The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Dear Grim.

I have ATI PM (10bulbs) and some bulbs.
4 Aquablue special, 1 Fiji purple, 1 UVL AquaSun, 1 GE, 7 BluePlus, 2 UVL Super actinic)
I love radium or blue look and have SPS tank.

1. Could you tell me the proper combination?
2. The water depth is 20inches What is the proper height of PM from Lighting to water surface?

Thanks :thumbsup:

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

Just play around with adding more Blue Pluses or Aquablues to get the look you want. I would leave the Fiji Purple for sure and maybe try the Aquasun in place of the GE or an Aquablue lamp but other than that just play around until you hit on a look you like, as long as you are using a lot of Blu Plus lamps you will have plenty of PAR>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi, hopefully I'll be able to clear up a few things...

I have a 120 gal (4x2x2) and I was wondering what the better lighting would be for a mixed reef scenario, I'd kinda like to be able to try various corals, without going MH..

My canopy has a top that lifts up, and I have around 5" clearance to the rim of the tank, with 47" width.. would the 6x54w IceCap SLR kit from ReefGeek work? Would a good fixture take up most of the room? I'd kinda like to keep it inside of the canopy because the tank is in the living room..

thanks, any input is appreciated!

If you only have 47" inside the canopy you will need to use a 36" setup be it retrofit or fixture. You would probably be fine with a 6x36 ATI Sunpower but I think I would use an 8 lamp retrofit. The Ice Cap retro with the standard ballasts (HO) that reefgeek sells would be fine. Then down the road if you get bit by the SPS bug you could get a 660 ballast and overdive 4 of the lamps and be good too.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks for your help, Grim. I decided to go with the 48" (6) bulb ATI Sunpower because, as you stated, I was afraid that the Constellation would not fit. The directions say to insert the bulbs with the label side of the bulb on the same side as the round holes that are next to the reflectors. Since the label side is the "cool" end, I would think that you would want the "warm" end of the bulbs next to the holes. What do you think? Also, what voltage should I run the fans?

Thank-you

Someone just did a thread on this taking PAR readings on his Powermodule. Label ends at those holes is the correct way to do it. This guy got better power on his fixture with the fans at 6 volts but the Sunpower I have does better at 7.5. I would start at 7.5 and if the fan noise is too loud drop it back to 6.

 

[Chalu]

Hello,
I am setting up a new 180g 72Llx24d mixed reef tank. I am looking at using a combination of Icepcaps & advance ballasts. I plan on keeping sps to the right of the tank & some LPS/zoos/rics on the left of the tank. Already have 48" SLR's & some bulbs from a previous setup...but never did get it right. Looking for a light blue look...not the deep blue look a lot of reefers prefer. How many/which bulbs would you recommend. Considering that its a 72 inch tank with 48" SLR's would you recommend staggering the bulbs to incorporate 2 24" daylights into the mix to go above the SPS area?

Thanks for your inputs, they're invaluable

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello,
I am setting up a new 180g 72Llx24d mixed reef tank. I am looking at using a combination of Icepcaps & advance ballasts. I plan on keeping sps to the right of the tank & some LPS/zoos/rics on the left of the tank. Already have 48" SLR's & some bulbs from a previous setup...but never did get it right. Looking for a light blue look...not the deep blue look a lot of reefers prefer. How many/which bulbs would you recommend. Considering that its a 72 inch tank with 48" SLR's would you recommend staggering the bulbs to incorporate 2 24" daylights into the mix to go above the SPS area?



Thanks for your inputs, they're invaluable

If you were to use 8 T5's staggered you could place the SPS in the middle 2 or 3 feet of the tank (depending how far you stagger the lamps) and use the ends for the lower light stuff and have a better overall look than having one side lighter than the other.

If you do that use this mix of lamps

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Overdrive the "white" lamps, the Fiji and Aquablue.

 

[willwork4frags]

I am upgrading to a 120 in the spring. I was looking at the Aquactinics Constellation and the 8 bulb TEK fixtures. It will be a SPS dominated tank.

1. What are the main limitations of the TEK other than active cooling? Seems to be pretty good for the price.

2. Will the 7 bulb Aquactinics fixture be enough to house SPS in a 120.

3. Which bulb would you add and where would you put it if I went with the TEK.

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

Thanks for the help.

 

[dreboogie]

Grim Reefer, need some advice on a new bulb setup on a prop tank. I'm mainly looking for something to make the colors pop. Tank is 18" deep, and 30" long. using a 4x24w fixture.

Here's two options:
first: (2) ATI Aquablue specials, and (2) ATI Blue +
second: (1) GE 6500K, (1) ATI Aquablue special, (1) ATI Blue +, (1) UVL Super Actinic

What should I use and in what order from front to back to get these colors to really show?

 

[HaKs310]

Hi fellas, setting up a new tank and will be going wit 4x24 T5s. Looking at keeping mostly softies, LPSs and a BTA. Tank is only 11" inch high and fixture should sit about 6" above it. So after reading this thread and the "Fiji Purple v. ATI Procolor" thread I came to the conclusion this bulb combo should work for me. Want the blue look and get the colors to really pop.

UVL 75/25
ATI blue plus
ATI aquablue
ATI blue plus

Yep, might want to swap the position of the first two lamps though.

So the Blue Plus bulbs on the outsides and the Aquablue and 75/25 in between. Cool, thanks, Grim.

 

[Chalu]

If you were to use 8 T5's staggered you could place the SPS in the middle 2 or 3 feet of the tank (depending how far you stagger the lamps) and use the ends for the lower light stuff and have a better overall look than having one side lighter than the other.

If you do that use this mix of lamps

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Overdrive the "white" lamps, the Fiji and Aquablue.

Thanks Grim for the quick response. When you say overdrive I guess you mean use Icecaps? are there other ballasts that overdrive? would this schema work? by doing this I would guess the right side of the tank would be for low light corals....

Front -
a====aa
a====aa
aa====a
aa====a
aa====a
aa====a
a====aa
a====aa

 

[scrapz]

I just got a ATI SP 6x54.

Currently running 4x BLUE+ & 2 aquablue. I like the color but it lacks the red spectrum that brings out my purples & reds.

tank is a 7x2x20". It is a mixed reef, but is mainly sps. what bulb setup would you recommend and how high would should I mount it above the water.

thanks in advanced

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am upgrading to a 120 in the spring. I was looking at the Aquactinics Constellation and the 8 bulb TEK fixtures. It will be a SPS dominated tank.

1. What are the main limitations of the TEK other than active cooling? Seems to be pretty good for the price.

2. Will the 7 bulb Aquactinics fixture be enough to house SPS in a 120.

3. Which bulb would you add and where would you put it if I went with the TEK.

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

Thanks for the help.

For SPS dominated I wouldn]t even mess with a tek. Get the constellation and set it right on top of the tank. It will do good on a 120.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim Reefer, need some advice on a new bulb setup on a prop tank. I'm mainly looking for something to make the colors pop. Tank is 18" deep, and 30" long. using a 4x24w fixture.

Here's two options:
first: (2) ATI Aquablue specials, and (2) ATI Blue +
second: (1) GE 6500K, (1) ATI Aquablue special, (1) ATI Blue +, (1) UVL Super Actinic

What should I use and in what order from front to back to get these colors to really show?

Second but drop the Super Actinic for another Blue Plus, better PAR and color in the long run.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim for the quick response. When you say overdrive I guess you mean use Icecaps? are there other ballasts that overdrive? would this schema work? by doing this I would guess the right side of the tank would be for low light corals....

Front -
a====aa
a====aa
aa====a
aa====a
aa====a
aa====a
a====aa
a====aa

//////////////////__
__//////////////////
//////////////////__
//////////////////__
__//////////////////
//////////////////__
//////////////////__
__//////////////////

Would be better but anyway you cut it the center part of the tank is going to be highest PAR. This would give you two feet with just 3 lamps over it.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just got a ATI SP 6x54.

Currently running 4x BLUE+ & 2 aquablue. I like the color but it lacks the red spectrum that brings out my purples & reds.

tank is a 7x2x20". It is a mixed reef, but is mainly sps. what bulb setup would you recommend and how high would should I mount it above the water.

thanks in advanced

Keep it close to the top, maybe a few inches above. Swap out an Aquablue for a UVL Actinic White.

 

[scrapz]

Keep it close to the top, maybe a few inches above. Swap out an Aquablue for a UVL Actinic White.

thanks, I was going to try a kz fiji purp but I'll go with your recommendation

 

[willwork4frags]

For SPS dominated I wouldn]t even mess with a tek. Get the constellation and set it right on top of the tank. It will do good on a 120.

Thanks Grim. Would you still use this color combo?
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

I was reading in the other thread where you also like the procolor.

 

[lukinrats]

Alright Grim! Thanks for replying to me!

I have done a lot of looking around today, and some reading. My plan is to drop a pretty good bundle on some new bulbs, so that I will be set for a while. I have noticed that there are some new bulbs around....Well, maybe not new new, but new since the last time I had to buy any

I can't help but notice that you are not recommending the UVL 454nm bulbs, over the blue plus. I also do not see any mention of the Indigo Suns and what they are all about.

As far as the Ice Caps go, I can't find a whole lot of information about them either. What is up with those.

Then, I guess the last question that I have would be about a blog I was reading with a link to some tests. The PDF file was a test of one tank using ATI bulbs, and then another tank using Aqua Science bulbs. Both were set up identically, with the same frags, etc... I am sure you have seen it. The results--supposedly-- concluded that the aquascience bulbs are better. What up with that?

Later,
Nathan

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim. Would you still use this color combo?
Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

I was reading in the other thread where you also like the procolor.

That right there was the best looking combination of lamps I ever used in the Constellation.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Alright Grim! Thanks for replying to me!

I have done a lot of looking around today, and some reading. My plan is to drop a pretty good bundle on some new bulbs, so that I will be set for a while. I have noticed that there are some new bulbs around....Well, maybe not new new, but new since the last time I had to buy any

I can't help but notice that you are not recommending the UVL 454nm bulbs, over the blue plus. I also do not see any mention of the Indigo Suns and what they are all about.

As far as the Ice Caps go, I can't find a whole lot of information about them either. What is up with those.

Then, I guess the last question that I have would be about a blog I was reading with a link to some tests. The PDF file was a test of one tank using ATI bulbs, and then another tank using Aqua Science bulbs. Both were set up identically, with the same frags, etc... I am sure you have seen it. The results--supposedly-- concluded that the aquascience bulbs are better. What up with that?

Later,
Nathan

The Blue Plus still has the most PAR of the blue lamps, the 454 wasn't too impressive in the PAR department but looks nice.

Ice Cap lamps are supposed to last longer when overdriven.

As far as that test goes, Dunno. PAR meter says something different. I have not heard of anyone else experiencing a sudden increase in color and growth when using the lamps. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[ryanjiang]

tx5 on 75G mix

tx5 on 75G mix

Grim,

Getting tx5 for my 75G mix reef 48LX18WX21H. I have SPS on back, and LPS and zoos at front.

The bulbs I ordered include blueplus, aquablue, and 1 fiji purple, I am thinking of following combo:

1)
Front
blueplus
aquablue
blueplus
fiji purple
blueplus

2)
Front
blueplus
aquablue
blueplus
aquablue
blueplus

Which one you like better? I prefer 1) but will it be too red?