The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey grim I've had my 6 bulb sunpower on my 75 gallon tank for about 2 months with the bulb combo you recommended.

aqua blue
Blue+
actinic white
blue +
Blue +
aqua blue

The fixture is still about 11 inches above tank and around 27 to the sand. I've tried to lower it a little and it faded a couple corals including a cats paw and a rainbow monti that are about 16 inches from light. They are not bleached just a little pale can they bounce back? My main question is if I just leave light where it is at can I still put sps down low at the bottom?

I seriously doubt too much light is your issue but you could pull that front Aquablue for a Actinic of some kind and see how that goes. That or another blue Plus and I would probably drop the fixture to about 6" above. Maybe drop it a few inches a week just to let the corals acclimate.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i was looking into purchasing an ATI powermodule 10 bulb fixture for my 48x30x30 tank, but now am considering getting a Sfigoli Stealth fixture instead. I like that I can get it in black and with built in moonlights (8 bulb version only). So my question is would an 8 bulb Sfigoli fixture be good enough for my 30" tank? All my SPS is on the upper half of the tank, with LPS and softies on the bottom. Also what bulb combo would you recommend if I go with the 8 bulb Sfigoli?

edit: also would like to get a clam or two, and those might end up being near the bottom part of the tank

Only 8 lamps and clams out on the sandbed might not be such a good idea unless you can set things up so the clams are below the lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have an 8x80w Powermodule over a 6x2x2 180g SPS-dominant tank. Rockwork only goes up half-way, and I have SPS on mid-to-upper rock. I have chalices and zoas on lower rock areas.

I've been playing with the following 2 bulb combos. Which do you feel is better? The Blue+ or Aquablue+ in position #5?

Front

Aquablue+
Blue+
Fiji Purple
Blue+
Blue+ or Aquablue+
Blue+
Blue+
Aquablue+

Doesn't matter what I think. Either would be fine, go with what you like but I might move that Fiji back a slot.

 

[tbone28]

Doesn't matter what I think. Either would be fine, go with what you like but I might move that Fiji back a slot.

Thanks, Grim. What would moving the Fiji back a slot do?

 

[rtparty]

Thanks

I quit a couple weeks ago and got sucked back in when the others quit replying to the thread. I gotta figure out a way to make a buck at this. :rollface:

Between a wedding, honeymoon, new job, new tank, new house, packing, more packing, the move, unpacking, even more unpacking and no internet for a week, I couldn't answer the same 5 questions day in and day out for a little bit. :rollface:

1. What is the best 4 bulb combo?

2. What is the best 6 bulb combo for max growth and color?

3. Why don't you recommend actinics?

4. What is the best fixture for MY tank? (Because my 75 is different than the other 20 on the last page)

5. Are the ATI fixtures really worth it? What about the ebay special I found??? (It has to be good, they say it is!)
:fun5: :hmm1:

I post this in all good fun though! I love this thread and really hope I can contribute more when things settle down. I don't have internet at work any longer so replying is a lot harder than it once was.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks, Grim. What would moving the Fiji back a slot do?

Just spread that red spectrum more evenly across the tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Between a wedding, honeymoon, new job, new tank, new house, packing, more packing, the move, unpacking, even more unpacking and no internet for a week, I couldn't answer the same 5 questions day in and day out for a little bit. :rollface:

1. What is the best 4 bulb combo?

2. What is the best 6 bulb combo for max growth and color?

3. Why don't you recommend actinics?

4. What is the best fixture for MY tank? (Because my 75 is different than the other 20 on the last page)

5. Are the ATI fixtures really worth it? What about the ebay special I found??? (It has to be good, they say it is!)
:fun5: :hmm1:

I post this in all good fun though! I love this thread and really hope I can contribute more when things settle down. I don't have internet at work any longer so replying is a lot harder than it once was.

What's more important, Life or T5 thread you treasonous squab. :lmao:

 

[eon]

No reason to use both Blue Plus and Actinic Plus, basically the same spectrum of light. Other than that the mix should be fine.

ah i meant aquablue

Actinic+
AquaBlue+
Midday
Fiji
AquaBlue+
Actinic+

 

[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 am using this combination now and find that it is bit white for my liking.

I have been offered a good deal on an ATI Dimmable Powermodule.
8 x 24W.

What combination of ATI or KZ tubes will give me a more bluer look?

 

[chris1017]

I am going to put an order in with BRS but they don't carry Ge bulbs. So my question is do I switch the Ge 6500k with the UVL Aquasun or use the Giesemann Midday? Or is there still a better choice that I am missing?

Thanks

 

[rtparty]

ah i meant aquablue

Actinic+
AquaBlue+
Midday
Fiji
AquaBlue+
Actinic+

I would pull the midday for another Actinic Plus. The setup you have there will be pretty white and wash out the colors.

 

[rtparty]

I am using this combination now and find that it is bit white for my liking.

I have been offered a good deal on an ATI Dimmable Powermodule.
8 x 24W.

What combination of ATI or KZ tubes will give me a more bluer look?

For 8 bulbs I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 ATI Aquablue. Buy an extra Blue Plus to play with.

 

[rtparty]

I am going to put an order in with BRS but they don't carry Ge bulbs. So my question is do I switch the Ge 6500k with the UVL Aquasun or use the Giesemann Midday? Or is there still a better choice that I am missing?

Thanks

The Gmann Midday and GE6500K are nearly identical.

The UVl Aquasun is a pepto pink bulb. So if you already have other pink bulbs than don't use that.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am going to put an order in with BRS but they don't carry Ge bulbs. So my question is do I switch the Ge 6500k with the UVL Aquasun or use the Giesemann Midday? Or is there still a better choice that I am missing?

Thanks

The Midday

 

[ricwilli]

I just noticed that they don't make 80w UVL Super Actinics. Is there a 80w bulb thats
equivalent to it in color?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just noticed that they don't make 80w UVL Super Actinics. Is there a 80w bulb thats
equivalent to it in color?

ATI's actinic looks close

 

[Lewy]

For 8 bulbs I would run 5 ATI Blue Plus, 2 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 ATI Aquablue. Buy an extra Blue Plus to play with.

Wouldn't this be a bit too blue?

 

[Banff]

Hi, kind of a lighting newbie here.

I just stumbled across a large quantity of these:

http://http://www.specialty-lights.com/fbayi5355.html

At a surplus place for 75 bucks each. Would they have any useful purpose in terms of aquarium lighting (or would parts of them be useful)?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Wouldn't this be a bit too blue?

Depends on your taste. You could use and ATI Aquablue in place of a Blue Plus is you're worried about it, they are mostly white with a slight blue tint.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi, kind of a lighting newbie here.

I just stumbled across a large quantity of these:

http://http://www.specialty-lights.com/fbayi5355.html

At a surplus place for 75 bucks each. Would they have any useful purpose in terms of aquarium lighting (or would parts of them be useful)?

Might be good for shallow frag tanks. Doesn't look like good reflectors but does claim to be program start ballasts. If they include GE lamps thats 45 bux right there.