar]

how many t5s would you guys use for a 6 feet x 30in (B) x 17in (tank ht) 15in (waterheight)

havent really got anything so open to suggestions...

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

Need your critique on my combo. Tank is 20" deep, fixture is 8" above water line. 90% SPS - 10% LPS.

ATI powermodule 8x54w

front
blue+
ge 6500K
blue+
uvl actinic white
kz fiji purple
blue+
ge 6500K
blue+

Thanks!

Front
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Blue plus
GE
Blue Plus
Fiji
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue

Is probably what I would do.

Using 2 GE, the actinic white and fiji purple is probably going to be a little more pinkish than some would like but if you are out for a warmer look it will be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

how many t5s would you guys use for a 6 feet x 30in (B) x 17in (tank ht) 15in (waterheight)

havent really got anything so open to suggestions...

I would use 8 80 watt (60") lamps, either a Aqua Illuminations retrofit or the ATI Powermodule. You could use the Aquactinics Constellation as well, the 12x39 watt version that is 6 feet long but only having 7 lamps will limit you a little on the sandbed if you want clams.

 

[chuckreef]

weak in the blue colors

weak in the blue colors

Hey Grim,

I picked up a used Constellation over the holidays; got it cheap becasue it had a bad ballast and the fellow did not have the know how to fix it. Anyway, I just replaced the bad Workhorse 8 and put it over my tank. Compared to my Radium/actinincs, the flourescent greens rock (that really surprised me) and the reds are much better, but the blue corals, especially the blue growth tips appear more lavenderish/pinkish than blue. I don't know for sure how old the bulbs are he told me 9 months and I have no reason to not beleive), but they are very bright. The Bulbs are (front to back):

ATI blue +
ATI Blue +
UVL Actininc
UVL AquaSUN
UVL actinic
UVL 75.25
ATI Blue +

What changes would you suggest to greatly the Blue coloring in corals? (Everything else looks fine to me.)

Also, has anyone found quieter fans to repalce the stock ones in the Constellations?

Thanks!
Chuck