The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by jkhudson
My green montis are going brown. They still are growing but losing color. I need to replace bulbs anyway. What bulbs would you recommend for sps in a tank that is 56"Hx24"Wx29"T. I have frogspawn and a brain that are doing fine. The monti's are about 6" deep and the bulbs are about 8" above the tank.

What kind of fixture and how many lamps? I ain't the amazing friggin Madam Zelda here
Sorry. I'm using 6 HO bulbs in a retrofit canopy

Hopefully you are using good reflectors. You should use 8 lamps too.

For now I'd run 4 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and a Purple Plus. All ATI Lamps.

 

[Reef 101]

I have to chang my bulbs on my 180 gal its mixed with alot of SPS on top and softies on the bottom and zoes and LPS in the middle. 6 80watt bulbs running on two 660 icecaps looking for the best bulb for the buck and whats going to give me the best color and groth.

 

[thebanker]

Grim I wanted to swap out 2 of my lamps. And... I went against your recommendations! HAH!

As of tomorrow, I'll be running

Blue Plus
Aquablue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Super Blue.

I saw the article about ATI vs. Aquascience bulbs (yes, a little dated, but the AS bulbs blew the ATI away in growth) so I want to see if it still holds true. A friend of mine is all hopped up on KZ so I decided to go 50% KZ bulbs.

Whaddya think buddy ol' pal?

 

[Onedeadbob]

Hello Grim,
I am putting in a 6 bulb retro (individual reflectors) on 2 ballasts; a 4 bulb and a 2 bulb. It will be over a standard 75g tank
2 questions for ya
1. Which position should I put the 2 bulb ballast? I was thinking the 2nd and 5th spot, but before I wired it, I thought I should ask.
2. Looking at other posts, I think a good mix of bulbs would be
Front
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Is that a good mix?

 

[johnatbhs]

Hi Grim,

I was hoping to get some advice if you had the time. I have a 75 gallon tank with mostly softies and some LPS, I really want to try keeping SPS too. Currently my lights are 4 65 watt Power Compacts. I was thinking of upgrading to a T5 fixture since the bulbs all need to be replaced. I was looking at getting the sunlight supply tek lights since they are on sale. They have:
4 x 54watt bulb fixture for $254
6 x 54watt bulb fixture for $314
8 x 54watt bulb fixture for $374

What would you suggest? I was considering the 8 bulb fixture in case i later upgrade to a bigger tank, but I really have no clue what would be appropriate for my tank now, or even a correct bulb combination. Thanks a lot, your advice is really appreciated.

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Hi Grim,

I was hoping to get some advice if you had the time. I have a 75 gallon tank with mostly softies and some LPS, I really want to try keeping SPS too. Currently my lights are 4 65 watt Power Compacts. I was thinking of upgrading to a T5 fixture since the bulbs all need to be replaced. I was looking at getting the sunlight supply tek lights since they are on sale. They have:
4 x 54watt bulb fixture for $254
6 x 54watt bulb fixture for $314
8 x 54watt bulb fixture for $374

What would you suggest? I was considering the 8 bulb fixture in case i later upgrade to a bigger tank, but I really have no clue what would be appropriate for my tank now, or even a correct bulb combination. Thanks a lot, your advice is really appreciated.

Buy the most bulbs you can afford. This gives you 1. potential for more par and 2. greater options in color variety

 

[johnatbhs]

Buy the most bulbs you can afford. This gives you 1. potential for more par and 2. greater options in color variety

OK, thank you, sounds good. From your frame of reference does the 8 bulb fixture seem to be a decent deal? If so I will try to come up with some money to get it.

Also do you have any suggestions as to what combinations of bulbs to buy?

 

[RocketSurgeon]

OK, thank you, sounds good. From your frame of reference does the 8 bulb fixture seem to be a decent deal? If so I will try to come up with some money to get it.

Also do you have any suggestions as to what combinations of bulbs to buy?

I'm not familiar with that fixture to say one way or the other.

If you don't want to search this thread for bulbs, this link may narrow your reading:

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarse...s/&PHPSESSID=947114d83ebd43d27855241857aa7f39

 

[johnatbhs]

If you don't want to search this thread for bulbs, this link may narrow your reading:

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarse...s/&PHPSESSID=947114d83ebd43d27855241857aa7f39

Wow, thank you. There seems to be a ton of information there, thanks for all the help.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have to chang my bulbs on my 180 gal its mixed with alot of SPS on top and softies on the bottom and zoes and LPS in the middle. 6 80watt bulbs running on two 660 icecaps looking for the best bulb for the buck and whats going to give me the best color and groth.

4 Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus and 1 Aquablue

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim I wanted to swap out 2 of my lamps. And... I went against your recommendations! HAH!

As of tomorrow, I'll be running

Blue Plus
Aquablue Special
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Super Blue.

I saw the article about ATI vs. Aquascience bulbs (yes, a little dated, but the AS bulbs blew the ATI away in growth) so I want to see if it still holds true. A friend of mine is all hopped up on KZ so I decided to go 50% KZ bulbs.

Whaddya think buddy ol' pal?

PAR meters don't lie. People who do growth tests who happen to be best friends with one of the lamp distributors, well you decide. As far as KZ I am sure the super blue is a nice lamp. Don't know if they have as much PAR as the ATI. Their Koral Light had the same as the Aquablue.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hello Grim,
I am putting in a 6 bulb retro (individual reflectors) on 2 ballasts; a 4 bulb and a 2 bulb. It will be over a standard 75g tank
2 questions for ya
1. Which position should I put the 2 bulb ballast? I was thinking the 2nd and 5th spot, but before I wired it, I thought I should ask.
2. Looking at other posts, I think a good mix of bulbs would be
Front
Aquablue
Blue Plus
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Is that a good mix?

Yes on all accounts.

 

[thebanker]

Interesting. I also went on the reccommendation that the Fiji is better looking, aesthetically, compared with the Purple Plus. I guess we'll see. The bulbs are waiting for me today.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

I was hoping to get some advice if you had the time. I have a 75 gallon tank with mostly softies and some LPS, I really want to try keeping SPS too. Currently my lights are 4 65 watt Power Compacts. I was thinking of upgrading to a T5 fixture since the bulbs all need to be replaced. I was looking at getting the sunlight supply tek lights since they are on sale. They have:
4 x 54watt bulb fixture for $254
6 x 54watt bulb fixture for $314
8 x 54watt bulb fixture for $374

What would you suggest? I was considering the 8 bulb fixture in case i later upgrade to a bigger tank, but I really have no clue what would be appropriate for my tank now, or even a correct bulb combination. Thanks a lot, your advice is really appreciated.

8 is going to make it hard not to melt softies unless you raise the fixture some which means the first and last lamps will be lighting the frame instead of the water. I'd do 6 with 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue and 1 ATI Purple Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Interesting. I also went on the reccommendation that the Fiji is better looking, aesthetically, compared with the Purple Plus. I guess we'll see. The bulbs are waiting for me today.

There isn't enough difference I could see between the fiji and purple plus that I really think it's a big deal, both are nice.

 

[Onedeadbob]

Yes on all accounts.

As always, thanks for all the help Grim!

 

[katcon]

PAR meters don't lie. People who do growth tests who happen to be best friends with one of the lamp distributors, well you decide. As far as KZ I am sure the super blue is a nice lamp. Don't know if they have as much PAR as the ATI. Their Koral Light had the same as the Aquablue.

Grim, In your experience what is the best brand in bulbs for color and growing corals (PAR)? ATI, Giessemann, Coralife, Wavepoint ect.,

 

[mike_dani]

Ok so I am building a new tank it measures 96long 24deep 18 tall, I plan on growing SPS in one 4 foot section with a Sunpower 6 bulb 54w fixture and LPS/softies in the other 4 foot section with a 6 bulb 54w sunpower. What would your recommendation be for this?? This will not be a display tank and really want growth and color for this system, I am not worried about the colors matching from section to section.

Thanks for all of your help.....

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim, In your experience what is the best brand in bulbs for color and growing corals (PAR)? ATI, Giessemann, Coralife, Wavepoint ect.,

ATI and Giesemann are close but in my experience the Giesemann doesn't hold the PAR as long as ATI

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Ok so I am building a new tank it measures 96long 24deep 18 tall, I plan on growing SPS in one 4 foot section with a Sunpower 6 bulb 54w fixture and LPS/softies in the other 4 foot section with a 6 bulb 54w sunpower. What would your recommendation be for this?? This will not be a display tank and really want growth and color for this system, I am not worried about the colors matching from section to section.

Thanks for all of your help.....

How about using 3 2 foot fixtures like pendants. Grow your SPS directly beneath the lamps and keep the LPS out o the sandbed or between the fixtures?