The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

Sorry to bug you, I have a quick question.

I have a 96 long X 30 inches wide X 30 Inches Tall. I am looking at going T5 and get away from my 4 MH 150 each and 6 PC combo lamps. I want to keep a little of everything down to the bottom of the tank LPS, SPS, Clams and such. What light fixtures would you recommend brand and size to cover entire tank? Which blubs combination would you go with for the best possible results? I do have a budget of 1,000.00 to 2,000.00 dollars.

Thanks For your time,

Randall

You want 10 rows of lamps. I'd use ATI Powermodules. Not sure if 2 36" fixtures would cut it or not, depends how you are stocked. Might need the 48's but if you do place them so the exhaust vents are pointed to the outside.

Id' do 6 rows of Blue Plus, 2 Rows of Aquablue and 2 of Purple Plus, all ATI lamps.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim
I have a 36" aquatinic x5 fixture, this fixture will be used on a 45g ADA tank. Whats the best way to configure the bulbs??? I will be keeping mainly softies, Zoas, lps and some anemones.

thanks in advance

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

Use the 3 blue plus as dusk/dawn

 

[steelcaveman]

Grim, I have an 8 bulb Aquamedic T5 36" fixture on a 90g.
I have a mixed reef. I am not satisfied with my SPS growth or color, but everything else is doing great - including clams.
What bulb selection & arrangement will be best?
I have local access to ATI, UV, Geismann, & GLO brands.
What is your opinion on the UV aqua sun?
Is the GE 6500k sold at Lowes or HomeDeopt?
I currently have 4 ATI BLUE+, 1 ATI blue special, 1 KZ Fiji Pink, 2 UV actinic white.
Thanks in advance.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, I have an 8 bulb Aquamedic T5 36" fixture on a 90g.
I have a mixed reef. I am not satisfied with my SPS growth or color, but everything else is doing great - including clams.
What bulb selection & arrangement will be best?
I have local access to ATI, UV, Geismann, & GLO brands.
What is your opinion on the UV aqua sun?
Is the GE 6500k sold at Lowes or HomeDeopt?
I currently have 4 ATI BLUE+, 1 ATI blue special, 1 KZ Fiji Pink, 2 UV actinic white.
Thanks in advance.

Other than the two actinic white lamps you have good stuff so unless the lamps are more than about 10 months old or so lamps aren't the problem. If the clams are lower in the tank than the SPS I would look at water flow or quality.

 

[lorenzj4]

Grim,

Im following the instructions on your site for a 4 bulb fixture.

Whats a better bulb?

The ATI Aquablue special or the Aquablue plus by Giesemann

 

[The Grim Reefer]

ATI but the Giesemann is close.

 

[Projectx]

I forgot to ask, what bulb configuration would you use?
I like a slight blue tint to the tank, I am going to do clams later on as well as some SPS

thanks in advance

 

[The Grim Reefer]

3 ATI Blue Plus, 2 Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus

 

[bigdoug]

Grim,

What is your thought on the Coral Sun/ Ocean Sun bulbs? Being new to the hobby, this is my current use, and seems to be going good. But currently FOWL, couple LPS up top 8-10" down growing good and good color, but looking to move on to more corals. Running 2 fixtures 6x39ea on a 125g 8-blue and 4-10k white. what would you change?

 

[puchowave]

I set a new prop.tank 60" x 36" x 12" right now it's running with my old lighting set up
tek 48" 4 x 54w most of the corals are lps & sps + some softs i want to know what
would work better if 6 x 54w or 8 x 54w and what configuration can i use in both fixture.
Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,

What is your thought on the Coral Sun/ Ocean Sun bulbs? Being new to the hobby, this is my current use, and seems to be going good. But currently FOWL, couple LPS up top 8-10" down growing good and good color, but looking to move on to more corals. Running 2 fixtures 6x39ea on a 125g 8-blue and 4-10k white. what would you change?

I wouldn't trust any lamps that are more than a couple bucks less than the known brands. There aren't marketing costs and such in the hobby so you really can't produce a quality product for less than the other guys. Exception to the rule is the GE Daylight which is mass produced for the horticultural market.

For 6 rows I'd use 4 blue plus 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I set a new prop.tank 60" x 36" x 12" right now it's running with my old lighting set up
tek 48" 4 x 54w most of the corals are lps & sps + some softs i want to know what
would work better if 6 x 54w or 8 x 54w and what configuration can i use in both fixture.
Thanks.

I'd do 8. 5 ATI Blue Plus and 3 GE Daylights.

 

[bigdoug]

I wouldn't trust any lamps that are more than a couple bucks less than the known brands. There aren't marketing costs and such in the hobby so you really can't produce a quality product for less than the other guys. Exception to the rule is the GE Daylight which is mass produced for the horticultural market.

For 6 rows I'd use 4 blue plus 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus

Thanks Grim, when its time for new bulbs, i am going to give that a try.

 

[Projectx]

Thanks

 

[diddy_reefguy]

I seek the knowledge of the Reefer..

Hello, I really need some guidance on my T5 setup/combo..
I have been running a 4x54w T5ho Tek Elite on my 72g mixed reef(mostly SPS) since it's inception back in May. Bulb configuration is(from the front) UV Super Actinic.. ATI blue+.. ATI Aquablue Special.. ATI blue+.. Now my SPS have grown but seem to have faded a tad. Would it be possible to run(from the front) ATI blue+.. KZ Fiji purple.. UV Super Actinic.. ATI blue+? I can't seem to find much info on this combo and am wondering if I will still have the PAR needed.. Thanks for the help......

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I seek the knowledge of the Reefer..

Hello, I really need some guidance on my T5 setup/combo..
I have been running a 4x54w T5ho Tek Elite on my 72g mixed reef(mostly SPS) since it's inception back in May. Bulb configuration is(from the front) UV Super Actinic.. ATI blue+.. ATI Aquablue Special.. ATI blue+.. Now my SPS have grown but seem to have faded a tad. Would it be possible to run(from the front) ATI blue+.. KZ Fiji purple.. UV Super Actinic.. ATI blue+? I can't seem to find much info on this combo and am wondering if I will still have the PAR needed.. Thanks for the help......

I'd drop the Actinic for another Blue Plus

 

[diddy_reefguy]

I'd drop the Actinic for another Blue Plus

Thanks!!.....lol. I was just reading your homepage(great info!).. I think I'm going try that.. I'll have to order it, but in the mean time I hope everything will be ok under the UV actinic//blue+//fiji purple//blue+...

 

[Sohal Tang Tim]

Grim I need Your Opinion

Grim I need Your Opinion

Grim, can you please tell me your opinion of what the viewing
difference will be between the

ATI purple plus vs the KZ Figi Purple?????

The reason I ask is I just installed 1/4 of my T5s as ATI purple plus
and I am not sure I like them..... My friend who has the KZ Figi Purple
in his tank has the nicest lighting colour in his tank I have ever seen in person and I have seen a TON of tanks.....

Please advise if I should try the KZ figi purple or will it be much the same?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, can you please tell me your opinion of what the viewing
difference will be between the

ATI purple plus vs the KZ Figi Purple?????

The reason I ask is I just installed 1/4 of my T5s as ATI purple plus
and I am not sure I like them..... My friend who has the KZ Figi Purple
in his tank has the nicest lighting colour in his tank I have ever seen in person and I have seen a TON of tanks.....

Please advise if I should try the KZ figi purple or will it be much the same?

Thanks,
Tim

Same lamp as far as I can tell. Sylvania is the OEM for both.

 

[travisw30]

Hello It's nice to finally meet the T-5 GOD! Anyways I just bought a Hamilton Fiji sun fixture. 6 bulbs were included 4- 420 nm blue 1- daylight and a 50/50. As well I have a wavepoint antinicand 50/50. All these bulbs and are brand new so I would like to use them. My tank is 36x16x18. Positions 1,6 2,5 3,4 turn on and off together. So here's the questions.
1. How would you use the bulbs I have.
2. If I bought one bulb now what should it be.
3. What should I eventually put in there?
4. And will there be a noticeable difference in colors with better bulbs?
Thanks for your help!