The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

reefgeek is over $500 for the 4 bulb kit you are talking about... For that price right now he could get a 72" nova extreme pro 39x12 t5. Any reason not to go this way?

Good lamps, good ballasts, good reflectors. Quality costs. 4 lamps will get you more PAR than 12 in the nova fixture.

 

[RayRay1983]

Hey Grim

Im looking for the best front to back on a 6x54w PM on a full sps tank. I have lots of greens reds blues and pink corals in my tank.

Cheers
Ray

Ok same question but with a 8 bulb pm. I'm gonna order my fixture today and thinking of going 8 bulbs instead of 6 possibly or do you think it would be to much light for a 60x18x24 sps tank

Cheers
Ray

 

[DavidCC]

I got a 75g 21" tall. I have a mix, mostly softies & LPS. I want to add some acro and maybe a Maxima Clam. Right now I am upgraind fixtures. I have a 4 x 54 Oddysea. I'm looking at getting the Tek or the Icecap Illuminations.

Should I stick with the 4 x 54 or move up to a 6 x 54?

 

[rtparty]

I got a 75g 21" tall. I have a mix, mostly softies & LPS. I want to add some acro and maybe a Maxima Clam. Right now I am upgraind fixtures. I have a 4 x 54 Oddysea. I'm looking at getting the Tek or the Icecap Illuminations.

Should I stick with the 4 x 54 or move up to a 6 x 54?

If you are thinking of going to a clam and some acros I would be looking at the 4 bulb ATI Sunpower or the 6 bulb Tek.

Make sure if you get the Tek to cool it with a fan and don't run the acrylic shield.

 

[Ocean Mang]

Hi,

I have a 54 corner with a wood canopy on top. I am thinking about getting an ATI 6 x 24W. The dimensions of this unit would be just right for me to cut out a rectangle of a slightly smaller size on top of the canopy and set the unit there. How do you think this would work? If necessary I could still suspend it above this opening. Also what bulb combination would you recommend for SPS?

 

[goreefers]

Hi Grim, for the tek 6 bulbs fixture, which one of the following combo would you recommend?

option 1)
Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Back

or

option 2)
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Back

thanks again!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok same question but with a 8 bulb pm. I'm gonna order my fixture today and thinking of going 8 bulbs instead of 6 possibly or do you think it would be to much light for a 60x18x24 sps tank

Cheers
Ray

6 is plenty for an 18"tank

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I got a 75g 21" tall. I have a mix, mostly softies & LPS. I want to add some acro and maybe a Maxima Clam. Right now I am upgraind fixtures. I have a 4 x 54 Oddysea. I'm looking at getting the Tek or the Icecap Illuminations.

Should I stick with the 4 x 54 or move up to a 6 x 54?

6 lamp Tek or ATI Sunpower.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi,

I have a 54 corner with a wood canopy on top. I am thinking about getting an ATI 6 x 24W. The dimensions of this unit would be just right for me to cut out a rectangle of a slightly smaller size on top of the canopy and set the unit there. How do you think this would work? If necessary I could still suspend it above this opening. Also what bulb combination would you recommend for SPS?

Should work. I'd run 4 Blue Plus, KZ Fiji Purple and a GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim, for the tek 6 bulbs fixture, which one of the following combo would you recommend?

option 1)
Front
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Back

or

option 2)
Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
Back

thanks again!

I recomend you try both and see which YOU like better.

 

[chem368]

Hi All,

A while back Grim recommended some bulbs for me, it is now time to replace my old bulbs with what he suggested. Does anyone know a good website where I can buy all of these bulbs in one shot? I need 48" T-5 bulbs.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks.

 

[Mr. Right]

Hey guys, I'm getting a 120 soon and I want to know your thoughts on running a ATI SP 6x39. Do you think 6 bulbs will suffice on a 24" wide tank?

 

[holdyourlight]

Grim-
first off thanks in advance.

I am looking to get some better "glow" to my fish. I am running a 5 ft. Sunpower. 4 blue plus, 2 fiji purple. good for coral and pops fish "ok"
I need more glow though
I have never been a huge fan of 420nm/03 actinic but thinking popping one of those in there would help with the glow factor. let me know your thoughts
I have a 6500 laying around and did not like what it did to the color. only other option is an aquablue but i would think the 03 would pop the fish alot more and an aquablue

 

[rtparty]

Hi All,

A while back Grim recommended some bulbs for me, it is now time to replace my old bulbs with what he suggested. Does anyone know a good website where I can buy all of these bulbs in one shot? I need 48" T-5 bulbs.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks.

Reefgeek will have what you are looking for.

I would switch both UVL bulbs for the new ATI Purple Plus bulb.

 

[rdmcgraw]

LET reflectors from reefgeek. I wouldn't stagger the lamps, you'd be giving up a lot of intensity in the area on each side with only 3 lamps and you really won't have dark ends except at the very top. 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 GE 6500K Daylight and a KZ Fiji Purple would look good.

This is a little too blue for my taste. Can you recommend a bulb replacement?
( bulbs 1,3 and 5 are on for sunrise and sunset)

Currently:
Fiji purple
blue+
blue+
GE6500
blue+
blue+

would replacing a blue+ with an aquablue be enough?

 

[salty bugar]

Grim,

I truly applaud your continuous help. I have looked but cant find a post with a similar tank.
SPS Tank: 84"Lx30"Wx24"H.

I am thinkning about changing from MH to T5. I have an IC-660 running 4-54W bulbs as supplimental lighting.

What would you recommend (# and length of bulbs) for lighting this size of tank?

Thanks in advance.

 

[quader94]

6 lamp retro. Reefgeek will sell a Ice Cap retro minus ballasts for a good deal, just call and tell them you already have ballasts and they delete them from the kit.

Do they sell the best retro kit ( reflectors, end caps, etc) ?

Also how is the par of 6 t5ho bulbs compared to two 250 watt metal halides with good reflectors?

 

[DavidCC]

6 lamp Tek or ATI Sunpower.

What are hu

What are your thoughts on the Icecap Illuminations 6x54?

 

[rdmcgraw]

Hi All,

A while back Grim recommended some bulbs for me, it is now time to replace my old bulbs with what he suggested. Does anyone know a good website where I can buy all of these bulbs in one shot? I need 48" T-5 bulbs.

ATI Blue Plus
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Thanks.

www.reefgeek.com

 

[mrsmithers]

Hey Grim,
Is this a good fixture(IceCap Reef Illuminations T5 + Tubular LED Moonlights 48", 6 bulb +2 LEDS) or would I be better off getting an TEK elite or Aquamedic T5 fixture.