The T5 Q&a Thread

[GrampaDon]

Hi Grim
Looking for a suggestion. I am not using the halides anymore ,too much heat.
[Still need to remove them [read lazy]]
I currently have a canopy with the lights about 7-8in above the water. The tank is 60x24x17 with Zoas ,Birdsnest ,Frogspawn.
Currently using 4 T-5s with SLRs and have enough to add another pair of T-5s
[ Advance ballast #B254PUNV-D]

So im not sure if I want to run 5 with #5 as a low light dusk-dawn.
But will likely run 6 T-5s

So would you recommend the 6 listed on your Homepage.?
Or a different combo to get more low-light dusk to dawn lighting.?

And TIA
Don

Forgot to mention. i already have 1 ATI atinic and a UVL 75/25.
Any way to include them.

I'm needing to replace my 18mo older ones. So I might as well switch to 6 while im at it.

 

[Vicarious Cynic]

Opinions on the Current Nova Extreme Pro t5 six bulb 48" for a 40 gallon long?

http://www.amazon.com/Nova-Extreme-Output-Lighting-Fixture/dp/B0017UEZ8A

 

[JeF4y]

I have an ATI PM 8X24 which I'm coming up on 1yr with and need to replace the bulbs. The tank (60 cube 24x24x24 - fixture 7" over top of tank, 3-4" of sand on bottom) is well mixed with a few SPS up top, some shrooms & softies down low and LPS in the middle (2 nems happy down low).

Current lights:
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Fiji Purple
Blue Plus
* 6500k Daylight
* 12000k Aquablue
* Actinic White
Blue Plus

(* not sure what order these 3 are in but I think this is the right order).

Just wondering if anyone (grim?) had any recommendations on changes or if I should stay with this.

Color wise, everything is fine, I don't have any burning opposition to change, nor endless love to keep it as is.

The ONE thing that I do know is that the lighting is VERY powerful and I can burn just about anything if I don't start it on the bottom, even then some of it needs to be shaded, and then slowly work it up over several weeks.

Additionally, what is the big difference between the blue plus and the aquablue special?

Thanks for any input!

 

[Beaun]

Where are people buying the ATI purple plus from?

 

[Buganddoug]

Reef Geek
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/ATI/

 

[BPro32]

So I think I've made my decision to get t5's instead of LED's. I have in mind a 4x54w icecap retro on an icecap 660 ballast. Whats the best bulb combo and placement for this? I hear the KZ figi purple comes out more white on an icecap ballast...

 

[rtparty]

So I think I've made my decision to get t5's instead of LED's. I have in mind a 4x54w icecap retro on an icecap 660 ballast. Whats the best bulb combo and placement for this? I hear the KZ figi purple comes out more white on an icecap ballast...

The Fiji Purple is also not supopsed to last long on IC ballasts. I would highly recommend going with spec T5 ballasts.

 

[Fish_Freek]

Where can i get an ATI purple plus? Reefgeek doesn't show they have them on their web site.

 

[pura vida mi]

I wouldn't. Those things have pathetic PAR. Anything less than a 3 watt LED is pretty worthless on anything more than 16 inches tall or so and then you'd want 1 watt LED which those aren't.

Grim, what would ideal PAR levels be. Could you please advise a range?

Thanks in advance.

 

[RayRay1983]

Hey Guys

I have a 60"Lx18wx24d 120gal sps dom tank. I am currently running a Photon plus 2x250w mh 4x54w t5 fixture. Im thinking about switching to a ATI PM fixture. There is a 6 x54w and a 10x54w available in my area. My question is would I be able to get away with a 6 bulb fixture in a sps dom tank? I would go for the 10 in a heart beat but it is listed at 22.5" wide and my tank is only 18". Could anyone tell me the width from bulb 1 to bulb 10 on the PM.

Thank you in advance!
Ray

 

[rtparty]

Where can i get an ATI purple plus? Reefgeek doesn't show they have them on their web site.

Call them

 

[mmastroni]

Tek 6x54 t5 bulb combo

Tek 6x54 t5 bulb combo

Hi, I just bought a 48" Tek 6x54w fixture for my 120g 48"x24x24. I want to know a good bulb combo. I have a mixed reef. Ive read other posts and liked a bulb combo that consists of 2x aqua blue specials, 2x Blue plus, 2x pro color. But the problem Im having is i have an additional 2x48w power compact in the canopy running 2 actinics. So my question is what bulb combo would go with 2 power compact actinics??? Or should I change the pc's to daylight???

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello. I currently have a NEP 6 bulb over my 75g tank. Not many corals yet in tank (only zoas, pipe organs, ricordeas) and I am not worried too much about supporting SPS - maybe one or two at the very top.

Current bulb config is:

Front
Fiji Purple
BP
BP
Aquablue Special
BP
BP

I'm clueless about all these bulb combos, etc. The color I absolutely love in my tank is when the first light cycle starts (only bulbs 1 and 5: Fiji Purple and BP.) When all the bulbs are on, everything seems so washed out - at least to me. I've got the Current bulbs that came with the fixture and I hate the 10K when I swap it in place of the blue special - that's about all I have tried doing. (The Current actinics I still have also, but just saving them for emergencies.)

Any threads or websites that show differences with different combos? For example, whats a 20k look tank compared to a 14k compared to a 10k (or whatever)? Sorry for all the questions, my tank is > 2 years old but I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to lighting.

I'm reaching about 10 months on these bulbs and am getting ready to order.

Suggestions from anyone please? I also can't find the new ATI purple plus anywhere for sale.

I might try swapping the fiji back the the 5th slot so it's not your front lamp but still on dusk/dawn

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, what would ideal PAR levels be. Could you please advise a range?

Thanks in advance.

Ballpark is 150 at the bottom if you want more than just a few SPS on top of the rocks.

 

[JG1]

Par wise, how does the KZ new generation bulbs compare to the AB special?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Guys

I have a 60"Lx18wx24d 120gal sps dom tank. I am currently running a Photon plus 2x250w mh 4x54w t5 fixture. Im thinking about switching to a ATI PM fixture. There is a 6 x54w and a 10x54w available in my area. My question is would I be able to get away with a 6 bulb fixture in a sps dom tank? I would go for the 10 in a heart beat but it is listed at 22.5" wide and my tank is only 18". Could anyone tell me the width from bulb 1 to bulb 10 on the PM.

Thank you in advance!
Ray

6 should do just ducky swell. 10 would be great if you could grow corals on carpet.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi, I just bought a 48" Tek 6x54w fixture for my 120g 48"x24x24. I want to know a good bulb combo. I have a mixed reef. Ive read other posts and liked a bulb combo that consists of 2x aqua blue specials, 2x Blue plus, 2x pro color. But the problem Im having is i have an additional 2x48w power compact in the canopy running 2 actinics. So my question is what bulb combo would go with 2 power compact actinics??? Or should I change the pc's to daylight???

Do what you have listed but instead of Pro Color call reefgeek and order the ATI purple lamps that replaced them. I'd stick with the actinics for the PC lamps and see what you think.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Par wise, how does the KZ new generation bulbs compare to the AB special?

They were a bit lower and more blue.

 

[BPro32]

Hey guys,

Does a 4 bulb ATI sunpower outperform a 4 bulb icecap retro on an IC660?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey guys,

Does a 4 bulb ATI sunpower outperform a 4 bulb icecap retro on an IC660?

I think it would be close but with the powermodule there is a splash shield so it can be mounted closer to the water so it will end up out performing the retro.