The T5 Q&a Thread

[jeremyreef]

Cool that will save me $50.00 or so! any suggestion on what order to run them in?

i would do

Front
ati blue+
ati aquablue
stock act
stock 10k

 

[rtparty]

Hi Grim,

I have been running a T5 setup on my 280 for the last few years with good success and with your valued input. Tank has a mix of SPS, LPS and softies. Below is my current bulb configuration on two Icecap 660 with SLRs. From from to back:

-ATI Blue Plus
-UVL Super Actinic
-ATI Aqua Blue
-UVL 75/25
-GE 6500K
-ATI Aqua Blue
-UVL 75/25
-ATI Blue Plus

It's time to order bulbs...would you recomend any changes?

Thanks!

I would dump the actinic. They wear out pretty quick on the Ice Caps from what I understand.

Do you like the color? That seems like it would be pretty white to me.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Cool that will save me $50.00 or so! any suggestion on what order to run them in?

One Blue Plus and a 460 Current lamps in the dusk/dawn position and just play with the other 2 to see what you like.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I have been running a T5 setup on my 280 for the last few years with good success and with your valued input. Tank has a mix of SPS, LPS and softies. Below is my current bulb configuration on two Icecap 660 with SLRs. From from to back:

-ATI Blue Plus
-UVL Super Actinic
-ATI Aqua Blue
-UVL 75/25
-GE 6500K
-ATI Aqua Blue
-UVL 75/25
-ATI Blue Plus

It's time to order bulbs...would you recomend any changes?

Thanks!

Yeah, I'd add another Blue Plus in place of the super actinic.

 

[chris.francis14]

I am running an ATI Sunpower on my 90 Gallon, 24" tall. My bulb combo is,

ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquablue

How high off of the top of the tank should I hang the unit?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am running an ATI Sunpower on my 90 Gallon, 24" tall. My bulb combo is,

ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
Blue Plus
Aquablue

How high off of the top of the tank should I hang the unit?

4 to 6"

 

[jond]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[toosalty]

Grim what would you recommend for 6 54w combo. Tank is mixed with SPS, softies, clams stuff like that.

 

[Lewy]

Hi, Grim.

I have a 2 foot Guiessman Infiniti.

250W XM 15k with 4 T5 ATi tubes.

Just ordered a Phoenix 14k bulb. What 4xT5's would be a good match?

 

[rtparty]

Grim what would you recommend for 6 54w combo. Tank is mixed with SPS, softies, clams stuff like that.

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue or Blue Plus

Use the Blue Plus for a more 20k look and the Aquablue for a more 14k look.

 

[rtparty]

Hi, Grim.

I have a 2 foot Guiessman Infiniti.

250W XM 15k with 4 T5 ATi tubes.

Just ordered a Phoenix 14k bulb. What 4xT5's would be a good match?

I would be inclined to run something like 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL 75/25 and a UVL Actinic White. That will kick up your reds that the Phoenix will miss. The Blue Plus will be awesome for dusk/dawn effect.

 

[Lewy]

I would be inclined to run something like 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 UVL 75/25 and a UVL Actinic White. That will kick up your reds that the Phoenix will miss. The Blue Plus will be awesome for dusk/dawn effect.

I can only source ATi and Korallen-Zucht. What would you suggest of out those two makes?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I can only source ATi and Korallen-Zucht. What would you suggest of out those two makes?

2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 Fiji Purples would look nice. Might be a little purplish during dusk/dawn but it will let you see colors just blue lamps hide.

 

[koda_dad]

I just purchased a tek 6x39w canopy.

My tank is 36x12wx18h
33 gallon

this unit has 2 switches 1 controls 4 bulbs, 1 contols 2

first off is this too much?

Second, what bulbs would be best for lps and soft coral.

I do plan on getting some sps later on

thanks

 

[twistedreefer]

Hey Grim! i could use some advice. i have a nova 4 bulb on my 75 and a 2 bulb that im replacing with another nova 4. im running stock bulbs at the moment which hasnt done too bad so far. when i order the new light ill be getting 4 new bulbs to replace the old ones. so it will be 4 stock and 4 quality ones. next month the stock ones will also be replaced.
what would you recommend to use with the 4 stock bulbs?
my thought was 2 blue+ and 2 aquablue, but i see alot of ppl useing fiji purps and pure actinic....also how should i layout all 8 bulbs? and should i just get the same ones next month as i get with this order?
thanks in advance for the direction in choice.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just purchased a tek 6x39w canopy.

My tank is 36x12wx18h
33 gallon

this unit has 2 switches 1 controls 4 bulbs, 1 contols 2

first off is this too much?

Second, what bulbs would be best for lps and soft coral.

I do plan on getting some sps later on

thanks

Be fine

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

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim! i could use some advice. i have a nova 4 bulb on my 75 and a 2 bulb that im replacing with another nova 4. im running stock bulbs at the moment which hasnt done too bad so far. when i order the new light ill be getting 4 new bulbs to replace the old ones. so it will be 4 stock and 4 quality ones. next month the stock ones will also be replaced.
what would you recommend to use with the 4 stock bulbs?
my thought was 2 blue+ and 2 aquablue, but i see alot of ppl useing fiji purps and pure actinic....also how should i layout all 8 bulbs? and should i just get the same ones next month as i get with this order?
thanks in advance for the direction in choice.

You will have to figure out the arrangement for the lamps based on which lamps will be dusk/dawn, use blue plus or current 460's in those positions.

I would add 3 ATI Blue Plus and 1 UVL Actinic White. That will do a world of good for balancing out the look of the 50/50 mix of current lamps which looks a little greenish to me.

 

[koda_dad]

As they are on 2 switches, what you recommend hooked up to each and what schedule would be best

thanks
Chris

 

[The Grim Reefer]

As they are on 2 switches, what you recommend hooked up to each and what schedule would be best

thanks
Chris

Do the blue lamps on the same switched on both fixtures for dusk/dawn on both fixtures and use those for dusk/dawn. You could do it in 4 stages if you have enough timers.
Use whatever start and end times work for your schedule

10am 2 blues on
12pm 2 blues on (could throw the actinic white in here in place of a blue, cool effect)

1pm 1 10K and Actinic white or blue on
2pm Aquablue and 10K on

7pm Aquablue and 10K off
8pm 2 Blues or blue and actinic white off
10pm 2 blues off.

Or just blues on at 10, whites on at noon, whites of at 6 to 8pm blues off at 10

 

[Challenge]

1. ATI Blue Plus
2. IceCap Deepwater
3. ATI Blue Plus
4. Ice Cap Midwater
5. ATI Blue Blue
6. IceCap Indigo sun

Try that. There is NO reason to use the Twilight lamp if PAR is important, the blue plus has better PAR and there isn't a hill of beans difference in the look. I took out the GE because it, the midwater and deepwater together in a mix is going to be a whole lot of red. I think the indigo sun (or use the Giesemann Aquablue) will do a better job at balancing out the color. Grab a GE 6500K as a spare to play.

Alternate

Blue Plus
Midwater
Blue Plus
GE
Blue Plus
Indigo sun or Aquablue.

Grim,

Did you mean UVL Indigo Sun on the first set?

Thanks