The T5 Q&a Thread

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Hey grim, I have a 24 gallon Aquapod. and I'm only running 2 24inch T5's over it, my current bulb configuration is 1 AquaBlue and 1 Blue Plus. It is about time for me to switch out my bulbs. I was thinking of either staying with the same bulb configuration or going to a Blue Plus and a Fiji Purple, what do you think? What kind of Par will I get with either bulb setup? Right now I only have LPS corals and mushrooms. Do you think I could keep anything more then those? Maybe a Montipora or other SPS up top? However my Acans are my priority, I have a Skittles Acan I just bought which is beautiful, and want to keep its color, or maybe even improve it. What would you suggest?
 
I will be getting 4 T5 bulbs (48inches) for my 70g tank.

I am not a bit fan of the blue color I see in most tank pictures, but maybe for some reason, bulbs in that color promote coral growth.

I would like to start with some soft corals and LPS and after a year or two try sps/clams/anemone.
Anemone maybe after a year.
I have the option to add another two bulbs for the SPS in the future or maybe add a MH or LEDs.

There are 6500K, 10000K, 14000K and 20000K bulbs. What color do each provide and how does it affect coral growth?
What color do actinic bulbs have and are they needed for coral growth?
Given that pink/purple fiji bulbs are in a spectrum "friendlier" to nuisance algea do you suggest against it for a newbie?
At the moment with 4 bulbs only and given I prefer a more white color in the tank what kind of bulbs do you suggest?
 
Last edited:
new reflectors

new reflectors

i went to the shop i work for and they had some extra metal laying around from a job.its chrome plated and shines from what ya would see on a harley.i bent them up and put in my fixture and dam they are blinding as hell now to see how the coral like it.i know i can buy the miro silver the same as they put in the ati fixture 4ftx2ft sheet for around $52 and could make 16, 4ft reflectors so ya can see how much profit they make on metal its crazy i know they nedd to pay someone to make it and overhead but dam.
 

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Hi Grim. As others have said, thank you very much to your contributions to this forum and thread!
My Q: I am setting up a standard 55g(48in long) for a mostly SPS mixed reef. From previous tanks I have 3 (2x54w) T-5 retrokits, 1 (2x100w) VHO T-12 kit, and 2 (250mh) retro kits.
The hood is currently configured with 2 (2x54w) T-5 retro kits along with 1 250w 10K MH as follows:
*front*
Blue plus
250w 10K MH
18k T-5 bulb(forget the maker)
6500K GE
Blue plus

When the T-5s are on, the color looks pretty nice, but with the MH on it is all washed out, so I have stopped using it... Do you think the two T-5 retros are enough for a mostly SPS reef or should I add more?
I am tempted to just get a 15K MH bulb and see how that goes, but am also tempted to take it out and add the third T-5 kit(adding a 75:25 and a Fiji bulb).
Thanks again!!!!
 
Currently I'm running this combo:
Blue+
Fiji-purple
Aquablue special
Blue+
I was thinking about switching out the aquablue with a uvl super actinic. Will it be enough light for monti's and birdsnests if I do this switch? My tank is only 14" tall.
 
landers96 said:
Hey Grim, let me start by saying THANK YOU for all the advice you've given out. I just spent a couple hours reading through the posts and I sure it's in there somewhere but I can't find it. What would you recommend for a 125 gallon six foot tank? I have 2 Ice cap 660's with 6 (12 3 footers) ice cap slr's. What bulbs would you suggest? I have a mixed reef. thanks
Click to expand...

Do 4 Rows of ATI Blue Plus, 1 of UVL Actinic White and 1 of GE 6500K Daylight.
 
HomeSlizzice said:
Hey grim, I have a 24 gallon Aquapod. and I'm only running 2 24inch T5's over it, my current bulb configuration is 1 AquaBlue and 1 Blue Plus. It is about time for me to switch out my bulbs. I was thinking of either staying with the same bulb configuration or going to a Blue Plus and a Fiji Purple, what do you think? What kind of Par will I get with either bulb setup? Right now I only have LPS corals and mushrooms. Do you think I could keep anything more then those? Maybe a Montipora or other SPS up top? However my Acans are my priority, I have a Skittles Acan I just bought which is beautiful, and want to keep its color, or maybe even improve it. What would you suggest?
Click to expand...

That isn't much light. I'd stick with the combo you have.
 
Lemeshianos said:
I will be getting 4 T5 bulbs (48inches) for my 70g tank.

I am not a bit fan of the blue color I see in most tank pictures, but maybe for some reason, bulbs in that color promote coral growth.

I would like to start with some soft corals and LPS and after a year or two try sps/clams/anemone.
Anemone maybe after a year.
I have the option to add another two bulbs for the SPS in the future or maybe add a MH or LEDs.

There are 6500K, 10000K, 14000K and 20000K bulbs. What color do each provide and how does it affect coral growth?
What color do actinic bulbs have and are they needed for coral growth?
Given that pink/purple fiji bulbs are in a spectrum "friendlier" to nuisance algea do you suggest against it for a newbie?
At the moment with 4 bulbs only and given I prefer a more white color in the tank what kind of bulbs do you suggest?
Click to expand...

PAR is what really matters and Blue T5's have plenty of it.

In your case not wanting too much blue

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

I wouldn't worry about the pink lamps grow algae nonsense. If you parameters are good algae is easily controlled.
 
firecrackerbob said:
Hi Grim. As others have said, thank you very much to your contributions to this forum and thread!
My Q: I am setting up a standard 55g(48in long) for a mostly SPS mixed reef. From previous tanks I have 3 (2x54w) T-5 retrokits, 1 (2x100w) VHO T-12 kit, and 2 (250mh) retro kits.
The hood is currently configured with 2 (2x54w) T-5 retro kits along with 1 250w 10K MH as follows:
*front*
Blue plus
250w 10K MH
18k T-5 bulb(forget the maker)
6500K GE
Blue plus

When the T-5s are on, the color looks pretty nice, but with the MH on it is all washed out, so I have stopped using it... Do you think the two T-5 retros are enough for a mostly SPS reef or should I add more?
I am tempted to just get a 15K MH bulb and see how that goes, but am also tempted to take it out and add the third T-5 kit(adding a 75:25 and a Fiji bulb).
Thanks again!!!!
Click to expand...

I would want to have a good retrofit if you are just running t5's.
 
Evening all, would like a bit of advice;

I am running an ati sunpower 6 x80w unit over my 5x2x2 reef, my bulb config is as follows;

Blue plus
4 giesmann whites
blue plus

I will be changing the giessman tubes for ati in the long run but is 480w of t5 enough over this tank to be keeping sps successfully with colour and growth?

Reason I ask is because I have a few browning out even with low nutrients and I'm beginning to wonder if I don't have enough light in areas of the tank?

Do I need to add more tubes / maybe some LEDs?
 
The Grim Reefer said:
PAR is what really matters and Blue T5's have plenty of it.

In your case not wanting too much blue

Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

I wouldn't worry about the pink lamps grow algae nonsense. If you parameters are good algae is easily controlled.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply!
One last question. Since I don't leave in the U.S I am not sure if I can buy those specific bulbs. Unless I pay a ton in shipping. Anyway what kind of wavelength or temperature in Kelvins should I look in each of bulbs you have suggested?

Also given I am a newbie and probably will have to face hair algae during the first 3-6 months, is the purple color really promoting algae growth or is it just a rumour going around?
 
JRFowler said:
Evening all, would like a bit of advice;

I am running an ati sunpower 6 x80w unit over my 5x2x2 reef, my bulb config is as follows;

Blue plus
4 giesmann whites
blue plus

I will be changing the giessman tubes for ati in the long run but is 480w of t5 enough over this tank to be keeping sps successfully with colour and growth?

Reason I ask is because I have a few browning out even with low nutrients and I'm beginning to wonder if I don't have enough light in areas of the tank?

Do I need to add more tubes / maybe some LEDs?
Click to expand...


I would say you have too much white. I would run the exact opposite. 4 blues and 2 whites. Something like this:

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE6500K
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
 
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