The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok. I've changed my order to 3 Blue plus, 1 pro color, 1 ge, and 1 aquablue. How does this sound? Can you recommend bulb order please? Thanks/

Be fine but they may not have pro colors anymore, if that's the case the UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple will work

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I have gone with your bulb suggestion in my sunpower of:
blue+
actinic white
blue+
aquablue
blue+
blue+

my question is that my dusk to dawn are bulbs 2 and 5 so what should I switch around to get all blues for dusk to dawn. I was thinking about just switching the actinic white and blue+. Will this still give me the same color?

Front
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Actinic White
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

No worries here. Thanks for being honest that's what I am looking for. What brand of ballast should I look into? I could let the Icecaps go and change. Then what Combo and setup would u recommend. I am open here on recommendations Grim.

The Triads or VS ballasts reefgeek sells are fine. For 6 lamps

Front]
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok. I've changed my order to 3 Blue plus, 1 pro color, 1 ge, and 1 aquablue. How does this sound? Can you recommend bulb order please? Thanks/

Front
Blue Plus
Pro Color, UVL Actinic White or Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE
Aquablue
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

So I have another quick question for you. On my 40 breeder I will have the ATI Sunpower mixed with LED's. In my sump I want to create a small frag tank section. My sump is a 20 tall and is 24x12x16. The frag section will be roughly 12x12x10.

My thought is to run 2 24W T5's down in the stand. The reason my frag section will only be 12 inches in length is because my skimmer will be in the way. That is the major issue I am running into. I am gonna have to move the lights all the way over to one side. There will be wasted light but that is fine.

Here is a diagram to help picture everything.

So my question is, do you think 2 lamps is enough to have it grow SPS? I plan to run either an ATI BP with a Fiji Purple or a BP with an Aquablue or even GE 6500K.

Blue Plus and Aquablue/

 

[Frogmanx82]

Grim, my original post got buried, I hope you don't mind a repost. I was looking for some help on a plan to change out my bulbs.

I have a 5 bulb set up on a Aquactinics Tx5

2x ATI blue plus
ATI aquablue
UVL Actinic white
GE 6500

I have some SPS now and a crocea clam so I want to keep my par up. The lights have been in since August last year.

So I have a few questions.

When do I need to replace bulbs?
Should I do it all at once or stagger them? if staggered, is one bulb prone to longer life than another?
I see actinic + and fuji purples recommended alot and I think I may take out the GE 6500. Are the par values of those bulbs the similar? The blue + seems like a staple so I assume I get more of those. Are the aquablue and actinic whites still my best choices?

Dusk for me is 3 bulbs since the fan only runs with the 3 bulb (1,3,5) positions on. I like it fairly bright at night anyway since thats when I watch the most.

I appreciate your help.

 

[TNTFISHY]

Front
Blue Plus
Pro Color, UVL Actinic White or Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
GE
Aquablue
Blue Plus

Thank you Rtparty and Mr Grim. Grim, if the procolor is discontinued go with the Fiji or Actinic White? Which do you prefer?

 

[cuda70bill]

I really could use the GRIM REEFERS HELP,I have a Nova Extreme light T-5, 8 bulb 432 watts , what type of bulbs would be best for my 90 gallon reef meaning a combo of whats best from the front of the tank to the back and the makers of the bulbs, I know REEF GEEK has the selection of bulbs and I might be looking to get my first clam ifthe lights can do it, give me some ideas PLEASE since I am new to the REEF SCENE, I want to get it right the first time or at least close to it, Thanks

 

[PolandSpring]

I have Tek T5 6 Bulb on a 48x18x24 tank.. i hate the color of my daylights, i want a more blueish tint but i want a lot of growth also, so i am looking for a bulb combo for daylights that will make my corals "POP" but still have great growth.. any idea on what bulbs to buy? My tank is sps dominated with chalices, acans, scoly's and zoo's.

 

[russisloud]

what would be a good bulb set up for a "Aquatic Life Light 72" T5 HO 8 Lamp 6 Lunar" light? it is about 5 months old and still running the stock bulbs. it is on a 125gal tank, i'm not keeping much in it right now, just rock and fish, but i plan to add corals to it over time.

thanks

 

[maddmaxx]

well grim,

seems your the go to guy. i just set up a friends 29g. he has 4 T5 bulbs. what combo of bulbs would you recommend for a mixed reef, and what site to get them from????

thanx in advance

 

[rtparty]

well grim,

seems your the go to guy. i just set up a friends 29g. he has 4 T5 bulbs. what combo of bulbs would you recommend for a mixed reef, and what site to get them from????

thanx in advance

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

All are found at Reefgeek.

 

[rtparty]

I have Tek T5 6 Bulb on a 48x18x24 tank.. i hate the color of my daylights, i want a more blueish tint but i want a lot of growth also, so i am looking for a bulb combo for daylights that will make my corals "POP" but still have great growth.. any idea on what bulbs to buy? My tank is sps dominated with chalices, acans, scoly's and zoo's.

4 ATI Blue Plus, a GE 6500K and a KZ Fiji Purple.

You can substitute the Fiji Purple with a UVL Actinic White to save some money if you wish.

 

[rtparty]

I really could use the GRIM REEFERS HELP,I have a Nova Extreme light T-5, 8 bulb 432 watts , what type of bulbs would be best for my 90 gallon reef meaning a combo of whats best from the front of the tank to the back and the makers of the bulbs, I know REEF GEEK has the selection of bulbs and I might be looking to get my first clam ifthe lights can do it, give me some ideas PLEASE since I am new to the REEF SCENE, I want to get it right the first time or at least close to it, Thanks

I would try this:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI BLue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

May have to tweak the positions a little bit.

 

[tangdiver]

Sorry, very new to T-5.

I am looking at a sunlight supply retro kit for 48" lights. What watt bulbs should be used if I want to use ati.

Can this ballast overdrive the lights. or do I need to use a Ice cap ballst retro kit.


thank you very much in advance.

Grant

 

[WiZKY]

140F inside my fixture finnex, this is to hight?

1 finnex ballast and 2 advance ballast. I want install a 80mm fan on the top, this is a good idea

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, my original post got buried, I hope you don't mind a repost. I was looking for some help on a plan to change out my bulbs.

I have a 5 bulb set up on a Aquactinics Tx5

2x ATI blue plus
ATI aquablue
UVL Actinic white
GE 6500

I have some SPS now and a crocea clam so I want to keep my par up. The lights have been in since August last year.

So I have a few questions.

When do I need to replace bulbs?
Should I do it all at once or stagger them? if staggered, is one bulb prone to longer life than another?
I see actinic + and fuji purples recommended alot and I think I may take out the GE 6500. Are the par values of those bulbs the similar? The blue + seems like a staple so I assume I get more of those. Are the aquablue and actinic whites still my best choices?

Dusk for me is 3 bulbs since the fan only runs with the 3 bulb (1,3,5) positions on. I like it fairly bright at night anyway since thats when I watch the most.

I appreciate your help.

Do 3 Blue Plus, either the actinic white or a Fiji Purple and a ATI Aquablue, Change the lamps once a year, Replace on lamp every few days when you change them.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thank you Rtparty and Mr Grim. Grim, if the procolor is discontinued go with the Fiji or Actinic White? Which do you prefer?

For the price Actinic White

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I really could use the GRIM REEFERS HELP,I have a Nova Extreme light T-5, 8 bulb 432 watts , what type of bulbs would be best for my 90 gallon reef meaning a combo of whats best from the front of the tank to the back and the makers of the bulbs, I know REEF GEEK has the selection of bulbs and I might be looking to get my first clam ifthe lights can do it, give me some ideas PLEASE since I am new to the REEF SCENE, I want to get it right the first time or at least close to it, Thanks

If you want to try a Clam under that light stick with the low light species and spot feed it once in a while.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Sorry, very new to T-5.

I am looking at a sunlight supply retro kit for 48" lights. What watt bulbs should be used if I want to use ati.

Can this ballast overdrive the lights. or do I need to use a Ice cap ballst retro kit.


thank you very much in advance.

Grant

If you want to overdrive get the Ice Cap T5 VHO Retrofit kit from reefgeek, they come with the Ice Cap ballast that overdrives the lamps.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actiunic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus