The T5 Q&a Thread

[Aquarist007]

what t5 retro kit would you recommend. This person posted on the capn's log book thread

I have the 72" Aqualight Pro Retro in my 135 (canopy). I use the 96w true actinic 03 blue fluorescent 420nm square pin base bulbs by Coralife.

 

[The_Uga]

Heya, im setting up a 150x50x50cm sps dominated reef and want T5's. I was planning on getting 8x54w but sadly the place i was geeting it from is sold out and all they have is a 6x80w.

Is 6x80w too thin for a 50cm depth? The unit is 34cm. Does anyone know a good sps reef using 6x80w and has pics? Or is it worth me holding out for the 8x54w...

 

[outssider]

Newbie question:

Is there any advantage going with a fixture in a canopy rather than a retro fit.

Example:

FIXTURE:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...nPower_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

RETRO FIT VERSION:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...5_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_IceCap

 

[joem1cha3l]

SPS tank
4x24 Current Fixture T5

What combination is going to make acripora/montipora POP the best?

 

[Stripe01]

I noticed that a lot of the skirts on my zoas/palys appear to be a tan/whitish color now. It appears that I'm bleaching my softies out. I decided to cut the light cycle down to 8hrs for the two blue+ bulbs and 4hrs for the fiji-purple/aquablue special bulbs. The fixture is now 8" above the water line and 18" from my softies. Should this be enough to stop the bleaching?

 

[Stripe01]

SPS tank
4x24 Current Fixture T5

What combination is going to make acripora/montipora POP the best?

Grimm recommended this set up for my 4 bulb fixture:
Blue+
Fiji-purple
Aquablue Special
Blue+

I'm lovin the look of it, although it seems to be too much light for my sofites. My undata on the other hand has gone from being completely brown to now having a hint of neon green with a purple rim in just two weeks.

 

[Aquarist007]

I noticed that a lot of the skirts on my zoas/palys appear to be a tan/whitish color now. It appears that I'm bleaching my softies out. I decided to cut the light cycle down to 8hrs for the two blue+ bulbs and 4hrs for the fiji-purple/aquablue special bulbs. The fixture is now 8" above the water line and 18" from my softies. Should this be enough to stop the bleaching?

move the zoas down towards the bottom of the reef. Zoas species are very specific to the lighting requirements each species need so you have to tweak your husbandry for them

 

[joem1cha3l]

My bulbs are roughly 12-14 months old...should the be replaced? If so, why?

 

[Stripe01]

My bulbs are roughly 12-14 months old...should the be replaced? If so, why?

You really need a reason why old bulbs should be replaced?

 

[rtparty]

My bulbs are roughly 12-14 months old...should the be replaced? If so, why?

Yes they need replacing ASAP unless the tank is a fish only tank.

Why? Because it is time. The bulbs are spent and not performing how they need to for your reef to thrive. Old bulbs are also known to increase algae growth.

 

[thebanker]

Looking to start swapping out my Current USA bulbs for some higher PAR T5s. Can someone decode the phosphor blends for me?

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
Korallin Zucht Fiji Purple
GE Daylight

example: current USA Blue = 460nm blue actinic, should be considered an actinic bulb

 

[rtparty]

Looking to start swapping out my Current USA bulbs for some higher PAR T5s. Can someone decode the phosphor blends for me?

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
Korallin Zucht Fiji Purple
GE Daylight

example: current USA Blue = 460nm blue actinic, should be considered an actinic bulb

How many bulbs are you changing out?


420nm = actinic bulb
460nm = blue bulb

Every manufacture is different though so don't get stuck on that.

 

[pelochas]

I tried searching but had too many results haha

replacing my dual 175 watt mh with a full retrofit 48 inch setup

Which setup compares to my mh?
4, 6 or 8 bulb?
Icecap ballast?
Miro-4, tek, or slr reflectors
High output or Very high output?
Which bulbs? I like the color that tank above has.

 

[rtparty]

I tried searching but had too many results haha

replacing my dual 175 watt mh with a full retrofit 48 inch setup

Which setup compares to my mh?
4, 6 or 8 bulb?
Icecap ballast?
Miro-4, tek, or slr reflectors
High output or Very high output?
Which bulbs? I like the color that tank above has.

You will want the Let Lighting 6 bulb HO retro kit from Reefgeek.

It will be more powerful than your current setup.

No IceCap ballast. Bad for bulbs and not needed.

3 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 2 ATI Aquablue

 

[rs1831]

For an Ati sunpower fixture what order should I put these bulbs in?

3 ati blue plus
2 aquablue
fiji purple

Thanks.

 

[JonnyD91]

For an Ati sunpower fixture what order should I put these bulbs in?

3 ati blue plus
2 aquablue
fiji purple

Thanks.

Back
Blue+
aquablue
Fiji **Thsese can be swapped test both combos
Aquablue
Blue+ **Thsese can be swapped test both combos
Blue+
Front

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Does anybody have any experience with the aquaticlife 420/460 T5 HO bulb? It looks interesting and I'd like to try it and see if it compares to the Giesseman Pure actinic bulb? Anybody use these aquaticlife bulbs?

Thanks!
John

 

[rtparty]

Does anybody have any experience with the aquaticlife 420/460 T5 HO bulb? It looks interesting and I'd like to try it and see if it compares to the Giesseman Pure actinic bulb? Anybody use these aquaticlife bulbs?

Thanks!
John

The Aquaticlife bulbs that I have seen are white/yellow like a GE 6500k and the "blue" bulb looked similar to an ATI Blue Plus. It was not actinic at all like the pure actinic stuff.

 

[rtparty]

Back
Blue+
aquablue
Fiji **Thsese can be swapped test both combos
Aquablue
Blue+ **Thsese can be swapped test both combos
Blue+
Front

Aren't the 6 bulb Sunpowers fired 2 and 5 and then 1,3,4,6?

If so then you will need to go:

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

You can switch out 2 and 3 depending on what you like. I would even be intrigued to try this instead:

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

Then use the the 4 bulbs for dusk/dawn. The 2 Aquablues will come on for "daylight" time period.

I think that would be awesome! Who says the 2 bulbs have to be dusk dawn?

 

[LKGRenegade22]

Few questions. Which would be more beneficial colorwise to my tank? Running a UVL 420 super actinic or a KZ Fiji Purple?

I am trying to decide if I want to run 3 Aquablue specials, 1 UVL or KZ and 2 Blue +'s OR 3 Aquablues and 3 Blue +'s. (If there is a better scenario PLEASE tell me)

I have a 6 bulb setup and am looking for something around 14K. I don't have any SPS but have a ton of clams.