The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey There Grim,

Just got done reading this thread and figured Id ask as others have. Im running 4 bulbs on an IC 660 and hoped you could give me a bulb combo for SPS. I also have a 250w SE MH on there and thought you might be able to give me some insight into whether I should use it in conjunction with the T5's...Its a 35X15X18 -55g RR-

Thanks in Advance! Matt

I'd stick with the 4 T5's. I would run 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 UVL Actinic White.

 

[bayareaquarist]

Oh hey thats great~!! Are there any sources that you would recommend??

 

[jennmac415]

reefgeek dot com

 

[ryanjiang]

Is there burning in period for T5 bulbs? Got my TX5 fixture and installed bulbs. The ATI blue plus appears to be less blue than I expect, I imagine it will be like 20K. Will it get bluer after a while?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Oh hey thats great~!! Are there any sources that you would recommend??

Reefgeek

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Is there burning in period for T5 bulbs? Got my TX5 fixture and installed bulbs. The ATI blue plus appears to be less blue than I expect, I imagine it will be like 20K. Will it get bluer after a while?

You sure you got blue plus and not Aquablue? The Blue Plus is very blue. Aquablue is white with a slight blue tint

 

[bayareaquarist]

Shopping on Reefgeek...


Shopping Cart Qty
2 -ATI1011 39W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI None
$19.95
1 -ATI1003 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
$20.95
1 -UVL0011 39W 12000K Actinic White (50/50) T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting$21.95

Estimated Total w/ Ground $91.75

4 bulbs under a hundred = AWESOME~!!

THANKS AGAIN Grim Reefer~!! Cant wait to post some pics~!!

Lighting with the SE 250 MH:

 

[ryanjiang]

You sure you got blue plus and not Aquablue? The Blue Plus is very blue. Aquablue is white with a slight blue tint

Yes sure, I got Aquablue as well, Aquablue do look like 12K.

When I only have 3 blue + on, does not look as blue as pure 20k mh, definitely much more blue than 14K though.

 

[Rainer Feyer]

HO vs VHO

HO vs VHO

Hi all,

I've been trying to read about best combinations of T5 lights, but, wow: information overload!

What would you all think of the following combo for 55W bulbs for a 75g tank containing SPS, LPS, sofites incl: orange monti digi and plate, blue acro, flourescent frog span:

ATI Blue Plus
UV Actinic White 50/50
Fiji Purple ?
ATI Blue Plus


Also, lamps on RG are labeled HO, were lamps here on MD are labeled VHO. Is the PAR different?

Thanks in advance,

Rainer

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi all,

I've been trying to read about best combinations of T5 lights, but, wow: information overload!

What would you all think of the following combo for 55W bulbs for a 75g tank containing SPS, LPS, sofites incl: orange monti digi and plate, blue acro, flourescent frog span:

ATI Blue Plus
UV Actinic White 50/50
Fiji Purple ?
ATI Blue Plus


Also, lamps on RG are labeled HO, were lamps here on MD are labeled VHO. Is the PAR different?

Thanks in advance,

Rainer

HO/VHO don't mater with T5's at this point, the ballast will determine what wattage the lamps run at.

Don't do the Fiji Purpe and Actinic White in the mix, swap whichever one you decide for an ATI Blue Plus

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Tons of thanks, Grim!

 

[MikeCentore]

I got a question,

I'm looking to do an 8 bulb tek fixture for my 90g sps tank. I saw a tank with this combination below and it looked very nice, the only problem was that it was only 6 bulb. Could you guys please suggest something that will give me a similar look.

Front
uvl super actinic
uvl actinic white
ati blue plus
ati blue plus
uvl actinic white
uvl super atinic

How will this combination do as far as growth goes, and will this give me a good dawn/dust look?

Also, are there another bulbs that look the same as or similar to the "ATI blue plus" but by a different manufacture?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I got a question,

I'm looking to do an 8 bulb tek fixture for my 90g sps tank. I saw a tank with this combination below and it looked very nice, the only problem was that it was only 6 bulb. Could you guys please suggest something that will give me a similar look.

Front
uvl super actinic
uvl actinic white
ati blue plus
ati blue plus
uvl actinic white
uvl super atinic

How will this combination do as far as growth goes, and will this give me a good dawn/dust look?

Also, are there another bulbs that look the same as or similar to the "ATI blue plus" but by a different manufacture?

ATI Blue Plus
uvl super actinic
uvl actinic white
ati blue plus
ati Aquablue
uvl actinic white
uvl super atinic
ATI Blue Plus

Should be really close, I would stick to the Blue Plus because of the higher PAR but Giesemann Actinic Plus and UVL 454 look about the same. Dusk/dawn should look sweet.

 

[MikeCentore]

Thanks for the help Grim, I'll order them tomorrow.

 

[JCR's Reef]

Hey Grim, I JUST ordered my new tank and havent recieved it yet. Its going to be
48"L x 24W x 20"T. I'm currently running (2) 150w Radiums on icecap ballasts, and running 4 T5's on a 660 on my other tanks. I was thinking of transfering this light combo over to the new setup but its going to be a rimless and I would hate to build a canopy for it, or a big chunk of wood hanging from the ceiling. I'm debating if I should buy a MH & T5 all in one fixture, or just go with all T5's? I have a lot of each and a good mix of zoo's,LPS, and SPS that I'm combing from other tanks into this one.
Would you recommend 36" T5 light coverage so I have some less light areas or is the par less on the ends anyways? Should I bump up to 250 MH or stay at 150MH? I was thinking SPS islands with MH suspeded over them. Or should I just go with all T5's? And what color combo of each would you recommend?
Sorry for all the ?'s but I'm torn and baffled between this decision. I appreciate any suggestions you have to offer. Thanks

 

[pepsicola]

Hi Grim,
I went to the LFS to buy my FT-5 lamps and this is what they sold me:
3-UV Super Actinic
1-UV Actinic White
2-UV 75.25
1-Wave Point Blue Wave
1-Wave Point Red Wave

I have a 105 gallon, with with hard and soft corals, what am I going to get out of this? What setup should I have going on for growth and color? Thanks!!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim, I JUST ordered my new tank and havent recieved it yet. Its going to be
48"L x 24W x 20"T. I'm currently running (2) 150w Radiums on icecap ballasts, and running 4 T5's on a 660 on my other tanks. I was thinking of transfering this light combo over to the new setup but its going to be a rimless and I would hate to build a canopy for it, or a big chunk of wood hanging from the ceiling. I'm debating if I should buy a MH & T5 all in one fixture, or just go with all T5's? I have a lot of each and a good mix of zoo's,LPS, and SPS that I'm combing from other tanks into this one.
Would you recommend 36" T5 light coverage so I have some less light areas or is the par less on the ends anyways? Should I bump up to 250 MH or stay at 150MH? I was thinking SPS islands with MH suspeded over them. Or should I just go with all T5's? And what color combo of each would you recommend?
Sorry for all the ?'s but I'm torn and baffled between this decision. I appreciate any suggestions you have to offer. Thanks

I think if you reread you post you will answer your own question if you think about it. I am not trying to be cute here, you are the only one that can decide what you want to do. T5's will work but if you really want to do SPS islands then the halides are a better idea.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,
I went to the LFS to buy my FT-5 lamps and this is what they sold me:
3-UV Super Actinic
1-UV Actinic White
2-UV 75.25
1-Wave Point Blue Wave
1-Wave Point Red Wave

I have a 105 gallon, with with hard and soft corals, what am I going to get out of this? What setup should I have going on for growth and color? Thanks!!!

Crappy PAR and an even worse look.

4 of your lamps will be red or at least heavy in red spectum. I know nothing about the wave point lamps.

If the store sells the UVL 454 swap those 3 super actinic for those and you should be OK. I would also dump the wave red for another Blue. The UVL Actinic Whitye and 75/25's are going to give you all the red you want

 

[JCR's Reef]

Thanks Grim. I re-read it last night night after I posted. I confused myself. I plan to run Radium bulbs with 4-t5's. Would you recommend running all blue +?

 

[pepsicola]

That upsets me that a local LFS would do that to me. OK I am taking them all back. What do you recommend? I want growth and great color.. I have a 105 gallon and hard and soft corals. My light fixture is 8 bulbs. Thanks.