The T5 Q&a Thread

[Asmoa]

Grim,

I'm getting a custom tank made 30x20x20. I would like to use T5's and keep LPS, some SPS and a couple clams. Do you have a recommendation for a lighting setup? I'm assuming 6 bulbs would be better then 4. I have found http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/24_inch__6x24W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI
but it's a little out of my price range. Would a retro fit be better or something else?

This is somewhat what im working towards, with less SPS though: http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16461

Thanks.

Chris

 

[The Grim Reefer]

so what is your recomment for the line up or this will do?
front
actinic+
Midday
actinic+
KZ Fiji purple
AquaBlue+
actinic+
back

or

front
actinic+
AquaBlue+
Midday
actinic+
KZ Fiji purple
actinic+
back


thanks!

lower one but swap the positions of the fiji purple and aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

How far from the water line should I keep my lighting? It's a 57 gallon, 36x18x21 all sps ATI Sunpower 6x39 watt... Thanks!

Whatever works best for you. I wouldn't go more than 6 or 8 inches above though.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

grim what would you suggest,
a let retro with some fans or a tek elite?

let

 

[The Grim Reefer]

is it true that the actual fixtures like the aquatinics puts out up to 30% more par than a retro? would making a hanging fixture with retro parts be comparible? is this because of heat issures?

Depends on the equipment. A good retro done right will hang in there with about anything but the ATI stuff.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, what would be the best bulb combo for a 39w ati powermodule? I know you said I need 8 bulbs for for my tank size 48x24x20 but I have decided to go with 6 bulb due to the size of my overflow box. Also how high should the light be hung? Thanks for the help.

2 to 6 inches above the tank.

4 ATI Blue Plus, KZ Fiji Purple or ATI purple plus or whatever it's called and a GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I was planning on doing an LED build for my new 18x18x18 cube. But I think I'm going to hold off on that til some color issues get figured out and stick with T5s. I dont have a lot of options as I dont want any over hang on the tank as it is a rimless tank. I want to keep the sleek look of it. That pretty much puts me into the category of using the UVL 18" bulbs.
I need some help figuring out how many bulbs for a mixed reef. I was thinking of 5-6 bulbs to reach from the front of the tank to the back. I'd love to go with 5 bulbs but have no problems bumping it up to 6 if I need it to get good coverage across the tank. Or would it be possible to run 3 T5s as the primary lighting and DIY up some LEDs for moonlight/actinics?

Considering the crappy PAR of UVL's blue lamps I'd do 2 rows of 6 cree Royal Blue LED's with 1 454 and 2 indigo suns.

If you want to do LED's you could use the standard mix and use a UVL Actinic White to fill in the missing spectrum. I used a few warm whites in my LED rig.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

Where would you put a UVL super actinic in here for an 8 bulb PM? Or would you use another B+ instead? My thinking is there is plenty par in those 7 bulbs and a 420 would bring out some florescence that the B+ won't.

front:
ATI Blue+
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+

Couldn't hurt but I am not sure you'd see a difference once everything is on.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

You have answered my question before about bulbs on a 4-lamp t5 retrofit kit for a 40 breeder. But I decided to go to 6 bulbs on of the 40 breeders.

The tank will be planted with macro and have clams and sand-dwelling LPS. There will also be a pair of clowns with an anemone (likely a BTA). Each pair of bulbs will be fired by a Universal Advanced ballast.

So which 6 bulbs in what order would you recommend?

Thanks.

blue plus
kz fiji purple
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

I'm getting a custom tank made 30x20x20. I would like to use T5's and keep LPS, some SPS and a couple clams. Do you have a recommendation for a lighting setup? I'm assuming 6 bulbs would be better then 4. I have found http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/24_inch__6x24W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI
but it's a little out of my price range. Would a retro fit be better or something else?

This is somewhat what im working towards, with less SPS though: http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16461

Thanks.

Chris

6 lamp retro would work fine.

 

[InsideJoke]

Considering the crappy PAR of UVL's blue lamps I'd do 2 rows of 6 cree Royal Blue LED's with 1 454 and 2 indigo suns.

If you want to do LED's you could use the standard mix and use a UVL Actinic White to fill in the missing spectrum. I used a few warm whites in my LED rig.

I'm not 100% sold on pure LED setups right now til the light spectrum issues get figured out. So I may tackle the 2 rows of Crees with 3 T5s.
Thanks Grim

 

[tchndie]

Hey Grim. I am setting up a mixed reef tank and going to be using a 8 bulb fixture. I would like a bit of purple and some blue in the tank. But i don't want it to be to blue. What would you suggest in order from front to back?
Thanks

 

[TonyV]

Hey Grim is there such a thing as too much lighting? The reason I ask is that all my SPS and even some of my LPS do not show any polyp extension during the day when the lights are on even if I try to entice them with food. After the lights have been off for a few hours or in the morning before work, I spotlight my tank with a flash light and all my SPS and my LPS (chalices, duncans, acans) are open. My setup is a 4x24w Aquaticlife with 2pcs. of ATI Blue Plus and 2pcs. of ATI Aquablue Spezial. Bulbs are 1 week old as I originally thought my bulb life was a factor but the did the same thing before as they do now. Also, if the tops of my Birdsnest are brown/black, is that mean they are getting burned? Any thoughts? I can't beleive that this type of fixture would put out any numbers even remotely close to an ATI PM or SP.

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Hey Grim is there such a thing as too much lighting? The reason I ask is that all my SPS and even some of my LPS do not show any polyp extension during the day when the lights are on even if I try to entice them with food. After the lights have been off for a few hours or in the morning before work, I spotlight my tank with a flash light and all my SPS and my LPS (chalices, duncans, acans) are open. My setup is a 4x24w Aquaticlife with 2pcs. of ATI Blue Plus and 2pcs. of ATI Aquablue Spezial. Bulbs are 1 week old as I originally thought my bulb life was a factor but the did the same thing before as they do now. Also, if the tops of my Birdsnest are brown/black, is that mean they are getting burned? Any thoughts? I can't beleive that this type of fixture would put out any numbers even remotely close to an ATI PM or SP.

You could try to shade the tank with a screen or two, raise the lights a few inches or reduce the number of hours as this may reduce the amount of light.

 

[Im Lon 2]

a friend of mine is wanting to go with a 14-20 k look on 6 - 54 watt bulbs

What would be the best combo for that?

He really likes my icecap 420 bulbs. but I also have the icecap 12 k bulbs and they really take the blue look out of it, which I dont care for when all bulbs are on. I run 8 - 54w 1/2 420 - 1/2 12 K.

 

[luckyfish]

Has anyone had any experience with the ATI Purple Plus? How do people feel it compares to KZ Fiji Purple?

 

[jc-reef]

Has anyone had any experience with the ATI Purple Plus? How do people feel it compares to KZ Fiji Purple?

I am curious too!

 

[RcToners]

Grim,

Thanks once again for the lighting tips a couple pages back

One more quick question, I read in another thread someone said 36 inch t5's wont reach the bottom of a 27 inch tank? Is this true? If someone was to run twelve 36 inch t5's on a 27 inch deep tank wouldnt that be fine or will 36 inch bulbs really not reach the bottom?

 

[JG1]

Just got my PM in. Beautiful fixture but boy is it heavy lol

 

[JG1]

Quick question.

Are the labels on the bulbs supposed to face up or down?