The T5 Q&a Thread

[jhoff]

Any info or reviews on this KZ bulb
Korallen Zucht which makes products like Zeovit thought it might be a good idea to release their KZ Super Blue T5 lamp to the masses over in Germany. We should start to see the distribution chain sprinkle out from there. You might be part of the large group wanting to get a hold of Korallen Zucht's newest T5 lighting bulb they will be available in either 24, 39, 54 and 80 watts with pricing from $24 and peaking out around $40 depending on your retailer. To date Korallen Zucht has made a great effort to fill in their line of T5 lighting tubes to give you great choice in filling in your T5 fixture, with KZ Coral Light New Generation (14k), Coral Light Fiji Purple (blue/red), Coral Light (close to 10k?), and finally the new Coral Light Superblue tube which will fill in the 20k spot. The picture above has Korallen Zucht's newest T5 lights including the brand new Superblue with Fiji Purple and New Generation added in for extra flavor.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim you deserve a medal for your work here.

I am building a new canopy and want to replace my VHO Actinic setup. I have mostly SPS and some chalices in a 180g tank.

I will be reusing my 2x IceCap 430 ballasts so I guess they have to be overdriven.

How does this sound? Any changes?
Front
1. ATI Blue Plus
2. ATI Actinic 03
-250 Watt Ushio 14k
3. ATI Blue Plus
4. ATI Aqua Blue

Thanks!

1 BP
2 Act
Halide
3 Aquablue
4 BP

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have a Sundial 4x54 watt over a 55. Right know I have the 2 10,000k and 2 actinic that came with the light. Its time to replace the bulbs and wanted a little more color. I was thinking 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Fiji Purple and 1 aquablue. Also, which order would you put them in. Thanks!!!!!

Blue Plus in front then the purple, last 2 don't matter as much, just arrange them so you get 2 blue plus for dusk/dawn

 

[rs1831]

How does over driving the t5 bulbs change the color of the bulb? What would be an appropriate diy setup? If I wanted to utilize my current halides (2x250 lumanmax reflectors) would adding 2x54 watt t5's add anything to how my corals look? I'm really missing the pop with my corals. I guess what I'm getting at is do I gain anything by going to all t5's or will adding t5's to my halides make enough of a difference?

Thanks.

 

[Pcrain]

hey grim think you can help me with this one

I am running 2 175watt halides 15ks on my full reef tank sps - softies i have a few extra t5 ballast hanging around and wanna wire up 2 of bulbs any suggestions on a good combo to make color pop or even just to make coral grow faster?? i get good growth atm.. any thoughts.. questions

 

[AJ858]

can you guys give me your opinion on this combo please...

Front:
blue+
aquablue special
blue+
fiji purp
blue+
aquablue special
blue+
Back

100% sps tank with most corals ~8" away from lights

Thanks,
Alex

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How does over driving the t5 bulbs change the color of the bulb? What would be an appropriate diy setup? If I wanted to utilize my current halides (2x250 lumanmax reflectors) would adding 2x54 watt t5's add anything to how my corals look? I'm really missing the pop with my corals. I guess what I'm getting at is do I gain anything by going to all t5's or will adding t5's to my halides make enough of a difference?

Thanks.

Add 2 ATI Blue Plus not overdriven. Overdriving makes them appear whiter but I believe that is more a result of the light being brighter rather than less blue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey grim think you can help me with this one

I am running 2 175watt halides 15ks on my full reef tank sps - softies i have a few extra t5 ballast hanging around and wanna wire up 2 of bulbs any suggestions on a good combo to make color pop or even just to make coral grow faster?? i get good growth atm.. any thoughts.. questions

You could do a Blue Plus in front of the halide and a Fiji Purple behind if you want to bring out pink or purple better.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

can you guys give me your opinion on this combo please...

Front:
blue+
aquablue special
blue+
fiji purp
blue+
aquablue special
blue+
Back

100% sps tank with most corals ~8" away from lights

Thanks,
Alex

I might choose the UVL Actinic WHite over the Fiji but I think either will look nice.

 

[rs1831]

Add 2 ATI Blue Plus not overdriven. Overdriving makes them appear whiter but I believe that is more a result of the light being brighter rather than less blue.

Will a blue plus and a fiji purple look ok?

Forget it...you just answered this.

Thanks.

 

[Pcrain]

Thanks i will pick those up!

 

[bruster9000]

Has anyone tried the aquactinics reflectors in a nova extreme pro yet?

 

[spartacusFL]

Blue Plus in front then the purple, last 2 don't matter as much, just arrange them so you get 2 blue plus for dusk/dawn

Thanks. Would would you use a ny different bulbs, say a UVL actinic white instead of the fiji? My tank has sps and a lot of different colored zoos and ricordia that that I would like to enhance the color of.

 

[Bigshow]

Hey grim, I had ordered the tec 6x54 like you told me and the order of lights like you said I should arrange them. It hasn't come in yet but should be here by tomm. Do I need to acclimate my tank to this new light fixture and if so how?

 

[jkhudson]

I have a workhorse 7 ballast and was wondering how many t-5 bulbs it would support. It would either go over a 55 or a 20L. I need to know how many 48" bulbs and how many 24" bulbs. BTW are 30" bulbs available? I haven't sen them anywhere in a long time?

 

[Pcrain]

I have a workhorse 7 ballast and was wondering how many t-5 bulbs it would support. It would either go over a 55 or a 20L. I need to know how many 48" bulbs and how many 24" bulbs. BTW are 30" bulbs available? I haven't sen them anywhere in a long time?

http://www.lightingsupply.com/company/pdf/fulhamlampchart.pdf

this says you can do 4 54 watt t5s and even gives you the wiring diagram for it your not very clear on what else you wanted im sure you can figure out this chart ^

 

[Pcrain]

I am looking around online for the Blue pluses and the fiji purples and cannot find them both on one site do they go by different names or anything?? i have seen aquablue plus (which is 60%actinic and 40% white or 6000k/15000k )is that the same as blue plus??

and fiji purple i havn't even seen anywhere by that name.. is red wave the same thing? looks similar..

 

[jeremyreef]

I am looking around online for the Blue pluses and the fiji purples and cannot find them both on one site do they go by different names or anything?? i have seen aquablue plus (which is 60%actinic and 40% white or 6000k/15000k )is that the same as blue plus??

and fiji purple i havn't even seen anywhere by that name.. is red wave the same thing? looks similar..

try reef geek www.reefgeek.com they have the fiji and ati s.
aquablue plus and blue plus are different.

here is the 54w bulb page
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/54_Watt/

 

[jeremyreef]

I had ordered the tec 6x54 like you told me and the order of lights like you said I should arrange them. It hasn't come in yet but should be here by tomm. Do I need to acclimate my tank to this new light fixture and if so how?

yes you should acclimate. i use 2 window screens over the tank and remove 1 after a week then a week later remove last one.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks. Would would you use a ny different bulbs, say a UVL actinic white instead of the fiji? My tank has sps and a lot of different colored zoos and ricordia that that I would like to enhance the color of.

Yep Actinic White